FAQs
When you try to change your Windows Firewall settings, the options are greyed out and you can't make any changes. To fix this, follow these steps: Click the Start button, then type Windows Firewall in the Search box. Click Windows Firewall, and then click Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall.
How do I force Windows Firewall to enable? ›
Turn Microsoft Defender Firewall on or off
- Select Start , then open Settings . ...
- Select a network profile: Domain network, Private network, or Public network.
- Under Microsoft Defender Firewall, switch the setting to On. ...
- To turn it off, switch the setting to Off.
In the Control Panel, click System and Security . There, click Windows Defender Firewall . In the firewall settings, click Restore Defaults on the left side. Here you can reset the firewall to the default settings by clicking the Restore defaults button.
How do I unblock my firewall settings? ›
Change Device Permissions
- Click the Windows button.
- Click Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security.
- Click Windows Security.
- Click Firewall & Network Protection.
- Select your profile.
- Scroll to Microsoft Defender Firewall.
- Switch the settings to off.1.
Disable third-party antivirus software
In addition, conflicts between built-in and third-party programs might cause the Windows Firewall to malfunction. So, to eliminate the Windows Firewall that can't change some of your setting's error messages, you should disable this third-party antivirus software.
How do I turn off the Windows Firewall when it is greyed out? ›
When you try to change your Windows Firewall settings, the options are greyed out and you can't make any changes. To fix this, follow these steps: Click the Start button, then type Windows Firewall in the Search box. Click Windows Firewall, and then click Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall.
Why my Windows Firewall is not working? ›
You can reset the Windows Firewall settings to default to resolve this issue. Step 1: Press Win + S and type Control Panel into the search box. Step 2: Press Enter to open the window. Step 3: Select System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall, then click on the Restore defaults option on the left sidebar.
How to see what Windows Firewall is blocking? ›
To see if your firewall is blocking a website, app, or port on Windows, go to Windows Firewall > Advanced Settings and check your Outbound rules.
How do I turn off firewall disabled? ›
In Windows control panel, go to System and Security/Security and Maintenance. Look just under the Security banner, and click on Turn off messages about network firewall.
How do I get around firewall blocking? ›
VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) can help bypass firewalls and intrusion detection systems by routing traffic through a secure server. Proxy server: A proxy server can help mask the origin of the traffic, making it harder for the firewall or intrusion detection system to trace the source of an attack.
Windows Firewall Can't Change Some of Your Settings [4 Fixes]
- Fix 1. Restart Windows Defender Firewall Service.
- Fix 2. Check Background Intelligence Transfer Service.
- Fix 3. Reset Windows Update Components.
- Fix 4. Disable the Third-party Antivirus Program.
Re: Windows Security won't open on Windows 11
You can try the following steps to resolve the issue: Run the Windows Security Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. Find and run the Windows Security troubleshooter. Reset Windows Security app: Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
How do I force Windows Security to enable? ›
To enable Windows Defender
- Click the windows logo. ...
- Scroll down and click Windows Security to open the application.
- On the Windows Security screen, check if any antivirus program has been installed and running in your computer. ...
- Click on Virus & threat protection as shown.
- Next, select Virus & threat protection icon.
To access the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console, create or edit a group policy object (GPO) and expand the nodes Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.
How to enable Windows Firewall via CMD? ›
To configure the firewall settings:
- Open a command prompt in "Run as administrator" mode (or PowerShell) and enter: netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off.
- To verify that Windows Firewall for all networks is off, enter: netsh advfirewall show all.
Go to Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Network > Network Connections > Windows Defender > Firewall > Domain Profile and enable the policy Windows Defender Firewall: Protect all network connections.
