How Do I Permanently Disable My Firewall?
Windows Firewall is one of the most essential security features of the operating system, and turning it off permanently may not be a good idea. This is because it prevents unwanted incoming and outgoing connections from accessing your device, and also keeps your PC safe from malware and other malicious software. However, there are times when you might wish to disable the built-in firewall on your PC for certain reasons.
For example, you might wish to turn off the firewall for a particular program, or if you have installed a hardware firewall on your network and want to disable the Windows Firewall for that purpose. Alternatively, you might wish to disable the built-in Windows firewall because you have another firewall application running simultaneously and it is causing problems.
To disable the Windows Firewall, go to Settings on your computer and select Privacy & security. Next, click on the Windows Security tile and then open the Firewall & network protection window.
Then, on the Network profile that says ‘active’, toggle the switch under Microsoft Defender Firewall to the ‘off’ position. Then, a UAC prompt will appear on the screen and ask you if you want to allow the change. If you don’t have administrator rights, this may not be possible, but you should be able to disable it using Group Policy.
Moreover, you can use netsh or PowerShell to disable the Windows Firewall for different network profiles. This is particularly useful if you have multiple computers or if you work in an environment where different networks are set up.
In order to use the netsh or PowerShell commands, you must be logged in with an admin account. Alternatively, you can try to disable the firewall remotely using an alternative tool such as ESET Remote Control.
You can also disable the firewall from the command line, but you must know a few commands in advance. For example, to disable the firewall for the active network profile, you can run the following command: netsh advfirewall set currentprofile state off.
Once you have successfully disabled the firewall, it should no longer display a notification on your desktop, as it had before. You can reactivate it by repeating the above process or changing the settings manually.
A final word of warning: If you have an alternative firewall software, such as Norton or Kaspersky, you may be prompted to allow it to bypass the Windows firewall. If you are not sure if it is safe to do so, you should consider consulting your antivirus provider.
Disabling the Windows Firewall for a specific program or enabling it again is a quick and easy way to make sure that your PC stays protected from unwanted incoming and outgoing connections. The option is especially useful for people who have an alternative free or paid-for firewall app as part of their antivirus suite, or those who have a hardware firewall set up on their network and would like to disable the built-in firewall.
