How to Fix SharePoint Approved Network Locations Configuration Error
Question details
An administrator receives an error when trying to restrict SharePoint access to approved network locations using device-specific information.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Configuring conditional access policies in the SharePoint admin center to restrict site access to trusted organization network locations.
- Observed behavior
- The system rejects the inputted device information and displays a configuration error when attempting to save the allowed network locations.
Verify your organization's exact public IP addresses or CIDR ranges, and determine your own current public IP address to ensure you do not inadvertently lock yourself out of the admin center.
Configure Approved Locations Using Public IP Addresses
Resolve the configuration error by inputting valid public IP address formats instead of local device-specific information.
SharePoint's location-based access control relies on the external IP addresses that the service sees when a user connects. It cannot validate internal device IPs, machine names, or MAC addresses.
Look up your network's current public IP address. You must include this address in the approved list first to prevent locking yourself out of the SharePoint administration panel once the policy is applied.
Compile the list of your organization's trusted networks into valid formats. SharePoint only accepts a single public IP address, an IP address range, or CIDR notation (such as 192.168.0.1/25).
Navigate to the location-based access policy settings in your SharePoint admin center. Clear any local device information previously entered, and type in the verified public IP addresses or CIDR ranges.
Review the entered IP addresses for any syntax or formatting errors, then click save to apply the approved network locations to your SharePoint environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I getting an error when saving my SharePoint network location?
SharePoint location restrictions specifically require public IP addresses, IP ranges, or CIDR notation. Entering local device information, MAC addresses, or private internal IP addresses will trigger a configuration error.
What is CIDR notation and how do I use it in SharePoint?
CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) notation is a compact way to represent an IP address and its associated routing prefix (e.g., 192.168.0.1/25). Administrators use this format in SharePoint to efficiently whitelist an entire block of IP addresses at once.
How do I avoid locking myself out when setting up conditional access?
Before enforcing any location-based access policies, you must explicitly add your own current public IP address to the allowed list. This guarantees that your admin session remains trusted and you maintain access to modify the settings later.
