To allow incoming connections through Windows 10 Firewall, create a narrowly scoped rule under Inbound Rules in Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security. To close an exception, disable the matching rule. Allowing an app is generally safer than leaving a port open, so use a port rule only when the application’s requirements call for one.
Before you open a port
A firewall rule permits traffic; it does not make an application listen on that port or guarantee traffic can reach your PC. Confirm the app or service’s required port, protocol (TCP or UDP), and connection direction first. Windows 10’s built-in firewall settings are the only Windows changes covered here; router port forwarding is a separate configuration.
Microsoft advises that it is generally safer to add an app to the allowed-app list than to open a port. An allowed app opens required ports only when needed, while a port exception remains open until you close it. See Microsoft’s Windows Firewall guidance.
Open an inbound port in Windows 10
- Open Windows Security, then select Firewall & network protection.
- Select Advanced settings. Approve the administrator prompt if one appears.
- In the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window, select Inbound Rules in the left pane. Under Actions, select New Rule.
- Select Port, then select Next. Choose TCP or UDP as required by the application. Enter the specific local port, then continue. Inbound rules typically specify a local port.
- Select Allow the connection. Choose only the network profiles where the connection should be permitted, then continue.
- Give the rule a clear name that identifies its purpose and port, then finish the wizard.
For more control, choose Custom instead of the simpler Port rule. Microsoft’s inbound-rule guidance describes combining port and program criteria, as well as narrowing the rule by service or address scope. Use those options when practical so the exception applies only to the needed traffic. You can open the advanced firewall console directly by running wf.msc.
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Choose the right rule type and scope
| Choice | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Inbound rule | Traffic initiated by another device or service and received by this PC. Specify the local port. |
| Outbound rule | Traffic initiated from this PC. Outbound port rules typically specify a remote port; Windows allows outbound traffic by default unless a blocking rule applies. |
| TCP or UDP | Select the protocol documented by the application or service. They are separate choices; do not assume that permitting one permits the other. |
| Network profile | Select only the profile or profiles where the service should accept connections. |
| Program, service, or address scope | Where feasible, restrict the rule to the relevant application or service and the necessary IP addresses. |
If your goal is to accept an incoming connection, do not add an outbound rule as a routine extra step. The necessary direction depends on the traffic the service actually uses.
Close a port by disabling its rule
- Open Windows Security → Firewall & network protection → Advanced settings.
- Select Inbound Rules and locate the rule that created the exception. Check its name and settings so you disable the correct rule.
- Select the rule, then choose Disable Rule under Actions.
Disabling a rule stops it from applying while preserving it for possible re-enabling. For command-line administration, Microsoft documents deleting a named rule with netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name="MyRule"; deletion removes the rule rather than preserving it. See the netsh advfirewall command reference.
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Optional: create or delete a rule with netsh
Run Command Prompt as an administrator and substitute the port, protocol, and unique rule name required by your service. Microsoft’s example allows inbound TCP traffic on port 8080:
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Allow8080" protocol=TCP dir=in localport=8080 action=allow
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To remove a rule created with a particular name, use that exact name in the delete command:
netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name="MyRule"
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These examples are not universal settings: use the documented port and protocol for your application, and choose a distinctive name so you can identify the rule later. The command reference also documents ways to list active rules and export firewall policy.
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If the connection still does not work
- Verify the service: Check that the application is running and listening on the port you allowed.
- Check the rule: Confirm it is enabled and that its direction, TCP/UDP selection, local port, profile, program, and address scope match the intended connection.
- Check the network path: A Windows Firewall rule does not configure a router or upstream network. If connections originate outside the local network, any needed router configuration is a separate step.
- Check device management: On a work or school PC, organization policy may prevent changes. Contact the administrator rather than trying to bypass policy.
- Avoid disabling the firewall: Turning off the entire firewall can make the PC more vulnerable and is not a routine fix for one application. Microsoft’s Windows Security guidance also warns that incorrect advanced changes can increase exposure or disrupt apps; it documents restoring firewall settings to defaults, after which organization-applied policies may be reapplied.
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