# Need help with Network Preview in Elements 2.0 beta 6 **URL:** \ **Category:** Elements\ **Created:** [February 17, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/need-help-with-network-preview-in-elements-2-0-beta-6/54453 "2026-02-17T16:20:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jenkman](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/jenkman/32/5003_2.png) [@jenkman](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/jenkman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/need-help-with-network-preview-in-elements-2-0-beta-6/54453/1 "2026-02-17T16:20:07Z")
I have allowed elements to receive local network connections in the firewall and in the Privacy & Security settings. I restarted my Mac, iPad and iPhone but am still not able to connect the elements server. I do not have any other third party sw like Little Snitch, etc on my Mac. I also am now getting the server stopped responding error on the safari window. Any other suggestions ? ---
**Author:** ![ThatPhilGuy](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/thatphilguy/32/33599_2.png) [@ThatPhilGuy](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/ThatPhilGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/need-help-with-network-preview-in-elements-2-0-beta-6/54453/2 "2026-02-17T17:01:28Z")
@jenkman Steve, I’m not that familiar with MacOS firewall, so this is a few adjacent observations. Maybe just turn off firewall for testing purposes. I’ve run w/o forever, but your environment could have different needs. 1. The process that needs to **receive the connections** is `php-n`, where ‘n’ is somewhat random. This is probably a tiny http server. This process is what receives the request either on 127.0.01:\ or your LAN ip 2. To find and see if this process is running, two options 3. Use terminal: `lsof | grep 'php.*LISTEN'` this takes 15 sec. on my MacBook m3 as vanilla `lsof` produces 32k lines. The more compact `lsof -nP ``-iTCP@127.0.0.1`` -sTCP:LISTEN` doesn’t show output on Elements beta 2.0.0 beta 6. It’s there, just doesn’t survive the filter. Couldn’t figure it out thus the piping to grep. 4. Open activity monitor and search ‘php’, Double click. View ‘Open Files and Ports’. Confirm the port number on last line `*` 5. You should probably restart the web server. This process does not detect LAN changes. Went from coffee shop last night to home this morning, and it stopped working. After _Restart Web Server_. Normal behavior. Phil Project Settings ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/5/4/54b60f4578a252d911671a94807f0727644660ad.png) ---
**Author:** ![jenkman](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/jenkman/32/5003_2.png) [@jenkman](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/jenkman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/need-help-with-network-preview-in-elements-2-0-beta-6/54453/3 "2026-02-17T18:45:51Z")
> [@ThatPhilGuy](#): > > `lsof | grep 'php.*LISTEN'` I followed your suggestions and the port number matched. I even forgot the wifi network on the Mac and reconnected. I have seen that maybe trashing a plist file for the network and doing a restart may work. None of the above worked. I am unable to use this feature. There is an app from Icon Factory called [WorldWideWeb](https://iconfactory.com/worldwideweb/) server that you can export your site to and with the iOS companion app you can test out your sites on those devices. I guess I will continue to use that. It’s a web server also and I have not had any issues using it. ---
**Author:** ![logrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@logrunner](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/logrunner)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/need-help-with-network-preview-in-elements-2-0-beta-6/54453/4 "2026-02-17T19:03:08Z")
It may not be relevant but just in case: On your Mac, check **Settings \> Privacy & Security \> Local Network** and see if **Elements.App** is checked? ---
**Author:** ![ThatPhilGuy](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/thatphilguy/32/33599_2.png) [@ThatPhilGuy](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/ThatPhilGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 7:12pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/need-help-with-network-preview-in-elements-2-0-beta-6/54453/5 "2026-02-17T19:12:27Z")
@jenkman Here is a test that may help partition the problem. In MacOS terminal, issue: ```auto nc -vz Example: nc -vz 192.168.68.52 49879 Connection to 192.168.68.52 port 49879 [tcp/*] succeeded! ``` This will confirm the php-n process is listening. If it succeeds, then focus towards firewall, or some exotic aspect of your LAN. on an iphone or iPad, you can install a terminal or shell and issue the above command. You could also try: (be sure you know how to issue a control-C from the terminal app) ```auto ping tracedroute **Author:** ![ThatPhilGuy](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/thatphilguy/32/33599_2.png) [@ThatPhilGuy](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/ThatPhilGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/need-help-with-network-preview-in-elements-2-0-beta-6/54453/6 "2026-02-17T19:32:36Z") @logrunner That’s an interesting point. The `php-n`process that serves the html locally has _Elements,_ as it’s parent. The default is not to inherit this privacy setting, but Elements is probably handling it. (he said without evidence :^) It just worked for me on first try. Here is a [decent summary](https://eclecticlight.co/2026/01/14/how-local-network-privacy-could-affect-you/) on Howard Oakley’s _The Eclectic Light Company._ He’s credible. I don’t recall being prompted. It just worked. However, much of the discussion is on the sticky nature that is hard to reset. I’d suggest: - quitting _Elements,_ - toggling _Local Network Access,_ - launch _Elements_ - Preview (this is what launches the php process - getting the new local : @Jenkman I have no evidence this will work, as I haven’t had the problem (other than moving to various LANs) and needing to restart Elements web server (noted above). The ‘nc’ (netcat) command is where I would start. ---
**Author:** ![jenkman](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/jenkman/32/5003_2.png) [@jenkman](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/jenkman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/need-help-with-network-preview-in-elements-2-0-beta-6/54453/7 "2026-02-17T20:46:21Z")
@ThatPhilGuy Thanks for the assist. I restarted my Mac a second time after the deletion of the network pref files. Now it works flawlessly. I did also try another project file and restart the server. that kicked in the butt a little I suspect. thanks, ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/need-help-with-network-preview-in-elements-2-0-beta-6/54453/8 "2026-02-17T21:14:19Z")
Wow, thanks for the support @ThatPhilGuy, it really sounds like you know your stuff! ---
**Author:** ![ThatPhilGuy](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/thatphilguy/32/33599_2.png) [@ThatPhilGuy](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/ThatPhilGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/need-help-with-network-preview-in-elements-2-0-beta-6/54453/9 "2026-02-20T02:43:27Z")
Nice to be noticed 😉