The Windows Firewall acts like a argue betwixt your computer and the residue of the Net world, keeping unwanted network traffic from coming in, and keeping apps on your computer from communicating with the outside world. But every argue needs a gate, and that's where exceptions come in.

When you let an app to communicate through the firewall, information technology's chosen adding an "exception". For the most office, this all happens automatically. Windows creates exceptions for its own system services and apps, and when yous install a new app that wants to communicate with the outside world, Windows volition inquire you if information technology's allowed to do so.

Sometimes, though, you might want to create an exception manually to allow an app to communicate with the Internet. Peradventure it'south a app you originally said no to when Windows asked, but now you've changed your listen. Or maybe it's an app that only didn't become configured automatically for some reason. In those cases, you'll need to head into Windows' firewall settings.

How to Add an Exception Manually

First the Windows Firewall settings by clicking Start and searching for Firewall. Click the Windows Firewall app and not Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. We'll talk about that one a flake later.

Firewall Start

The Windows Firewall screen shows you how the firewall is configured for both private networks (such every bit your home or work) and public networks (the ones you lot connect to on your laptop out in the earth). On the list of settings to the left, click "Let an app or feature through Windows Firewall".

Firewall main

The next view shows y'all a list of all the apps that are already allowed to communicate, and over what kinds of networks (private or public). If it's the first time you've opened Windows Firewall, click the Change Settings button to requite yourself permissions to make changes or add new apps. You'll only demand to exercise this once. To add a new app to the listing, click "Allow another app".

view apps

In the Add together an app window, scan for the app you desire to allow network admission to. Click the Network types push to specify whether y'all want to permit the app admission on public or private networks (or both). Click Add when you're done and that's it. You've immune the app through your firewall–you'll run into information technology testify upwards on the list of allowed apps, and it should be allowed to use internet or network-related features.

pick app

How to Configure Advanced Firewall Rules

Windows actually provides you with two different interfaces for working with the firewall. The basic Settings interface nosotros only looked at is by far the simplest way merely to allow an app to communicate. Another tool, Windows Firewall with Advanced Security, has a lot more options. You can use it do things like:

  • Create rules governing inbound and outbound traffic for not just apps, but also network traffic coming in over a specific port. A good apply of this might be directing incoming traffic that uses a particular port number to a selected app.
  • Direct network traffic to particular computers on your local network based on the app or port numbers.
  • Create connection security rules that force other computers attempting to communicate with yours to employ different types of hallmark protocols to found their identity.
  • Monitor the use of rules and other security associations.

Information technology'due south unlikely that you'll ever need whatsoever of the features offered by Windows Firewall with Avant-garde Security except in special circumstances. Maybe you use one of your computers to share your Internet connection and serve as the primary firewall for your network. Withal, information technology's helpful to know the options are there if yous demand them, even it's just for knowing why ii different Windows Firewall apps appear when you search for them.

Also keep in mind that almost homes and businesses have a dedicated hardware firewall built into their router, making it even less likely you'll demand these types of features on your Windows computer. If you do demand to gear up rules for directing traffic, y'all'll probably do it on the router itself.