Turn Windows Firewall On with No Exceptions

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Use this procedure when you want to turn on Windows Firewall and prevent all exceptions from taking effect. This procedure is useful when you are connected to a public network, such as the Internet, or a nonsecure private network. When you perform this procedure, all of the exceptions in the exceptions list are disabled and all unsolicited incoming TCP/IP traffic is blocked.

Administrative Credentials

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

Special Considerations

You can configure Windows Firewall settings in the standard profile or the domain profile. The domain profile is used when a computer is connected to a network in which the computer's domain account resides. The standard profile is used when a computer is connected to a network in which the computer's domain account does not reside, such as a public network or the Internet. Make sure Windows Firewall is using the correct profile when you perform this procedure.

For more information about Windows Firewall profiles, see Managing Windows Firewall Profiles.

To turn on Windows Firewall with no exceptions

This procedure can be performed using the graphical user interface or the command prompt.

Using the graphical user interface

To turn Windows Firewall on with no exceptions

  1. Open Windows Firewall.

  2. Click On, select the Don't allow exceptions check box, and then click OK.

If a Windows Firewall setting appears dimmed in the graphical user interface, and on the General tab, you see For your security, some settings are controlled by Group Policy, the setting might be managed by Group Policy. If all Windows Firewall settings appear dimmed, and on the General tab, you see You must be a computer administrator to change these settings, you do not have administrative rights to configure Windows Firewall.

Using the command prompt

To turn Windows Firewall on with no exceptions

  • Type the following at the command prompt, and press ENTER:

    netsh firewall set opmode mode = enable exceptions = disable

If you get an "Access Denied" message when you run a command, you do not have administrative rights to configure Windows Firewall. If you get an "Ok" message but the command does not take effect, the setting might be managed by Group Policy.

Notes

  • To start Windows Firewall, click Start, point to Control Panel, and then click Windows Firewall.

  • To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.

  • Windows Firewall is not included in the original release of the Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

  • You can also use Group Policy settings to perform this procedure and configure other Windows Firewall settings.

See Also

Concepts

Enabling and Disabling Windows Firewall
Turn Windows Firewall On or Off
Turn Windows Firewall On or Off for a Specific Connection
Known Issues for Managing Resets, Startup, and Shutdown