Multiplayer local network game won’t connect iOS

Playing iOS Minecraft we cannot link across our network.  We have done this for years, and suddenly it takes forever to get through the white initial Minecraft screen.  Once there I can see the network game, and I can get invited to the game, but upon selecting it I get a many second pause—60 seconds? Where it shows it is not locked up and offers the cancel button.  Once the timer ends, the the game says unable to connect to that game on an all brown screen with white lettering.  It is tied to a new setup button where must allow Minecraft to see across network.  This button on iOS settings was set to allow, then this problem went away for a few days, but is now back. It is version 1.16.50 but only lets me select .4 above in affected versions.