I have set up some Outbound Rules in the Windows 10 Defender Firewall on one PC, and I would like to transfer these same rules to another PC. These rules block certain programs from accessing the internet and these programs are located in the same directories on both PCs.
How can I copy or export/import these firewall rules?
I have already tried using the “Export List” function, which exports the rules to a text file, but I couldn’t find a corresponding “Import List” function.
There are also export and import options in the Action menu, but they seem to export or import all the settings, which is not what I want.
3 Answers
Introduction
The Windows Defender Firewall is a built-in feature in Windows 10 that helps protect your device from unauthorized access. It allows you to create rules to block or allow traffic to and from specific programs or ports. If you have set up some outbound rules in the Windows Defender Firewall on one PC, and you would like to transfer these same rules to another PC, this guide will show you how to copy or export/import these firewall rules.
Exporting Firewall Rules
To export the firewall rules from the first PC, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “wf.msc” and press Enter to open the Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
3. Click on “Outbound Rules” in the left pane.
4. Select the rules that you want to export by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on each rule.
5. Right-click on one of the selected rules and click on “Export Policy”.
6. Choose a location to save the exported firewall rules and give the file a name.
Importing Firewall Rules
To import the exported firewall rules to the second PC, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “wf.msc” and press Enter to open the Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
3. Click on “Outbound Rules” in the left pane.
4. Right-click on “Outbound Rules” and select “Import Policy”.
5. Browse to the location where you saved the exported firewall rules and select the file.
6. Click “Open” to import the firewall rules.
Editing Firewall Rules
After importing the firewall rules, you may need to edit them to reflect the correct paths on the second PC. To edit a firewall rule, follow these steps:
1. Click on “Outbound Rules” in the left pane.
2. Find the rule that you want to edit and double-click on it.
3. Click on the “Programs and Services” tab.
4. Click on the “This program path:” option and browse to the correct location of the program on the second PC.
5. Click “OK” to save the changes.
Deleting Firewall Rules
If you need to delete a firewall rule, follow these steps:
1. Click on “Outbound Rules” in the left pane.
2. Find the rule that you want to delete and right-click on it.
3. Click on “Delete” to remove the rule from the firewall.
Conclusion
Copying or exporting/importing firewall rules from one PC to another can save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you have many rules to set up. With the Windows Defender Firewall, you can easily export and import your firewall rules to another PC, and then edit them as needed. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your second PC has the same firewall rules as the first PC, making it more secure against unauthorized access.
You can copy the firewall rules from one PC to another by exporting them from the first PC and then importing them on the second PC. Here are the steps to do this:
- On the first PC, open the Windows Defender Firewall and click on the “Advanced settings” link.
- In the Advanced settings, select “Outbound Rules” and then right-click on the rule you want to export.
- Select “Export Policy” and save the file to a location that is accessible to the second PC.
- On the second PC, open the Windows Defender Firewall and click on the “Advanced settings” link.
- In the Advanced settings, select “Outbound Rules” and then right-click in the right pane.
- Select “Import Policy” and navigate to the location where you saved the exported file.
- Select the exported file and click on “Open” to import the rules.
- Repeat the process for each rule you want to import.
Alternatively, you can use a software like Windows Firewall Control, it allows you to import and export rules.
I exported the registry keys located at:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\FirewallRuleson the source PC, which exported all the rules. Then, I edited the exported file in Notepad to include only the specific rules I wanted to transfer. Lastly, I added the edited rules to the registry of the destination PC.
The process was successful.