Windows Firewall is your computer's first defense against unauthorized access and online threats. You may need to Disable Windows Firewall Temporarily troubleshoot network issues or use a third-party firewall. But what if you can't turn Windows Firewall back on on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC?
Leaving your firewall disabled can leave your computer vulnerable to all kinds of threats. Therefore, it's essential to address such issues immediately. Below, we share some helpful tips that will allow you to enable your firewall without any problems.
1. Download and run the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter.
Microsoft offers a dedicated troubleshooter to identify and fix issues related to Windows Firewall. While many troubleshooters are built into the Windows operating system, this troubleshooter is not preloaded. Therefore, you'll need to download it first.
Download the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter
Double-click the downloaded file and click "Next" to run the troubleshooter. Wait for the troubleshooter to run, and then check if you can enable the firewall.
2. Disable third-party antivirus software
Third-party antivirus software installed on your computer can also interfere with Windows Firewall and prevent it from working properly. To check this possibility, you can temporarily disable your antivirus software. Then, follow these steps to turn on Windows Firewall.
Step 1: Press the keyboard shortcut Windows + R to open the dialog box. "employment". Type control in the Open field and press OK. Enter.
Step 2: In the Control Panel window, use the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner to change the display type to big icons. Then click on Firewall. Windows Defender.
Step 3: Click an option Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off in the right pane.
Step 4: Locate yes When the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
Step 5: Select an option “Turn on Windows Defender Firewall” Under Private network settings and Public network settings, then click "OK" to save the changes.
3. Perform SFC and DISM scans
Sometimes, problems with system files on your computer can disrupt Windows processes and prevent you from turning on your firewall. Running SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans can help replace problematic system files with their cached versions.
Step 1: Press the Windows + S keyboard shortcut to open the search menu. Type Bus Terminal In the search box, right-click on the first result and select TWorking as an administrator.
SFC / scannow
Step 4: Type the following commands one by one and press Enter After each command to run DISM Check:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This may take some time. After the scan is complete, restart your computer and check if the issue persists.
4. Reset Windows Firewall settings
It's possible that you can't turn on Windows Firewall due to incorrect or corrupted settings. If so, Reset firewall settings It is supposed to restore normalcy. Here are the steps for the same.
Step 1: Click icon Search On the taskbar, type Windows Defender Firewall In the text box, then press Enter.
Step 2: Select an option Restore the default settings from the right part.
Step 3: Locate yes When the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
Step 4: Click the button Restore the default settings.
Step 5: Locate yes When the confirmation pop-up window appears.
5. Edit recording files
Recent system-level changes may have corrupted your computer's registry settings. To rule out this possibility, you should check your firewall-related registry entries and ensure they are configured correctly.
It is important to note that making incorrect changes to registry files may render your system inoperable. Therefore, you should consider Back up all registry files Or Create a restore point Before proceeding with the steps below.
Step 1: Press the keyboard shortcut Windows + R to open the dialog box. "employment". Type regedit in the box and click Enter.
Step 2: Locate yes When the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
Step 3: Paste the following path into the address bar at the top and press Enter.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
Step 4: If you see DisableAntiSpyware DWORD In the left pane, right-click on it and select delete. If there is no such entry, there is no need to worry about it.
Step 5: Paste the following path into the address bar and press Enter. Right-click on the BFE key and select Permissions.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BFE
Step 6: Click the button addition.
Step 7: Type everyone in the text field. Enter the names of the objects to be selected. And click "OK".
Step 8: Select all within “Group or user names” Select the checkbox. "Allow" next to "full control".Then click on Application ثم OK.
Restart your computer to apply the changes. Then try enabling the firewall again.
6. Scan for malware
If you still can't turn on Windows Firewall, your computer is likely infected with malware. You need to Scan your computer for malware using Windows Defender To check if this is the case, if the scan reveals anything suspicious, follow the recommended steps to remove the threat.
Securing your world
It's essential to keep Windows Firewall enabled at all times. Following the tips above should resolve any issues on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, and you can turn on Windows Firewall. As always, let us know which solution works for you in the comments below.
