{"id":"bridge-devices.why-does-my-device-say-internet-instead-of-local-network","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/why-does-my-device-say-internet-instead-of-local-network","category":{"id":"bridge-devices","title":"Bridge & your devices"},"subcategory":{"id":"troubleshooting","title":"Troubleshooting"},"question":"Why does my Bridge device say “Internet” when both are at home?","alt_questions":["Bridge connected over Internet not Local network","Local network label missing","Bridge not using my Wi-Fi","Devices on the same network show Internet","Force Bridge to use local network"],"short_answer":"It means the devices reached each other over the internet, usually because they aren't really on the same network — a guest network, VPN or hotspot. Put both on the same network and reconnect, or turn on Use local network only.","answer_markdown":"The status line shows **Local network** or **Internet** depending on how the two devices actually reached each other. If it says Internet at home, they probably aren't on the same network — for example, one is on a guest network, a different band set up as a separate network, a VPN, or a mobile hotspot.\n\nPut both on the same Wi-Fi or wired network and reconnect. If you never want Bridge to go over the internet, turn on **Use local network only**.\n\n- [Local network only](/faq/bridge-devices/what-does-use-local-network-only-do)\n- [The Path line](/faq/bridge-devices/what-do-direct-and-slower-mean-on-the-path-line)","answer_html":"

The status line shows Local network or Internet depending on how the two devices actually reached each other. If it says Internet at home, they probably aren't on the same network — for example, one is on a guest network, a different band set up as a separate network, a VPN, or a mobile hotspot.

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Put both on the same Wi-Fi or wired network and reconnect. If you never want Bridge to go over the internet, turn on Use local network only.

\n","answer_text":"The status line shows Local network or Internet depending on how the two devices actually reached each other. If it says Internet at home, they probably aren't on the same network — for example, one is on a guest network, a different band set up as a separate network, a VPN, or a mobile hotspot.\n\nPut both on the same Wi-Fi or wired network and reconnect. If you never want Bridge to go over the internet, turn on Use local network only.\n\n- Local network only\n- The Path line","tags":["bridge","troubleshooting","local network"],"related":[{"id":"bridge-devices.what-does-use-local-network-only-do","question":"What does “Use local network only” do in Bridge?","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/what-does-use-local-network-only-do"},{"id":"bridge-devices.what-do-direct-and-slower-mean-on-the-path-line","question":"What does the Path line mean on a connected Bridge device?","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/what-do-direct-and-slower-mean-on-the-path-line"},{"id":"bridge-devices.what-do-bridge-status-messages-mean","question":"What do Bridge's status messages like “Securing the link…” mean?","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/what-do-bridge-status-messages-mean"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why does my Bridge device say “Internet” when both are at home? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It means the devices reached each other over the internet, usually because they aren't really on the same network — a guest network, VPN or hotspot. Put both on the same network and reconnect, or turn on Use local network only.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Bridge & your devices","path":"/faq/bridge-devices/"},{"name":"Why does my Bridge device say “Internet” when both are at home?","path":"/faq/bridge-devices/why-does-my-device-say-internet-instead-of-local-network"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/why-does-my-device-say-internet-instead-of-local-network","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why does my Bridge device say “Internet” when both are at home?","alternateName":["Bridge connected over Internet not Local network","Local network label missing","Bridge not using my Wi-Fi","Devices on the same network show Internet","Force Bridge to use local network"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The status line shows Local network or Internet depending on how the two devices actually reached each other. If it says Internet at home, they probably aren't on the same network — for example, one is on a guest network, a different band set up as a separate network, a VPN, or a mobile hotspot.\n\nPut both on the same Wi-Fi or wired network and reconnect. If you never want Bridge to go over the internet, turn on Use local network only.\n\n- Local network only\n- The Path line","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/why-does-my-device-say-internet-instead-of-local-network"}}]},"fragment":"
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Bridge & your devices · Troubleshooting

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Why does my Bridge device say “Internet” when both are at home?

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Short answer: It means the devices reached each other over the internet, usually because they aren't really on the same network — a guest network, VPN or hotspot. Put both on the same network and reconnect, or turn on Use local network only.

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The status line shows Local network or Internet depending on how the two devices actually reached each other. If it says Internet at home, they probably aren't on the same network — for example, one is on a guest network, a different band set up as a separate network, a VPN, or a mobile hotspot.

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Put both on the same Wi-Fi or wired network and reconnect. If you never want Bridge to go over the internet, turn on Use local network only.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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