How to Reset Default Firewall Settings in Windows 11

What is Windows Firewall?

Windows Firewall acts like a security guard for your computer, blocking unwanted access from the internet or your network.

Method 1Reset Firewall Using the Windows Security App

You can reset your Windows 11 firewall to its original factory settings using the Windows Security app. This method restores your firewall to how it was when Windows 11 was first installed. It’s a helpful first step if you’re experiencing network problems.

1. Click the ⊞ Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
2. ⚙️ Click Settings (the gear icon).

3. In ⚙️ the Settings window, click Privacy & security on the left side. Then click Windows Security.

4. Click the Open Windows Security button.

5. In the Windows Security app, click on Firewall & network protection. You can also open this directly by clicking here.

6. Scroll down and click Restore firewalls to default.

7. When a pop-up appears, click Restore defaults.
8. Click Yes if asked to confirm.

Windows 11’s firewall now reverts to its original settings. This action ensures the computer uses standard firewall rules recommended by Microsoft, offering the default protection level.

Method 2Reset Firewall Using Advanced Security

If you need more granular control when resetting your firewall, the Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security tool is the way to go. This feature lets you see and change more settings to get your firewall back to its default, offering a deeper way to manage your computer’s protection.

1. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run box.
2. Type wf.msc and press Enter.
3. In the window that opens, click on Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security on Local Computer on the left side.
4. On the right side, find and click Restore Default Policy.
5. Confirm any pop-ups that appear.

Method 3Reset Firewall Using Command Prompt

For those who prefer using commands, resetting the Windows 11 firewall with Command Prompt is a quick way to restore its default settings. This method requires administrator rights. A single command, `netsh advfirewall reset`, resets the firewall, making the process very efficient.

Prefer commands? This method is quick and direct. One command does all the work for you.

1. Right-click the ⊞ Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
2. If needed, click the down arrow at the top and select the Command Prompt tab.
3. Type the following command and press Enter:

This command immediately resets your Windows 11 firewall to its default settings. This action restores all firewall rules and configurations to the factory defaults, ensuring proper network protection without custom changes.

Method 4Reset Firewall Using PowerShell

You can also reset your Windows 11 firewall using PowerShell, a powerful command-line tool that needs administrator access. This method is helpful because PowerShell lets you precisely manage and reset the Windows Defender Firewall right back to its default state.

The PowerShell command line offers another method to reset firewall settings. This method is useful because PowerShell directly interacts with Windows Defender Firewall, allowing precise control over its configurations for users needing a command-line approach to restore default security rules.

1. Open Windows Terminal (Admin) again.
2. Choose the PowerShell tab.
3. Type this command and press Enter:

(New-Object -ComObject HNetCfg.FwPolicy2).RestoreLocalFirewallDefaults()

What happens? PowerShell will reset your firewall settings back to default immediately.

Summary

• The Windows Security app is the easiest way to reset your firewall.
• Advanced Security gives you more control if you need it.
• Command Prompt and PowerShell are for people comfortable with typing commands.
• Resetting your firewall fixes problems caused by wrong settings.
• Following these steps keeps your PC safe from threats online.