How to Disable the Windows Firewall

The Windows Firewall is a built-in security feature designed to protect your computer from unauthorized access and various online threats. However, there are times when you might need to temporarily disable it, such as for troubleshooting or installing specific software. Below are the steps to turn off the firewall in different versions of Windows.

How to Disable the Windows Firewall via Control Panel

  1. Open the Control Panel. To do this, click on the Start button, then select “Control Panel” or find it using the search function.
  2. Go to “System and Security” and then click on “Windows Defender Firewall”.
  3. On the left side, select “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off”.
  4. In the window that appears, select “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall” for both private and public networks.
  5. Click “OK” to save the changes.

How to Disable the Windows Firewall Using Command Prompt

If you prefer using the Command Prompt, follow these steps:

  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Press Win + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)”.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off

This command will turn off the firewall for all profiles (private, public, and domain).

How to Re-enable the Firewall

To turn the firewall back on, repeat the same steps, but select the option to enable it in the Control Panel, or use the following command in Command Prompt:

netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state on

Warning

Important: Disabling the firewall makes your computer vulnerable to attacks and unauthorized access. Use this method only when absolutely necessary, and remember to re-enable the firewall as soon as you are finished.