You can turn off Microsoft Defender Firewall for a selected network profile in Windows Security, or use PowerShell or Command Prompt for profile-level changes. If a single app is blocked, allow that app through the firewall instead: disabling protection more broadly can expose your device to unauthorized access. The six options below cover three supported ways to turn protection off and their matching ways to restore it.
Before you turn off the firewall
Microsoft recommends keeping Windows Firewall enabled. It filters network traffic, and Microsoft warns that turning it off could make your device more vulnerable to unauthorized access. Disabling profiles also removes benefits such as IPsec connection security rules, protection against network-fingerprinting attacks, Windows Service Hardening, and boot-time filters.
If only one application needs network access, use the option to allow that app through the firewall in Windows Security rather than turning off the firewall. On an organization-managed device, policy may prevent you from changing firewall settings.
1. Turn off a profile in Windows Security
This is the consumer-facing Windows interface. It lets you select the Domain, Private, or Public profile and switch Microsoft Defender Firewall off for that profile.
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- Open Windows Security.
- Select Firewall & network protection.
- Choose the profile you need: Domain network, Private network, or Public network. The page identifies the currently connected network type.
- Switch Microsoft Defender Firewall off.
Use the same profile page to switch the firewall back on when finished. If the control is unavailable, your organization may manage the setting.
2. Turn off profiles with PowerShell
For command-line administration, open PowerShell with administrator privileges. Microsoft documents this command to disable all three firewall profiles:
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Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain,Public,Private -Enabled FalseTo change only one profile, replace the profile list with the applicable name, such as Private:
Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Private -Enabled FalseCheck which network category applies before choosing a profile. To re-enable all three profiles after troubleshooting, run:
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Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain,Public,Private -Enabled True3. Turn off profiles with Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run this Microsoft-documented command to turn off the firewall for all profiles:
netsh.exe advfirewall set allprofiles state offFor a narrower change, replace allprofiles with currentprofile, domainprofile, privateprofile, or publicprofile, as appropriate. Re-enable all profiles afterward with:
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netsh.exe advfirewall set allprofiles state on4–6. Restore protection using the matching method
These three restoration options correspond to the Windows Security, PowerShell, and Command Prompt methods above. Use the same profile scope you changed; the commands below restore all profiles.
4. Switch the profile back on in Windows Security
Return to Windows Security > Firewall & network protection, open the profile you changed, and switch Microsoft Defender Firewall on.
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5. Re-enable all profiles with PowerShell
In an elevated PowerShell session, run:
Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain,Public,Private -Enabled True6. Re-enable all profiles with Command Prompt
In an elevated Command Prompt, run:
netsh.exe advfirewall set allprofiles state onDo not stop the Windows Defender Firewall service
Turning off firewall profiles is not the same as stopping the Windows Defender Firewall service, known as MpsSvc. Microsoft says stopping that service is unsupported and can cause problems, including Start menu failures, modern apps that will not install or update, phone activation failures, and application or operating-system incompatibilities. Keep the service running and change firewall profiles instead.
Choosing the right option
- One blocked app: allow the app through the firewall if appropriate.
- Temporary troubleshooting: use Windows Security for a visual profile-specific change, or use an elevated command line when that suits your workflow.
- Limit exposure: disable only the profile needed, then restore its previous state as soon as the task is complete.
Microsoft also documents Control Panel and Windows Firewall with Advanced Security as firewall tools, but the available guidance does not establish a complete current Windows 11 click path for turning protection off in those consoles. The procedures above use documented routes with clear profile scope.
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