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Use netsh advfirewall firewall instead of netsh firewall to control Windows Firewall behavior

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This article describes how to use the netsh advfirewall firewall context instead of the netsh firewall context to control Windows Firewall behavior.

Applies to:   Windows Server 2012 R2
Original KB number:   947709

Summary

The netsh advfirewall firewall command-line context is available in Windows Server 2012 R2. This context provides the functionality for controlling Windows Firewall behavior that was provided by the netsh firewall firewall context.

This context also provides functionality for more precise control of firewall rules. These rules include the following per-profile settings:

  • Domain
  • Private
  • Public

The netsh firewall command-line context might be deprecated in a future version of the Windows operating system. We recommend that you use the netsh advfirewall firewall context to control firewall behavior.

Important

If you are a member of the Administrators group, and User Account Control is enabled on your computer, run the commands from a command prompt with elevated permissions. To start a command prompt with elevated permissions, find the icon or Start menu entry that you use to start a command prompt session, right-click it, and then click Run as administrator.

Some examples of frequently used commands are provided in the following tables. You can use these examples to help you migrate from the older netsh firewall context to the new netsh advfirewall firewall context.

Additionally, the netsh advfirewall commands that you can use to obtain detailed inline help are provided.

Command example 1: Enable a program

Old command New command
netsh firewall add allowedprogram C:\MyApp\MyApp.exe "My Application" ENABLE netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="My Application" dir=in action=allow program="C:\MyApp\MyApp.exe" enable=yes
netsh firewall add allowedprogram program=C:\MyApp\MyApp.exe name="My Application" mode=ENABLE scope=CUSTOM addresses=157.60.0.1,172.16.0.0/16,LocalSubnet profile=Domain netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="My Application" dir=in action=allow program= "C:\MyApp\MyApp.exe" enable=yes remoteip=157.60.0.1,172.16.0.0/16,LocalSubnet profile=domain
netsh firewall add allowedprogram program=C:\MyApp\MyApp.exe name="My Application" mode=ENABLE scope=CUSTOM addresses=157.60.0.1,172.16.0.0/16,LocalSubnet profile=ALL Run the following commands:
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="My Application" dir=in action=allow program= "C:\MyApp\MyApp.exe" enable=yes remoteip=157.60.0.1,172.16.0.0/16,LocalSubnet profile=domain
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="My Application" dir=in action=allow program="C:\MyApp\MyApp.exe" enable=yes remoteip=157.60.0.1,172.16.0.0/16,LocalSubnet profile=private

For more information about how to add firewall rules, run the following command:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule ?

Command example 2: Enable a port

Old command New command
netsh firewall add portopening TCP 80 "Open Port 80" netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name= "Open Port 80" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=80

For more information about how to add firewall rules, run the following command:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule ?

Command example 3: Delete enabled programs or ports

Old command New command
netsh firewall delete allowedprogram C:\MyApp\MyApp.exe netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name= rule name program="C:\MyApp\MyApp.exe"
delete portopening protocol=UDP port=500 netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name= rule name protocol=udp localport=500

For more information about how to delete firewall rules, run the following command:

netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule ?

Command example 4: Configure ICMP settings

Old command New command
netsh firewall set icmpsetting 8 netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="ICMP Allow incoming V4 echo request" protocol=icmpv4:8,any dir=in action=allow
netsh firewall set icmpsetting type=ALL mode=enable netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name= "All ICMP V4" protocol=icmpv4:any,any dir=in action=allow
netsh firewall set icmpsetting 13 disable all netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Block Type 13 ICMP V4" protocol=icmpv4:13,any dir=in action=block

For more information about how to configure ICMP settings, run the following command:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule ?

Command example 5: Set logging

Old command New command
netsh firewall set logging %systemroot%\system32\LogFiles\Firewall\pfirewall.log 4096 ENABLE ENABLE Run the following commands:
netsh advfirewall set currentprofile logging filename %systemroot%\system32\LogFiles\Firewall\pfirewall.log
netsh advfirewall set currentprofile logging maxfilesize 4096
netsh advfirewall set currentprofile logging droppedconnections enable
netsh advfirewall set currentprofile logging allowedconnections enable

For more information, run the following command:

netsh advfirewall set currentprofile ?

If you want to set logging for a particular profile, use one of the following options instead of the currentprofile option:

  • Domainprofile
  • Privateprofile
  • Publicprofile

Command example 6: Enable Windows firewall

Old command New command
netsh firewall set opmode ENABLE netsh advfirewall set currentprofile state on
netsh firewall set opmode mode=ENABLE exceptions=enable Run the following commands:
Netsh advfirewall set currentprofile state on
netsh advfirewall set currentprofile firewallpolicy blockinboundalways,allowoutbound
netsh firewall set opmode mode=enable exceptions=disable profile=domain Run the following commands:
Netsh advfirewall set domainprofile state on
netsh advfirewall set domainprofile firewallpolicy blockinbound,allowoutbound
netsh firewall set opmode mode=enable profile=ALL Run the following commands:
netsh advfirewall set domainprofile state on
netsh advfirewall set privateprofile state on

For more information, run the following command:

netsh advfirewall set currentprofile ?

If you want to set the firewall state for a particular profile, use one of the following options instead of the currentprofile option:

  • Domainprofile
  • Privateprofile
  • Publicprofile

Command example 7: Restore policy defaults

Old command New command
netsh firewall reset netsh advfirewall reset

For more information, run the following command:

netsh advfirewall reset ?

Command example 8: Enable specific services

Old command New command
netsh firewall set service FileAndPrint netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing" new enable=Yes
netsh firewall set service RemoteDesktop enable netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="remote desktop" new enable=Yes
netsh firewall set service RemoteDesktop enable profile=ALL Run the following commands:

netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="remote desktop" new enable=Yes profile=domain

netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="remote desktop" new enable=Yes profile=private