How to Fix Windows Firewall That Won’t Turn On in Windows 11

Windows Firewall is an important security feature that helps protect your computer from unauthorized network connections. It works in the background and monitors network traffic between your PC and other devices or services. When Windows Firewall is turned off or refuses to start, Windows may display security warnings and some network-related features may not work as expected.

Sometimes the firewall fails to turn on because of a stopped Windows service, corrupted system files, incorrect security settings, third-party antivirus software, or a damaged firewall configuration. The problem can also appear after a Windows update or after installing security or networking software.

If you cannot turn on Windows Firewall in Windows 11, you can work through the methods below. Start with the simpler solutions before making advanced changes to system settings.

Method 1: Turn On Windows Firewall From Windows Security

The first thing to try is enabling the firewall through Windows Security.

1. Press Windows + S.
2. Search for Windows Security.
3. Open the app.
4. Click Firewall & network protection.
5. Select your active network profile.
6. Find Microsoft Defender Firewall.
7. Turn on the firewall switch.

Windows 11 normally provides separate firewall settings for different network profiles, such as domain, private, and public networks.

If Windows allows you to enable the firewall, the problem is resolved.

If the switch is unavailable, immediately turns off again, or Windows displays an error, continue with the next method.

Method 2: Restart the Windows Defender Firewall Service

The Windows Defender Firewall service needs to be running for the firewall to operate correctly.

You can restart it through the Services application.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

services.msc

3. Press Enter.
4. Find Windows Defender Firewall.
5. Double-click the service.
6. Check the Startup type.
7. Set it to Automatic if appropriate.
8. Click Start if the service is stopped.
9. If it is already running, click Stop and then Start.
10. Click Apply and then OK.

Restart your PC after changing the service.

If the service refuses to start, note any error message that Windows displays. That message can provide a clue about whether another service or system component is causing the problem.

Method 3: Restart Related Windows Services

Windows Firewall relies on other Windows components. If a required service is not running, the firewall may fail to start.

Open the Services application again:

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter services.msc.
3. Press Enter.
4. Look for services related to Windows networking and security.
5. Check whether required services are running.
6. Restart the Windows Defender Firewall service afterward.

You should avoid randomly changing the startup type of Windows services. Some services have dependencies and changing them unnecessarily can create additional problems.

If Windows reports a service dependency error, open the firewall service properties and check the Dependencies tab. This can help identify another service that needs attention.

Method 4: Reset Windows Firewall Settings

A corrupted or incorrectly configured firewall rule can sometimes prevent the firewall from working normally.

You can reset the firewall configuration to its default settings.

1. Press Windows + S.
2. Search for Windows Security.
3. Open Firewall & network protection.
4. Scroll down.
5. Select Restore firewalls to default.
6. Confirm the reset.

Resetting the firewall removes custom firewall rules and returns the firewall configuration to its default state.

If you previously created rules for applications, games, remote access, or other services, you may need to configure those rules again after the reset.

This method is particularly useful if the firewall problem started after extensive firewall configuration changes.

Method 5: Repair Windows System Files

Corrupted Windows system files can cause built-in security components to stop working correctly.

Windows includes System File Checker, which can scan and repair protected system files.

1. Press Windows + S.
2. Search for Command Prompt.
3. Right-click it.
4. Select Run as administrator.
5. Enter:

sfc /scannow

6. Press Enter.
7. Wait for the scan to reach 100 percent.

Do not close the Command Prompt window while the scan is running.

When the scan finishes, Windows will report whether it found corrupted files and whether it was able to repair them.

Restart the computer afterward and try turning on Windows Firewall again.

If SFC reports that it could not repair some files, use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool.

Open an elevated Command Prompt and run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Wait for the process to finish. Then run:

sfc /scannow

Restart Windows after both operations have completed.

Method 6: Remove Conflicts From Third-Party Security Software

Third-party antivirus, firewall, VPN, or internet-security applications can sometimes interfere with Microsoft’s built-in firewall.

If you recently installed security or networking software and the firewall stopped working afterward, that software may be involved.

Check the applications installed on your PC.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Click Installed apps.
4. Look for third-party antivirus or firewall software.
5. Check its settings for network or firewall controls.

If the program provides its own firewall, Windows Firewall may behave differently while that product is active.

Do not leave your computer without firewall or security protection while testing. If you temporarily disable a third-party security product for troubleshooting, re-enable it afterward.

If uninstalling a recently installed security program resolves the problem, check whether the software has a newer version before reinstalling it.

Method 7: Reset Windows Firewall Using Command Prompt

If the graphical firewall controls are not working, you can reset the firewall using the built-in netsh command.

1. Press Windows + S.
2. Search for Command Prompt.
3. Select Run as administrator.
4. Enter:

netsh advfirewall reset

5. Press Enter.

Windows will reset the firewall policy to its default configuration.

After the command completes, restart the computer and open Windows Security.

Go to:

Firewall & network protection

Then check whether the firewall can be enabled.

Keep in mind that this reset can remove custom firewall rules. If you had manually configured rules for specific applications or services, you may need to recreate them.

Method 8: Use Windows Troubleshooting or Repair Options

If none of the previous methods work, the problem may involve a deeper Windows configuration issue.

First, install any pending Windows 11 updates.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. Install available updates.
5. Restart your computer.

Then check Windows Security again.

If the firewall still refuses to start and other Windows security features are also malfunctioning, consider Windows repair options.

Before performing a major repair, back up important personal files.

You can also create a new Windows user account and test whether the firewall behaves normally there. If it works under another account, the problem may be related to the original user profile rather than the entire Windows installation.

Check Whether the Firewall Is Actually Running

Sometimes Windows may display a warning even though the firewall service is running.

You can check the firewall status using Command Prompt.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Enter:

netsh advfirewall show allprofiles

3. Press Enter.

Windows will display information for the available firewall profiles.

Look for the firewall state.

If the firewall is enabled, Windows should indicate that the firewall state is ON for the relevant profile.

You can also check the service itself with:

sc query mpssvc

The Windows Defender Firewall service is associated with the MpsSvc service.

If it reports that the service is running, the problem may be related to the firewall configuration or Windows Security interface rather than the service being completely stopped.

What to Do If Firewall Turns Off Again

If Windows Firewall turns on but switches off again shortly afterward, look for software that may be changing firewall settings.

Check recently installed:

• Antivirus applications
• VPN applications
• Firewall utilities
• Network management tools
• System optimization software
• Security suites

Also check whether another administrator account or security application is controlling the firewall.

Run a security scan with Windows Security if you suspect unwanted software may have changed system settings.

Avoid downloading random firewall repair utilities from unknown websites. Windows already provides several built-in tools for checking and repairing its firewall components.

Conclusion

Windows Firewall refusing to turn on can be caused by several different problems, so there is no single solution that works in every situation. Start by checking the firewall from Windows Security and then verify that the Windows Defender Firewall service is running correctly.

If the service is working but the firewall still cannot be enabled, resetting the firewall configuration can help. You can also use netsh advfirewall reset when the normal Windows Security interface does not work. If Windows system files are damaged, running DISM followed by System File Checker can repair components required by Windows.

Third-party antivirus and firewall programs should also be considered, particularly if the problem started immediately after installing or updating security software. Finally, install pending Windows updates and investigate the issue further if other Windows security features are also failing.

Before making major system changes, back up important data and avoid disabling all security protections unnecessarily. Once the firewall is working again, verify its status in Windows Security and make sure the appropriate network profile is protected.

FAQs

1. Why won’t Windows Firewall turn on in Windows 11?

Common causes include a stopped Windows Defender Firewall service, corrupted system files, incorrect firewall settings, or interference from third-party security software.

2. How do I restart Windows Firewall?

Press Windows + R, enter services.msc, find Windows Defender Firewall, and restart the service. Make sure its startup configuration is appropriate.

3. Will resetting Windows Firewall delete my files?

No. Resetting the firewall does not delete personal files. However, it can remove custom firewall rules and restore the firewall configuration to its default state.

4. Is it safe to leave Windows Firewall turned off?

Leaving the firewall disabled reduces network protection. If it will not turn on, troubleshoot the problem rather than leaving the computer without appropriate firewall protection.

Quick Summary

• Check Windows Security > Firewall & network protection first.
• Restart the Windows Defender Firewall service if it is stopped.
• Use sfc /scannow and DISM if corrupted Windows files may be responsible.
• Reset the firewall with netsh advfirewall reset if its configuration is damaged.