How to Find and Use the Windows 11 Firewall

This article explains how to find and use the Windows 11 firewall, including how to turn it on and whether or not you should use it.

Is Windows 11 Firewall Good Enough?

The Windows Defender anti-malware package has seen a lot of improvement since it was first introduced, and the version included with Windows 11 is very good at catching and eliminating malware. Most people can get by with the Windows Defender antivirus component without installing a secondary antivirus or anti-malware package.

Some premium antivirus programs are more highly rated than Defender in catching and eliminating new and unknown malware. We find the firewall component of Windows Defender is good enough for most situations.

Should I Turn On Windows 11 Firewall?

Windows Defender is on by default and, if you don’t have any other firewall running, you should leave the default firewall on. If you’ve turned the firewall off for some reason, and you didn’t replace it with a different firewall program, then you should turn on the Windows 11 firewall. Without a firewall, your computer is vulnerable to external attacks.

Here’s how to turn on the Windows 11 firewall:

1. Right-click the Windows icon on the taskbar.

   

2. Click Settings.

   

3. Click Privacy & security.

   

4. Click Windows Security.

   

5. Click Firewall & network protection.

   

6. Click Public network to examine your firewall settings.

   

   The other firewalls will also be on, but the public firewall is the only one which affects your internet connection.

7. If the firewall is on, the Microsoft Defender Firewall toggle will be on.

   

8. If you click the toggle, Microsoft Defender will turn off, and you’ll see a red x with a warning message.

   

   Don't click this toggle and turn off the firewall unless you have a good reason, like to temporarily troubleshoot a network issue, or if you have another firewall installed.

9. If you view the Firewall & network protection screen with your public firewall off, you will see this warning message. If the screen looks like this for you, select Restore settings to turn the firewall on.

   

Is Windows Defender the Same as Windows Firewall?

Microsoft Defender is an anti-malware component built into Windows 11. While Windows Defender started as a fairly basic antivirus program, it incorporates anti-malware functionality, real-time protection, browser integration for Edge and Chrome, controlled folder access to protect against ransomware, a firewall, and other anti-malware features.

If you see a reference to the Windows firewall, it’s the firewall functionality of Defender being referenced. There is no Windows firewall separate from Defender, as Defender is Microsoft’s all-in-one anti-malware package.

How Do I Turn On Windows 11 Firewall Automatically?

There is no need to turn on the Windows 11 firewall automatically, as it is enabled by default. If you don’t do anything after installing Windows 11, the firewall will be on automatically and stay on. If you turn it off for any reason, it will stay off until you turn it back on.

Just follow the steps outlined earlier in this article to turn the firewall back on. If the firewall is ever off, and there aren’t any other firewalls active, you’ll see a warning on the Firewall & network protection window, with the option to turn the firewall back on.