How To Allow Facebook Local Network Access And Fix Screencast Not Working

how to fix Facebook local network access problem

How to fix Facebook local network access problem


Since the release of iOS 14 a lot of readers are complaining that they can’t screencast videos from the iPhone Facebook app to their Smart TV anymore. This problem is caused by the fact that iOS and iPadOS 14 have introduced a series of new privacy-oriented features. One of them requires apps on your iPhone or iPad to ask for local network access permissions.

Apparently, a bug is sometimes preventing the Facebook app from getting local network access, although the permission is granted. We couldn’t replicate this issue on our own device, but we’ve got more than a dozen readers complaining about it. So, let’s check how to properly configure iOS 14 to allow Facebook to access your local network!

How To Give Facebook Local Network Access

The easiest way to do it is to tap OK the first time you open the Facebook app after you update to iOS 14. However, if you were not sure what the permission was all about and tapped on Don’t Allow, to research it better, it’s not the end of the world.

  • 1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  • 2. Scroll for Privacy.
  • 3. Tap on Local Network.
  • 4. Grant Facebook access, by bringing the toggle to the ON (green) position.

Allow Facebook Local Network Access To Watch Videos On Your TV

Facebook will prompt you again to allow access to your local network the first time you attempt to cast a video from your iPhone or iPad to your smart TV.
how to allow facebook videos local network access

  • 1. Open Facebook on iOS or iPadOS.
  • 2. Scroll for a video that you want to stream to your TV.
  • 3. Tap on the screencast (screen) icon available in the lower or upper-right corner of the video window.
  • 4. Choose a TV from the list that you’re prompted with.
  • 5. Be patient until Facebook on your iPhone connects to your TV. The now playing message should be displayed on your iPhone while the video starts streaming on your smart TV.

How To Fix Facebook Local Network Access

If you performed the steps described above and you’re still not able to cast video from your iPhone to your TV please attempt the following troubleshooting steps:

  • 1. Reboot iPhone – to make sure that this isn’t a temporary problem, force restart your iPhone. After the device boots back up, double-check the Settings app and make sure that Facebook has local network access.
  • 2. Update to iOS 14.0.1 – Apple has recently release the first software update for iOS 14, with five reported bug fixes. Facebook local network access isn’t mentioned in the list but you have to try this too.
  • 3. Re-Install Facebook – an other option is to delete Facebook app and install it back. If you have Facebook on your iOS 14 Home Screen, long-press on its icon and tap on Remove App. Next, select Delete App to uninstall it. If you send it to the App Library you’ll only clear it from the Home Screen. Install it back. Direct download link.
  • allow new device to connect and screencast to your smart TV

  • 4. Allow Device on TV – make sure that you select and press on Allowed, using the remote control, if the TV screen prompts you to give permissions for a new device (your iPhone) that wants to connect to it.
  • 5. Disable Large Text (CONFIRMED FIX)
    Facebook’s ‘Allow Local Network Access to Watch Videos on your TV‘ permission screen isn’t displaying properly and thus making the OK button unavailable. Try this to fix:
    how to fix facebook local network access bug

    • 1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
    • 2. Tap on Accessibility.
    • 3. Open Display & Text Size.
    • 4. Tap on Larger Text.
    • 5. Turn Off Larger Accessibility Size.
      Tip:
  • 6. Reduce Text Size (CONFIRMED FIX)
    Similar to the above fix, reduce the text size on your iPhone to make the Facebook video allow local network access screen to display in full-size. This will allow you to click OK and grant the permission!
    how to reduce text size in iOS 14

    • 1. Open the Settings app.
    • 2. Tap on Display & Brightness.
    • 3. Go for Text Size.
    • 4. Reduce your preferred reading size.
  • 7. Restore iPhone / iPad
    A current iOS 14 bug can prevent Facebook from asking for Local Network access if you decline it when it initially prompts you. If deleting and re-installing Facebook won’t trigger the Facebook Local Network access prompt, your only option is to:

    • Backup your iPhone in iCloud or on a computer with iTunes.
    • Erase All Content and Settings from your device.
    • Restore iPhone / iPad using the most recent backup.

    Fact: This will trigger the Local Network access prompt for apps and you can accept it this time.

Big thanks to Pacheco for finding and posting the working fix no. 5!

Fix Facebook Local Network Access Video Tutorial

Video guide showing the confirmed fixes for troubleshooting screencast from Facebook, on iPhone and iPad, to smart TV in iOS 14:

If none of the above works please let us know, with the help of the comments section available below. Understand that we couldn’t replicate this issue on our own devices and this makes it harder for us to find the best fix. We need your help to troubleshoot this. The more of you comment and share your experience the faster we will be able to pinpoint the source of the problem and hopefully find a fix.

Related: How to enable Facebook Messenger App Lock feature on iPhone and iPad!