Reset Windows Firewall Settings to Default in Windows 10

To reset Windows Firewall settings to default in Windows 10, open Control Panel, go to Windows Defender Firewall, click “Restore defaults” on the left, then click “Restore defaults” again in the confirmation window. This restores all firewall rules to the state they were in when Windows was first installed, which can fix broken network access or blocked programs.

Why Reset the Firewall?

Windows Firewall is a built-in security feature that filters incoming and outgoing network traffic based on a set of rules. Over time, those rules can become corrupted or misconfiguredâ€”often after a third-party security suite is uninstalled, after a failed Windows update, or when a user manually edits advanced settings. Symptoms include programs losing internet access, shared folders becoming unreachable, or the firewall service failing to start. Resetting to default is a reliable troubleshooting step because it wipes out every custom rule and restores the original Microsoft-defined policy.

It is important to understand that a reset does not delete the firewall itself or disable it. After the reset, the firewall remains on with its default inbound-block/outbound-allow behavior. What you lose are all rules you or an application createdâ€”for example, a port opening for a game server or an exception for a printer. You will need to re-add those after the reset.

What Exactly Gets Restored

Windows 10 ships with a default firewall policy that includes three profiles: Domain, Private, and Public. Each profile has a default action (block inbound connections that do not match an allow rule, allow all outbound unless blocked) and a set of built-in rules for core networking services like DHCP, DNS, and file sharing. The reset command restores:

All default inbound and outbound rules
Profile settings (notifications, unicast responses, etc.)
IPsec and connection security rules
Firewall service state (set to start automatically)

It does not affect third-party firewall software or antivirus programs, though those may need to be reinstalled or reconfigured to work with the new default rules.

Step-by-Step Reset via Control Panel

Press Windows + R, type control, and press Enter.
Click System and Security (if View by is set to Category) or Windows Defender Firewall directly (if View by is set to Large/Small icons).
In the left pane, click Restore defaults.
Click the Restore defaults button in the confirmation dialog.
Click Yes when prompted by User Account Control.

That is all. The firewall resets immediately; no reboot is required, but restarting the computer is a good idea if you were troubleshooting a persistent issue.

Alternative: Reset via Command Line or PowerShell

If you prefer the command line, you can use the netsh command. Open an elevated Command Prompt (right-click Start, choose “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”) and run:

netsh advfirewall reset

This performs the same reset as the Control Panel method. It is faster and works even when the graphical interface is unresponsive. The command returns no success message, but you can verify by checking the firewall status with netsh advfirewall show allprofiles.

What to Do After the Reset

After resetting, test your network connectivity. Open a browser and visit a website, try to ping another device on your local network, and check if the problem you were solving is gone. If you had custom rules for specific apps (like allowing remote desktop or a game server), you will need to re-create them:

Go to Windows Defender Firewall > Advanced settings.
Click Inbound Rules or Outbound Rules.
Click New Rule and follow the wizard to allow a program or port.

If the issue was that a program was blocked, you can also just allow it through the firewall via the “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall” link in the main firewall window.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

Misconception: Resetting the firewall will delete all my network settings. It does not. It only resets firewall rules and policies. Your IP address, DNS, Wi-Fi passwords, and network shares are untouched.

Problem: After reset, some apps stop working. That is expected if those apps relied on custom inbound rules. Re-add the rules or allow the apps through the firewall again.

Problem: The firewall service won’t start after reset. This is rare, but if it happens, open Services (services.msc), find “Windows Defender Firewall,” set its startup type to Automatic, and start it. If it fails, run the Windows Firewall troubleshooter from Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

Misconception: Resetting fixes all firewall-related issues. It fixes rule corruption, but not problems caused by third-party security software, malware, or a damaged Windows installation. If the reset does not help, consider running sfc /scannow or a system restore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting the firewall disable it?

No. The firewall remains enabled with default settings. It will still block unsolicited inbound traffic and allow most outbound traffic. The reset only restores the rules to their original state.

Do I need to be an administrator to reset?

Yes. You must have administrative privileges. Both the Control Panel method and the netsh command will trigger a User Account Control prompt. If you are on a work or school computer, you may need to contact your IT department.

Will resetting the firewall affect my VPN or remote desktop?

It can. If you had manually opened port 3389 for Remote Desktop or created rules for your VPN client, those rules will be removed. You will need to re-add them. Built-in VPN protocols like PPTP and L2TP have default rules that are restored, so those may work without reconfiguration.

Is there a way to back up my firewall rules before resetting?

Yes. In the Advanced Security window, you can right-click the root node and select “Export Policy.” This saves a .wfw file that you can later import to restore your rules. It is a good idea to do this before a reset if you think you might need to revert.

How often should I reset the firewall?

Only when troubleshooting. There is no routine maintenance reason to reset. If you frequently need to reset, look for a patternâ€”perhaps a third-party security suite that overwrites rules, or a Windows update that conflicts with your custom settings.

Does resetting the firewall affect other users on the same computer?

Yes, because firewall rules are system-wide. All user profiles share the same firewall policy, so the reset affects everyone who uses that computer.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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