Thread: How to Add or Remove Windows Firewall Exceptions (Programs and Ports) in Windows 7?

How to Add or Remove Windows Firewall Exceptions (Programs and Ports) in Windows 7?

If you add a program to Windows Firewall Exception, you allow that program to send information over the network to or from your computer. Be careful while using this setting as this setting might compromise with the security of your system.

To add or remove Windows Firewall Exceptions (Programs and Ports) follow these simple steps:

1) Open Start menu and click the Control Panel link

2) In the Control Panel window double click the Windows Firewall icon



Figure 1


3) Now click on Allow a program through Windows Firewall link given in the left pane.



Figure 2


4) In the Windows Firewall Settings window and under Exceptions tab you will notice a list of Program or Port that can be added as a exception



Figure 3


5) Now check the Program or Port which you want to add to the exceptions on the list as highlighted in the Figure 3

OR

Uncheck the Program or Port which you want to remove from the exceptions on the list as highlighted in the Figure 3

6) If your desired program is not on the list then click Add program… button to add a program as highlighted in the Figure 3

7) Now choose from the desired programs and click OK button



Figure 4


8) Similarly if your desired port is not on the list then click Add port… button to add a port as highlighted in the Figure 3

9) Now type the Name and Port number of the desired port and select type of protocol (TCP or UDP) and click OK button



Figure 5


10) Finally click Apply and then OK button in the Windows Firewall Settings window.

11) Close Windows Firewall window.

Always good to see a Windows Firewall article - but this is unfortunately very outdated! The screenshots above must have been taken from a very early Windows 7 build, because if you install Windows 7 Beta you will see that the Firewall control panel is now completely different!

I'd suggest installing the beta (or wait for RC) and then write another article for the new control panel in Windows 7.