How to block a program from connecting to the internet with Windows Firewall

Want to control which applications can access the internet or restrict inbound and outbound traffic on your Windows PC? In this article, we’ll show you how to master Windows Firewall and effectively block internet access and traffic.

By following these steps, you can effectively restrict internet access for any specific software using Windows Firewall. This built-in tool is powerful and doesn’t require third-party software.

We show you how to allow or block a program in Windows Firewall using both its settings interface and command-line tools.

Learn the steps to block any program or app in Windows Firewall to restrict it from accessing the internet. By default, apps installed on your computer can access and communicate with the internet freely as long as they respect the Windows Firewall rules.

If you want to block internet access for specific apps in Windows 11, create an rule in Firewall, use the command line a third-party app.

Ever wanted to stop a specific app from going online—whether to protect your privacy or block suspicious activity? Me too—and that’s why I use Portmaster, a free, open-source network monitor that lets you see every connection your apps m