Windows 7 - Windows Firewall - Add or Remove an Exception

**Brink**

How to Add or Remove a Windows Firewall Exception in Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to add or remove a program or feature for each type of network location type (ex: Private or Public) to allow the program or feature through Windows Firewall in Windows 7.

Warning

When you add a program to the list of allowed programs in a firewall you allow a particular program to send information to or from your computer through the firewall. Allowing a program to communicate through a firewall (sometimes called unblocking) is like opening a tiny door in the firewall.

Each time you allow a program to communicate through a firewall, your computer becomes a bit less secure. The more allowed programs your firewall has, the more opportunities there are for hackers or malicious software to use one of those openings to spread a worm, access your files, or use your computer to spread malicious software to others.

To help decrease your security risk:

Only allow a program when you really need to, and remove programs from the list of allowed programs that you no longer need.
Never allow a program that you do not recognize to communicate through the firewall.

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).

2. Click on the Windows Firewall icon.

3. Click on the Allow a program through Windows Firewall link in the left blue pane. (See screenshot below)

4. Click on the Change Settings button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the Change Settings button is grayed out, then it has already been clicked on. You can proceed to either step 5, 6, or 7 for what you would like to do.

5. To Allow or Unallow an Existing Exception
A) On the left side, check the program exception Name box to allow, or uncheck to unallow through Windows Firewall. (see screenshot below)

B) If you allowed the program exception, then check (allow) or uncheck (unallow) the box for each Private or Public network location you want the program to have access through Windows Firewall. (see screenshot below)

6. To Add a Program Exception
A) Click on the Allow another program button. (see screenshot below)

B) If the Program is Listed - (see screenshot below step 6D)
Click on the program to highlight it.

Go to step 6D.

C) If the Program is Not Listed - (see screenshot below step 6D)
Click on the Browse button.

Navigate to the program's exe file location, usually in a C:\Program Files folder, and click on the program's exe file to select (highlight) it and click on the Open button.

D) Click on the Add button. (see screenshot below)

E) Do step 5 to allow to unallow this program exception. (see screenshot below)

7. To Remove a Program Exception
A) Click on the program exception name to select (highlight) it and click on the Remove button. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: This will remove the selected exception immediately.

8. When done, click on OK. (see screenshot below either step 5B or 6E)

9. Close the Windows Firewall window. (see screenshot below step 3)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**meirotstein** · 06-10-2009

Hi,

I tried to follow up your instructions, but the 'Change Settings' button on the firewall 'allow program' dialog in disabled.

Any ideas?

Thank.

**Brink** · 06-10-2009

Hello Meirostein, and welcome to Seven Forums.

This is normal at step 6. You can still make changes by checking or unchecking what you like, then click on OK when done.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**meirotstein** · 06-10-2009

Hi Brink,

And what about adding a port exception. how can I do that?

Thanks for your help!

**Brink** · 06-10-2009

They removed that option from the default Windows Firewall, and moved it to Windows Firewall with Advanced Security instead.

In the left pane, click Advanced settings. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
In the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security dialog box, in the left pane, click Inbound Rules, and then, in the right pane, click New Rule.
Follow the onscreen instructions in the New Inbound Rule wizard.

Hope this helps.

**meirotstein** · 06-11-2009

Thanks!

**Brink** · 06-11-2009

You're welcome.

**katie123** · 01-29-2010

I have a question? I uninstalled a printer and I want to remove the program from my firewall - I clicked "Change Settings" and when I highlight the particular program I want to remove, the "Remove" button becomes unusable. As I scroll down the list, it will become usable for some and not for others. How do I get rid of these programs from my firewall list?

Thanks!
Katie

**Brink** · 01-29-2010

Hello Katie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

For those, about the only thing I know that you can do is to uncheck them from the far left side to not have them filtered with the Firewall anymore. I'll look into seeing if there's a way to remove them from the registry, and will post back if I find a way.

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

**NoN** · 03-17-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello Katie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

For those, about the only thing I know that you can do is to uncheck them from the far left side to not have them filtered with the Firewall anymore. I'll look into seeing if there's a way to remove them from the registry, and will post back if I find a way.

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

Hi Katie & Shawn, you can also remove unwanted/uninstalled programs left in the Windows Firewall from what's been quoted earlier.
Just search the uninstalled program, highlight it then remove with the red "X".

This way they will be removed from the general Windows Firewall list.

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

They removed that option from the default Windows Firewall, and moved it to Windows Firewall with Advanced Security instead.

In the left pane, click Advanced settings. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
In the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security dialog box, in the left pane, click Inbound Rules & Outbound Rules
...Search for the uninstalled/undesired Program, highlight it then remove it from the list

Hope this helps.

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