Step-by-Step Guide: How to Disable Windows Firewall Using PowerShell

While it is generally advisable to keep the Windows Firewall enabled for your security, you may find it necessary to disable it temporarily for testing purposes in your environment. Just follow this step-by-step guide to disable Windows Firewall using PowerShell. After completing your tasks, ensure that you enable the Firewall to maintain your machine’s security.

Windows Firewall operates through three profiles: the Domain profile, Private profile, and Public profile. Each profile is specifically designed for different network environments, offering tailored security settings. Familiarizing yourself with these profiles can help you understand the implications of disabling the firewall. Let’s begin by assessing your current firewall settings before you proceed to disable them.

Checking Windows Firewall Status

To check the current status of the Windows Firewall, you can use the Get-NetFirewallProfile cmdlet. Open PowerShell with administrative privileges and enter the following command:

Get-NetFirewallProfile | Format-Table Name, Enabled

This command will display the status of the firewall for all profiles. You will see whether the firewall is enabled or disabled for the Domain, Private, and Public profiles.

If you find that the firewall is enabled on all profiles and you decide to proceed with the disabling process, continue with the next steps.

Check out my other post about securing an Ubuntu server.

Disabling Windows Firewall

To disable Windows Firewall on all three profiles, you can run a simple command. Use the following cmdlet in PowerShell:

Set-NetFirewallProfile -All -Enabled False

or

Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain,Public, Private -Enabled False

This command effectively turns off the firewall across all profiles. It is vital to execute this command in an elevated PowerShell window to avoid permission issues.

After executing the command, it’s a good practice to verify that the Windows Firewall has indeed been disabled. You can do so by running the Get-NetFirewallProfile cmdlet again:

Get-NetFirewallProfile | Format-Table Name, Enabled

This time, you should see that the status is set to ‘False’ for all profiles. With the firewall turned off, you can now proceed with your testing or installing activities.

Once you have completed your tests, it is imperative to re-enable the Windows Firewall again to protect your system. To do this, simply run the following command in PowerShell:

Set-NetFirewallProfile -All -Enabled True

or

Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain,Public,Private -Enabled True

This command will turn the firewall back on for all profiles, restoring the security settings needed to protect your Windows based machines.

Using Windows Firewall to Block Hackers and Malware

Here’s an interesting video on how to set Windows firewall to block malicious attacks. Hey, having some type of protection is always better than having none at all.

Conclusion About How to Disable Windows Firewall Using PowerShell

Conclusively, you have learned how to disable and re-enable the Windows Firewall in Windows based computer environments using PowerShell. Always be cautious when disabling your firewall, and ensure to turn it back on to maintain protective measures for your system after your work is complete.