Policy

Windows Defender Firewall: Do not allow exceptions

Specifies that Windows Defender Firewall blocks all unsolicited incoming messages. This policy setting overrides all other Windows Defender Firewall policy settings that allow such messages. If you enable this policy setting, in the Windows Defender Firewall component of Control Panel, the "Block all incoming connections" check box is selected and administrators cannot clear it. You should also enable the "Windows Defender Firewall: Protect all network connections" policy setting; otherwise, administrators who log on locally can work around the "Windows Defender Firewall: Do not allow exceptions" policy setting by turning off the firewall. If you disable this policy setting, Windows Defender Firewall applies other policy settings that allow unsolicited incoming messages. In the Windows Defender Firewall component of Control Panel, the "Block all incoming connections" check box is cleared and administrators cannot select it. If you do not configure this policy setting, Windows Defender Firewall applies other policy settings that allow unsolicited incoming messages. In the Windows Defender Firewall component of Control Panel, the "Block all incoming connections" check box is cleared by default, but administrators can change it.

Policy
Pack Microsoft Windows
Category Windows Defender Firewall / Standard Profile
Policy ID 4fb138fe0ab0
Internal name WF_EnableShield_Name_2

Registry

Copy registry mappings

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\StandardProfile\DoNotAllowExceptions (enabled) = 1
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\StandardProfile\DoNotAllowExceptions (disabled) = 0

Policy notes

Specifies that Windows Defender Firewall blocks all unsolicited incoming messages. This policy setting overrides all other Windows Defender Firewall policy settings that allow such messages. If you enable this policy setting, in the Windows Defender Firewall component of Control Panel, the "Block all incoming connections" check box is selected and administrators cannot clear it. You should also enable the "Windows Defender Firewall: Protect all network connections" policy setting; otherwise, administrators who log on locally can work around the "Windows Defender Firewall: Do not allow exceptions" policy setting by turning off the firewall. If you disable this policy setting, Windows Defender Firewall applies other policy settings that allow unsolicited incoming messages. In the Windows Defender Firewall component of Control Panel, the "Block all incoming connections" check box is cleared and administrators cannot select it. If you do not configure this policy setting, Windows Defender Firewall applies other policy settings that allow unsolicited incoming messages. In the Windows Defender Firewall component of Control Panel, the "Block all incoming connections" check box is cleared by default, but administrators can change it.

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