Share this article

Improve this guide

How to Check if Firewall is Blocking a Port or a Program

Learn to optimally configure the Firewall in no time

3 min. read

Updated onJuly 9, 2024

updated onJuly 9, 2024

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

The Windows Firewall is a built-insecurity applicationthat comes with Windows OS. But many of us would want to know how to check if the firewall is blocking a port or program in Windows.

Users can configure the Windows Firewall settings as per their need to block or open ports in Windows 10 and other versions. However, at times, the Firewall may block ports or programs accidentally or due to misconfigured settings.

Why is Windows Firewall not allowing ports to access the Internet?

If this issue occurs, the port may be blocked, but luckily, there’s a way toopen firewall ports in Windows, and it’s easier than you think.

Sometimes, your configuration might not be correct, causing theWindows Firewall rule to block a connection.

A few users reported thatWindows Firewall is disabled, but it’s still blocking apps, and your policy settings likely cause this, so you’ll need to adjust them.

How do I check if the Firewall is blocking a port?

How do I check if the Firewall is blocking a port?

1. Check your Firewall Settings

The best way to check whether your Windows Firewall is blocking a port is to check your Firewall Settings. This can be done via your PC’s built-in settings in just a few clicks.

  1. Press theWindowskey +Rto open the Run dialog box.

  2. Typecontroland pressOKto open Control Panel.

  3. Click onSystem and Security.

4.Scroll down and openAdministrative Tools.

  1. In the Administrative Tools window, openWindows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.

  2. Click onActionsand selectProperties.

  3. Now select your preferred Profile (Domain, Private, Public).

8.In theLoggingsection, click on theCustomizebutton.

  1. Click on the drop-down menu forLog dropped packets:and selectYes.

  2. Take note of thepfirewall.logpath in theNamesection.

11.ClickOKto save the changes.

12.OpenFile Explorerand navigate the following path to access the log files:C:\WINDOWS\System32\LogFiles\Firewall

  1. Click on thepfirewall.log fileand check for any blocked ports. In case you can’t access the folder, you might have tochange the ownershipin order to access files.

2. Check for Blocked Ports using Command Prompt

How to check if Windows Firewall is blocking a program?

In the Customize Settings window, click the circle(s) next to Turn off Windows Defender Firewall for public networks, private networks, or both.

That’s about it for this article on checking if the Firewall is blocking a port or a program. Make sure you follow the solutions thoroughly and see what works for you.

And if you are facing slow Internet speed, tryblocking Internet access for specific apps, especially the ones that keep downloading files in the background.

In case you’re having issues, you might want toremove duplicate Windows Firewall rules, and we have a guide to help you with that.

We also have a guide on how toallow Chrome to access the network in your firewall, so don’t miss it.

Feel free to send us feedback in the comment section below.

More about the topics:All the Windows 10 tips you need to Know,firewall

Tashreef Shareef

Tashreef Shareef is a software developer turned tech writer. He discovered his interest in technology after reading a tech magazine accidentally. Now he writes about everything tech from Windows to iOS and streaming services to IoT at WindowsReport.

User forum

1 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Δ

Tashreef Shareef