How to View & Change Firewall Settings on Windows or Mac

Quickly and easily make sure your firewalls are set up correctly

Co-authored by Chiara Corsaro and Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: January 27, 2026 Fact Checked

• Checking Firewall Settings on a PC
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• Checking Firewall Settings on a Mac
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• Video
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• Expert Interview
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• Tips
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• Warnings

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Your computer's firewall is largely responsible for blocking incoming connections that could potentially harm your computer. You can view and modify your firewall settings on any computer, but keep in mind that the firewall application is most effective on PCs. Mac users typically do not need to enable or use the built-in firewall program; however, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Checking Your Firewall Settings

On a PC, check your firewall settings by typing "firewall" into the taskbar search bar and clicking "Windows Firewall." On a Mac, open the Apple menu and go to System Settings > Network > Firewall > Options…. Your firewall must be enabled to edit the settings on a Mac.

Steps

Section 1 of 2:

Checking Firewall Settings on a PC

1. 
   1
   Type "firewall" into the taskbar search bar. Doing so will automatically search your computer for applications matching your typing.
2. 
   2
   Click the "Windows Firewall" option. You should see this at the top of the search window. Make sure to click the option highlighted above, as this will open your firewall settings, and not the firewall itself.
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3. 
   3
   Review your firewall settings. You should see two sections entitled "Private networks" and "Guest or public networks" with green shields to the left of them, signifying that your firewall is active.

   • Clicking on either of these sections will prompt a drop-down menu with details about your current private or public networks.
4. 
   4
   Click on the Advanced Settings option. This is to the left of the main menu; clicking it will open your firewall's advanced settings menu, from which you can view or alter the following:

   • Inbound Rules: Which incoming connections are automatically allowed.
   • Outbound Rules: Which outgoing connections are automatically allowed.
   • Connection Security Rules: Baselines for which connections your computer will allow and which ones it will block.
   • Monitoring: An overview of your firewall's basic monitoring guidelines.
5. 
   5
   Exit the Advanced Settings menu when you're finished. Note that you can also click "Turn Windows Firewall on or off" in the same option menu in which you found Advanced Settings. Be wary of disabling your firewall, especially when connected to a public network.
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Section 2 of 2:

Checking Firewall Settings on a Mac

1. 
   1
   Open the Apple menu and click System Settings. You should see this option in the Apple menu's drop-down list.
2. 
   2
   Click Network. It's in the left-hand menu, near the top. It has a blue icon of a globe.
3. 
   3
   Click Firewall. It's in the main pane of the window, and it has an orange icon of a shield.
4. 
   4
   Toggle on the firewall, if it's not already on. If your firewall is not toggled on, it won't be active. Your firewall must be on to check and edit your firewall settings.
5. 
   5
   Click Options…. This will open your firewall settings. You can customize your firewall's settings from here, including the following:

   • Block all incoming connections: Click this option if you want to refuse all requests to share things like your screen or your files. Basic Apple functionality apps will still come through.
   • Automatically allow built-in/signed software to receive incoming connections: Adds all built-in and/or Apple-certified apps to your "Allowed incoming connections" list at the top of your firewall's Advanced menu.
   • Enable stealth mode: Prevents your computer from responding to "probing" requests.
6. 
   6
   Add programs to your firewall's block or accept list. By adding apps to your accept list, they will be automatically allowed when requesting permission to run. To do this:

   • Click the "+" below the incoming connections window.
   • Click the name of an app you'd like to allow.
   • Repeat for as many apps as you like.
   • You can also click the "-" while an app is selected to remove it from your block or accept list.
7. 
   7
   Click OK when you're done. Doing so will exit the firewall options menu and save your changes.
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Tips

• After enabling your computer's firewall, your computer will generally ask whether you want to "Allow" or "Deny" programs access to your computer whenever you run them.
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Warnings

• Modifying your firewall can have serious security repercussions. Avoid changing firewall settings unless you are familiar with the process.
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