How to Check Your Firewall Settings

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Your computer's firewall is largely responsible for blocking incoming connections that could potentially harm your computer. You can view and alter your firewall settings on any computer, but keep in mind that the firewall application is best applied to PCs; Mac users usually need not enable or use the built-in firewall program.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Checking Firewall Settings on a PC

PDF download Download Article
  1. Open your Start menu . Windows' default firewall program is located in the "System and Security" folder of the Control Panel app, but you can easily access your firewall's settings by using the Start menu's search bar. [1]
    • You can also tap the ⊞ Win key to do this.
  2. Doing so will automatically search your computer for applications matching your typing.
    Advertisement
  3. You should see this at the top of the search window.
  4. You should see two sections entitled "Private networks" and "Guest or public networks" with green shields to the left of them, signifying that your firewall is active. [2]
    • Clicking on either of these sections will prompt a drop-down menu with details about your current private or public networks.
  5. This is to the left of the main menu; clicking it will open your firewall's advanced settings menu, from which you can view or alter the following:
    • "Inbound Rules" - Which incoming connections are automatically allowed.
    • "Outbound Rules" - Which outgoing connections are automatically allowed.
    • "Connection Security Rules" - Baselines for which connections your computer will allow and which ones it will block.
    • "Monitoring" - An overview of your firewall's basic monitoring guidelines.
  6. You have successfully checked your PC's firewall settings!
    • Note that you can also click the "Turn Windows Firewall on or off" in the same option menu in which you found Advanced Settings. Be wary of disabling your firewall , especially when connected to a public network.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Checking Firewall Settings on a Mac

PDF download Download Article
  1. To access your firewall settings, you'll need to open the firewall menu from within the Apple menu.
  2. You should see this option in the Apple menu's drop-down list.
  3. This should be at the top of the System Preferences screen in a list of system options. [3]
    • This option may just say "Security" depending on which OS version you're running.
  4. You'll find this in the row of options (e.g., "General", "FileVault", etc.) at the top of your Security menu.
  5. Since your firewall is potentially responsible for your Mac's security, you'll need to provide admin credentials before being able to view or alter firewall settings. To do this:
    • Click the lock icon (bottom left corner of the menu).
    • Enter your administrator name.
    • Enter your administrator password.
    • Click "Unlock".
  6. Since Macs don't have the same default security flaws as PCs, your Mac's firewall will be disabled by default.
  7. This may also be entitled "Advanced". You can customize your firewall's settings from here, including the following: [4]
    • "Block all incoming connections" - Click this option if you want to refuse all requests to share things like your screen or your files. Basic Apple functionality apps will still come through.
    • "Automatically allow signed software to receive incoming connections" - Adds all Apple-certified apps to your "Allowed incoming connections" list at the top of your firewall's Advanced menu.
    • "Enable stealth mode" - Prevents your computer from responding to "probing" requests.
  8. By adding apps to your accept list, they will be automatically allowed when requesting permission to run. To do this: [5]
    • Click the "+" below the incoming connections window.
    • Click the name of an app you'd like to allow.
    • Repeat for as many apps as you like.
    • You can also click the "-" while an app is selected to remove it from your block or accept list.
  9. Doing so will exit the Firewall Options menu and save your changes!
    10. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • After enabling your computer's firewall, your computer will generally ask whether you want to "Allow" or "Deny" programs access to your computer whenever you run them.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Modifying your firewall can have serious security repercussions. Avoid changing firewall settings unless you know what you're doing.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Find the MAC Address of Your Computer
      How to
      Check if a Port is Open: 5 Quick Ways
      How to
      Forward a Port on Any Router: Easy Guide
      Connect Two Computers: Microsoft Windows & Mac OS X
      How to
      Flush DNS (Clear the Cache) in All Major Operating Systems
      3 Ways to Change a Computer's Mac Address in Windows
      How to
      Get a MAC Address from an IP Remotely
      How to
      Create a Local Area Network (LAN)
      How to
      Join a Domain on a Windows Computer or Mac
      Easy Ways to Set Up and Connect to a Local Area Network (LAN)
      How to
      Connect One Router to Another to Expand a Network
      How to
      Set up a Shared Network Drive
      How to
      Bypass a Firewall or Internet Filter
      2 Easy Ways to Connect to and Access Shared Folders on a Network
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about computer safety, check out our in-depth interview with Chiara Corsaro .

      References

      1. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/user-help/you-need-to-enable-defender-firewall-windows
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/turn-microsoft-defender-firewall-on-or-off-ec0844f7-aebd-0583-67fe-601ecf5d774f
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201642
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-firewall-settings-on-mac-mh11783/mac
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/block-connections-to-your-mac-with-a-firewall-mh34041/mac

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 316,994 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement