GoKawiilDeveloper releases open-source tool to auto-dismiss macOS local-network permission prompts
A developer published 'dontallow', a small Swift utility that automatically clicks 'Don't Allow' on macOS's recurring 'find devices on local networks' prompt. The tool runs with no CPU usage while idle and persists across reboots, requiring a single Swift file and no external dependencies. According to the creator, the prompt resurfaces repeatedly because Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Brave, Edge and Arc relaunch from randomized temp paths each time, causing macOS to treat them as new apps needing a fresh permission decision.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The release highlights a macOS privacy-prompt design flaw that the developer says clutters system settings with duplicate, stale app entries and can misattribute prompts to apps that aren't even running. This suggests Apple's current permission-tracking mechanism, which ties decisions to app file paths rather than stable identifiers, may not scale well for apps that self-update or relocate their bundles. The tool's existence points to a gap Apple has not addressed with any built-in pruning option or MDM policy, according to the developer.
- The 'dontallow' tool auto-rejects macOS's local-network access prompt instantly and uses no CPU while idle.
- Chromium-based browsers reportedly retrigger the prompt repeatedly because they relaunch from randomized temp folders, breaking macOS's permission memory.
- The developer says there is currently no supported way to clean up the resulting duplicate permission entries or manage them via MDM.
Source: github.com, 2026-10-29
Published there as: “Show HN: Auto Dismiss Mac OS "Allow <app> to find devices on local networks?"”
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