diff --git a/docs/API.md b/docs/API.md
index 9df5c7f76..018ff7378 100644
--- a/docs/API.md
+++ b/docs/API.md
@@ -228,8 +228,9 @@ POST /api/config/import  # Import encrypted config
 
 **Authentication**: Requires one of:
 - Active session (when logged in with password)
-- API token via X-API-Token header
-- ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT=true (for unprotected instances)
+- API token via X-API-Token header  
+- Private network access (automatic for homelab users on 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x)
+- ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT=true (to explicitly allow on public networks)
 
 **Export includes**: All nodes, credentials (encrypted), alerts, webhooks, email config, system settings, and guest metadata (custom console URLs)
 
diff --git a/docs/SECURITY.md b/docs/SECURITY.md
index d628fdd1a..e91ba11a6 100644
--- a/docs/SECURITY.md
+++ b/docs/SECURITY.md
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ This checks:
 
 ## Troubleshooting
 
-**Export blocked?** Login with password, set API_TOKEN, or set ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT=true
+**Export blocked?** You're on a public network - login with password, set API_TOKEN, or set ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT=true
 **Rate limited?** Wait 1 minute and try again
 **Can't login?** Check PULSE_AUTH_USER and PULSE_AUTH_PASS environment variables
 **API access denied?** Verify API_TOKEN is correct (use original token, not hash)
diff --git a/internal/api/router.go b/internal/api/router.go
index 0cd5e16c7..18b299031 100644
--- a/internal/api/router.go
+++ b/internal/api/router.go
@@ -553,13 +553,30 @@ ENABLE_AUDIT_LOG=true
 					http.Error(w, "Unauthorized", http.StatusUnauthorized)
 					return
 				}
-			} else if os.Getenv("ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT") != "true" {
-				// No auth configured and unprotected export not explicitly allowed
-				log.Warn().
-					Str("ip", req.RemoteAddr).
-					Msg("Export blocked - authentication required")
-				http.Error(w, "Export requires authentication (set ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT=true for homelab use)", http.StatusForbidden)
-				return
+			} else {
+				// No auth configured - check if this is a homelab/private network
+				clientIP := utils.GetClientIP(req.RemoteAddr, 
+					req.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-For"), 
+					req.Header.Get("X-Real-IP"))
+				
+				isPrivate := utils.IsPrivateIP(clientIP)
+				allowUnprotected := os.Getenv("ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT") == "true"
+				
+				if !isPrivate && !allowUnprotected {
+					// Public network access without auth - definitely block
+					log.Warn().
+						Str("ip", req.RemoteAddr).
+						Bool("private_network", isPrivate).
+						Msg("Export blocked - public network requires authentication")
+					http.Error(w, "Export requires authentication on public networks", http.StatusForbidden)
+					return
+				} else if isPrivate && !allowUnprotected {
+					// Private network but ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT not set - show helpful message
+					log.Info().
+						Str("ip", req.RemoteAddr).
+						Msg("Export allowed - private network with no auth")
+					// Continue - allow export on private networks for homelab users
+				}
 			}
 			
 			// Log successful export attempt
@@ -609,13 +626,30 @@ ENABLE_AUDIT_LOG=true
 					http.Error(w, "Unauthorized", http.StatusUnauthorized)
 					return
 				}
-			} else if os.Getenv("ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT") != "true" {
-				// No auth configured and unprotected import not explicitly allowed
-				log.Warn().
-					Str("ip", req.RemoteAddr).
-					Msg("Import blocked - authentication required")
-				http.Error(w, "Import requires authentication (set ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT=true for homelab use)", http.StatusForbidden)
-				return
+			} else {
+				// No auth configured - check if this is a homelab/private network
+				clientIP := utils.GetClientIP(req.RemoteAddr, 
+					req.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-For"), 
+					req.Header.Get("X-Real-IP"))
+				
+				isPrivate := utils.IsPrivateIP(clientIP)
+				allowUnprotected := os.Getenv("ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT") == "true"
+				
+				if !isPrivate && !allowUnprotected {
+					// Public network access without auth - definitely block
+					log.Warn().
+						Str("ip", req.RemoteAddr).
+						Bool("private_network", isPrivate).
+						Msg("Import blocked - public network requires authentication")
+					http.Error(w, "Import requires authentication on public networks", http.StatusForbidden)
+					return
+				} else if isPrivate && !allowUnprotected {
+					// Private network but ALLOW_UNPROTECTED_EXPORT not set - show helpful message
+					log.Info().
+						Str("ip", req.RemoteAddr).
+						Msg("Import allowed - private network with no auth")
+					// Continue - allow import on private networks for homelab users
+				}
 			}
 			
 			// Log successful import attempt
diff --git a/pulse-linux-amd64 b/pulse-linux-amd64
index 1df712713..a45f1c8dc 100755
Binary files a/pulse-linux-amd64 and b/pulse-linux-amd64 differ