How To Let An App Through Firewall

You probably don't think much about the Windows Firewall that's present in Windows 10. It's enabled by default, and unless you run into a problem with it, it works smoothly in the background without your input.

However, at times, you'll need to allow a program through the firewall. Here's how to allow any program through the firewall in Windows 10, as well as change the apps that are currently allowed.

How to Open the Windows Firewall Management Page

First, you should check your Windows Firewall overview. To do this, open the Windows Security app by searching for it on the Start menu. Select Firewall & network protection from the main menu to open this panel, and you'll see the status of your firewall.

This is broken into three categories:

Domain network, which is only in effect when your PC is joined to a domain, like in an enterprise setting.
Private network, which covers all trusted networks, like your home.
Public network, which is any open network where you don't trust all other devices, like a coffee shop.

You'll see Active next to your current network type, which you'll need to know when letting a program through the firewall. To do that, click the Allow an app through firewall text below the list of network types.

How to Edit the Apps Allowed Through Windows Firewall

When you click the link mentioned, you'll launch the Windows Defender Firewall panel in the older Control Panel interface. It jumps to the Allowed apps page, where you can review and edit which programs are allowed through the firewall.

Click the Change settings button to allow edit access. You'll need to provide admin permission to do this, if you're not already signed into an administrator account.

Once you've given permission, you can use the checkboxes to choose which programs are allowed through the firewall on both Private and Public networks. There is no option for allowing a program on domain networks, since the domain administrator will have policies set up for you.

Check the box for all programs that you want to have access to the internet. Clear the checkbox for a program if you don't want it to get to the internet. Feel free to keep something enabled on private networks but disabled on public networks.

If you're not sure what something is, click Details to see its location on your computer.

Unchecking the box will disable internet access while allowing you to easily re-check the box if you change your mind in the future. If you're sure that you don't want something to access the internet, click its name and hit the Remove button to take it off the list for good. You can't do this for most built-in apps.

How to Allow a New Program Through Windows Firewall

Most programs that have requested access to the internet will appear on the list described above. But if something doesn't show up here, you can allow the program through Windows Firewall on your own.

To do this, click the Allow another app button at the bottom of the Allowed apps page. In the resulting dialog box, hit Browse and locate the executable file (ending in .exe) that you want to allow through the firewall.

For example, to allow the Mailbird email client to access the internet, you would browse to the following location and select Mailbird.exe:

          C:\Program Files\Mailbird

Once you select it, it will appear in the Apps section of the window. Hit Add to place the app you chose inside the list of allowed apps. Then follow the above steps to check the boxes for the network types you want to allow it on.

If you don't know where your program is located, you can usually find it by searching for it on the Start menu, right-clicking the app name, and choosing Open file location. If this brings you to a shortcut, right-click on the shortcut and choose the same option to view the main executable.

Take Control of Windows Firewall

That's all you need to allow a program through Windows Firewall. While the utility has deeper options available, this is the most convenient way to change what gets through.

To do the reverse, make sure you know how to block programs from getting online on Windows and Mac, too.

Image Credit: one photo/Shutterstock

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