Introduction

Adding a Windows Firewall rule is a great way to ensure that your computer is secure from malicious software and hackers. It allows you to control which programs and services can access your computer and the internet. In this guide, we will show you how to add a Windows Firewall rule in Windows 10. We will also discuss the different types of rules and how to configure them. By the end of this guide, you will have a better understanding of how to add Windows Firewall rules and how to configure them for maximum security.

How to Add Windows Firewall Rule

1. Open the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window. To do this, open the Start menu and type “Windows Firewall” into the search box. Select “Windows Firewall with Advanced Security” from the list of results.

2. Click “Inbound Rules” in the left pane.

3. Click “New Rule” in the right pane.

4. Select the type of rule you want to create. You can choose from Program, Port, Predefined, or Custom.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the rule.

6. Click “Finish” when you are done.

7. The new rule will appear in the list of inbound rules.

Windows Firewall is a built-in security application by Microsoft that protects the system from network-based threats. The software provides two-way protection to the system by blocking the traffic flowing into or out of the device. Firewall rules are an important part of this security system. They help in determining what kind of traffic is safe to enter and exit the network. These rules can either be assigned to a policy or directly to a computer. To add Windows Firewall rule can be tricky but our guide will help you in doing so without any difficulty or confusion. Also, you will learn a great deal about its components, inbound outbound rules, and how to set Firewall rules. So, without further ado let us get started!

How to Add Windows Defender Firewall Rule?

As we already know, a Firewall helps in providing security to systems and their data from malicious sources. If, however, proper configuration of the Firewall is not done, everything might go in vain.

What is Firewall Configuration?

Firewall configuration involves configuring IP addresses, domain names, and completing other important actions to keep the Firewall secure. Three important Firewall configurations that prevent from data leakage and cyberattacks are:

Packet Filters
Stateful Inspection
Proxy Server Firewalls

What are Components of Firewall?

A Firewall is pre-programmed software with security features that notice and block any & all possible threats. All these features collectively provide multi-layered protection that acts as defense security in modern firewall networks. These components of Firewall include:

Routing
Malware prevention
Data packet filtering
Remote access
Network access control
Spam and phishing protection
Web filtering
Encryption

Inbound Outbound Rules of Windows Defender Firewall

Inbound rules in Firewall are applied to the incoming network traffic coming to the computer
whereas outbound rules apply to the traffic that goes out from the computer.

Both, Inbound outbound rules of Firewall, are served by the pre-installed Windows Defender Firewall on a Windows PC.

How to Set Firewall Rules?

Firewall rules help to examine and control information in individual packets. These rules can control or block this information from entering or leaving your computer depending upon the criteria that are defined by you. Hence, setting Firewall rules is quite helpful.

You can create a new rule by following the detailed steps listed below.

Step I: Access Firewall Interface

The first method to add Windows Firewall rule is to first access Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window interface. One of these common ways to access it is from the control panel as follows:

1. Click on the Windows search bar on your PC, type Control Panel in it, and click on Open.

2. Now, locate and click on Windows Defender Firewall.

3. Next, select Advanced settings from the side panel to access Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security window.

Also Read: How to Block or Unblock Programs In Windows Defender Firewall

Step II: Configure Network Profiles

Now that you have accessed the Advanced Security window of Windows Firewall, it is time to configure network profiles. There are three different profiles:

Domain Profile which is used when the system is connected to a domain,
Private Profile which is used in case the computer is connected to a private network, like home or work, and
Public which is used when the system is connected to a public network like coffee shop Wi-Fi.

Different systems can choose a different profile or even a single computer can use all three profiles in a single day depending upon user’s requirements. Therefore, it is one of the basic steps in the process of how to set or add Windows Firewall rules.

You can follow the steps below to check network profiles:

Note: Blocking Outbound connections will also stop notifications when a program is blocked.

1. Follow the steps mentioned in Method 1 to open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security window.

2. Now, click on Windows Defender Firewall Properties link.

3. The new window contains a separate tab for each profile. You can choose a profile of your choice for example, Domain Profile selected below.

4. Choose Block or Allow (default) option from drop-down menu in respect of:

Inbound connections
Outbound connections
Protected network connections

5. Once done, click on Apply > OK.

Also Read: Fix Windows 10 Network Profile Missing Problem

Step III: Create a Rule

Windows Firewall offers four types of rules which include the following:

Program which tends to block or allow a program,
Port that blocks or allows a port, port range, or protocol,
Predefined which uses a predefined Firewall rule included with Windows, and
lastly, Custom which specifies a combination of program, port, and IP address to either block or allow it.

Now, to create a rule, you would need to select the Inbound Rules or Outbound Rules category and then create a new rule. You can follow the steps below to create one on your PC:

1. In Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security window, and click on Outbound Rules from the left panel.

2. Next, click on New Rule… from the right panel.

3. New Outbound Rule Wizard will open in which you will find different rule types as described earlier

4. Now, to control a program, select Program from the options and click on Next.

5. Using the Browse… button, select the desired program .exe file, and click on Next as depicted below.

6. Select Block the connection option and click on Next as shown.

7. On the next screen, check all the boxes marked Domain, Private, Public, and click on Next.

8. In the next window, enter Name of the rule and give its optional Description. Then, click on Next.

The rule that you created will take effect immediately and will appear in the list for you to disable or delete easily.

Also Read: Fix Windows Firewall problems in Windows 10

Step IV: Restrict Access

You can also restrict access to lock down a program in the Inbound Outbound rules Firewall. This will help you to restrict ports and IP addresses it usually connects to. The following steps will help you to restrict access to a program in Windows Defender Firewall:

1. Click on Inbound Rules from the side panel in the Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security window.

2. Now, select New Rule… from right pane as shown.

3. Select Custom and click on Next.

4. In This program path field, click on Browse… to select .exe file. Then, click on Next.

5. Next, select a Protocol type and Local port and click Next.

Note: In case you are running a web server application, select TCP, and enter 80, 443 in the Local port box.

6. Under Scope tab, you can restrict IP addresses as well. Enter the IP address in Which local IP addresses does this rule apply to? field in case you want the server to communicate with a specific IP address. Again, click on Next.

7. Now, select Allow the connection and then click on Next to apply the rule immediately. This is how you can add Windows Firewall rule.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What are the requirements to configure a Firewall?

Ans. The requirements to configure a Firewall include:

Securing the Firewall
Establishing Firewall zones and IP address structure
Configuring Access Control Lists
Configuring other Firewall services and logging
Testing the Firewall configuration
Finally, managing the Firewall continually

Q2. Do Firewall rules take effect immediately?

Ans. Yes, Firewall rules take effect immediately after you apply them. Whether it’s blocking the traffic coming in the system or going out, every rule gets the job done immediately after it is applied.

Q3. Can I disable or delete the Firewall rules?

Ans. Yes, you can set, enable, disable or delete Firewall rules from the list that you have created.

Q4. Is port 443 secure?

Ans. Yes, port 443 is secure as the information that travels on port 443 is usually encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer and Transport Layer Security; thereby, making it a safe multi-layered port.

Q5. Why is Firewall important?

Ans. A Firewall is extremely important as it prevents hackers or other malicious activities from gaining unauthorized access to the system data files, or other important data. Hence, always make sure that it is enabled & Firewall configuration is proper.

Recommended:

Windows Defender Firewall is indeed a tricky application to use but we hope that our guide has made it possible for you to gain an insight into how to set or add Windows Firewall rule. Let us know about your suggestions and queries, if any, in the comments section below.

How to Add Windows Firewall Rule

Windows Firewall is a powerful tool that helps protect your computer from malicious software and hackers. It can be used to block certain types of traffic, such as incoming connections from the Internet, or to allow certain types of traffic, such as outgoing connections to a specific website. To make sure your computer is secure, you should add rules to the Windows Firewall to control which types of traffic are allowed or blocked.

Step 1: Open the Windows Firewall

To open the Windows Firewall, click the Start button, then type “firewall” in the search box. Click the “Windows Firewall” icon to open the Windows Firewall window.

Step 2: Create a New Rule

In the Windows Firewall window, click the “Advanced Settings” link on the left side of the window. This will open the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window. In the left pane, click the “Inbound Rules” link. Then, in the right pane, click the “New Rule” link.

Step 3: Select the Rule Type

The New Inbound Rule Wizard will open. On the first page, select the type of rule you want to create. You can choose from predefined rules, such as “Allow Remote Desktop” or “Allow File and Printer Sharing”, or you can create a custom rule. For this example, we will create a custom rule.

Step 4: Configure the Rule

On the next page, you will be asked to configure the rule. You can specify the type of traffic you want to allow or block, the source and destination of the traffic, and the action to take when the rule is triggered. When you are finished, click the “Next” button.

Step 5: Name the Rule

On the next page, you will be asked to name the rule. Give it a descriptive name so you can easily identify it later. When you are finished, click the “Finish” button.

Step 6: Test the Rule

Once you have created the rule, you should test it to make sure it is working correctly. To do this, try to access the resource you specified in the rule. If the rule is working correctly, you should be able to access the resource. If not, you may need to adjust the rule settings.

Conclusion

Adding rules to the Windows Firewall is a great way to keep your computer secure. By creating rules to allow or block certain types of traffic, you can make sure your computer is protected from malicious software and hackers. With a few simple steps, you can easily add rules to the Windows Firewall.

Introduction