Windows Firewall filters network traffic and protects your PC from unauthorized attacks through your network. Disabling the firewall on your computer makes it vulnerable to malicious viruses and unauthorized access.
Key Takeaways
- Windows Defender Firewall is a built-in firewall that protects the operating system and user data from network-based threats.
- You can use the Windows Security app and Windows Defender Firewall in Windows 11 to disable VPN.
- There are four ways to disable the firewall in Windows 10, Windows Security Settings, Windows Defender Firewall app, Command Prompt, and PowerShell commands.
What Happens When You Turn Off Firewall?
A firewall filters all data packets entering and leaving your network. It defends your computer from outsider attacks such as hackers and malware programs. Disabling the firewall leaves your network traffic unchecked, and malicious data can corrupt your operating system by entering through the network, putting user privacy and security at stake.
If you are on an organization’s network, disabling the firewall could mean exposing the system network, including all end devices, to danger from outsider attacks.
How To Disable Firewall On Windows
Below are some methods that can help you disable the firewall on Windows.
From Windows Security In Windows 10 And 11
You can disable or switch firewall settings for a certain app from Windows Security settings.
- Go to the Start menu and open Windows Settings by clicking on “gear icon.”
- Select “Update & Security” from the Settings menu.
Update & Security – Image Credits [Emopulse] - In Update & Security settings, choose the “Windows Security” option.
Windows Security – Image Credits [Emopulse] - You can also search for “Windows Security” in the Start menu search bar.
- In Windows Security, you will see a menu of different protection areas for which you can tweak settings on your PC. Choose “Firewall & network protection.”
Firewall & Network Protection – Image Credits [Emopulse] - A new page will open for Firewall & network protection. Multiple network profiles, such as Domain Network, Public Network, and Private Network, are available on your PC.
Network Profiles – Image Credits [Emopulse] - Choose the network for which you want to disable the settings.
Firewall Setting – Image Credits [Emopulse] - Under “Microsoft Defender Firewall”, toggle the switch to disable the firewall for that network connection.
Disable Firewall – Image Credits [Emopulse]
Through Windows Defender Firewall In Windows 10
There is another way you can turn off the firewall on your computer. This is through the Windows Defender Firewall application on your Windows operating system that Microsoft has developed to offer an extra layer of protection.
You can access Windows Defender Firewall through the Control Panel.
- Open “Control Panel” by searching for it in Windows Start Menu.
Control Panel – Image Credits [Emopulse] - Go to “System and Security” from the options.
System & Security – Image Credits [Emopulse] - Select “Windows Defender Firewall” from the different menu options.
Windows Firewall – Image Credits [Emopulse] - In Windows Defender Firewall, you will again be able to see different network profiles for which you can manage firewall settings. If you are using a Domain Computer, you will also see “Domain Networks” in Windows Defender Firewall.
Windows Defender Firewall – Image Credits [Emopulse] - Choose “Turn Windows Defender on or off” from the options on the left. This will open a “Customize Settings” page.
Customize Firewall Settings – Image Credits [Emopulse] - Select your network’s Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) setting.
Disable Windows Defender Firewall – Image Credits [Emopulse]
If for some reason, you are unable to find the Windows Defender Firewall setting, you can launch it directly from the Run dialog box.
Search “Run” in the Start menu and type in command control firewall.cpl. This will open the Windows Defender Firewall app immediately, and you can follow the steps mentioned above to turn off the firewall for your network.
From PowerShell In Windows 10
If you are using Windows 10, you can use PowerShell commands to disable firewall settings.
- Go to “Start Menu” from your desktop’s bottom-left.
- Type “PowerShell” in the search bar and then right-click on the “Windows PowerShell” result. Select “Run as administrator” from the options.
- Type the command “Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain,Public,Private -Enabled False” to disable the firewall for all networks on your PC.
Disable Firewall On All Networks – Image Credits [Emopulse] - Type this command “Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Public -Enabled False” to disable firewall for a specific network profile. Only mention the name of the profile you want to turn off the firewall for in this command.
Turn Off Firewall For Public Network – Image Credits [Emopulse]
Using Command Prompt In Windows 10
Another way to turn off the firewall for the current network profile on Windows 10 is by using the Command Prompt.
Follow these steps to disable the firewall with simple commands on Windows 10:
- Go to “Start Menu” and search “Command Prompt.”
- Right-click on the first result for Command Prompt and choose the “Run as administrator” option.
Command Prompt – Image Credits [Emopulse] - In the Command Prompt window, type command netsh advfirewall set currentprofile state off.
Turn Off Current Network Profile Firewall – Image Credits [Emopulse] - This will disable the firewall for your current network.
- Press Enter to execute the command.
- Enter this command netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off to disable firewall settings for all networks.
Turn Off All Network Profiles Firewall – Image Credits [Emopulse]
You can enter the commands below in the Command Prompt window to individually turn off the firewall for domain, public and private network profiles.
Domain Network
- netsh advfirewall set domainprofile state off
Public Network
- netsh advfirewall set publicprofile state off
-
Private Network
netsh advfirewall set privateprofile state off
Benefits Of Disabling Firewall In Windows
- Windows Firewall can interfere with certain applications by blocking them on your computer. This is because it thinks these applications may have malicious intent toward your data. Disabling the firewall removes the hassle of unblocking programs and apps on your computer.
- You do not have to tweak firewall settings for different apps on your PC as it is turned off.
- Disabling the firewall on your PC can lead to increased performance as it will not utilize RAM resources while running in the background.
- Turning off your firewall can help in honey pot testing to attract and identify how cyber threats work.
Drawbacks Of Disabling Firewall In Windows
- It makes your user data and operating system vulnerable to unauthorized access and viruses.
- You cannot implement an access control policy if you do not have a firewall. This allows attackers to get access to your system.
- Disabling the firewall leaks your DNS information and IP address to hackers, so there is no privacy on your system.
- Turning off the firewall on your operating system makes it vulnerable to Trojans and malware.
Conclusion
Please ensure you only disable Windows Firewall when you have to; otherwise, you expose your computer to network threats such as cyber-attacks. If you want to access an application restricted by the firewall, we recommend you disable the firewall only for that application instead of turning it off for your PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a firewall?
A firewall protects your computer from unauthorized access and viruses. It filters traffic (data packets) entering and leaving your network.
How do I disable firewall on my computer?
Open "Windows Security" by searching it from Start Menu. Select "Firewall & protection" and click on your network. Toggle the option to disable firewall for a specific network.
Why should I disable firewall?
You should only disable Windows firewall when necessary for example, if you need to troubleshoot your internet or test a specific application. Disabling the firewall makes it vulnerable to outsider attacks.
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