Windows Firewall has now been renamed to Windows Defender Firewall. If Windows Firewall is configured properly, it can help prevent hackers or malicious software from gaining access to your PC through the Internet or a network. This post will show you two ways to turn On or Off Windows Defender Firewall Notifications in Windows 11/10.
Why do I keep getting Windows security notifications?
Windows Security will send out a notification whenever something needs your attention or there is a security issue that needs immediate attention and action. It could be your firewall blocking a connection, the system is outdated, and you have enabled security notifications in the Windows settings for various options. So if you want to reduce the notifications, you must go to the settings and then choose to disable it. However, it’s a bad idea to disable notifications. For example, some scenarios, such as an app or program attempting to change your system, will need your immediate attention.
Turn On or Off Windows Firewall Notifications
Windows Security will send notifications with critical information about the health and security of your device. You can specify which informational notifications you want. By default, you will be notified when Windows Firewall blocks a program.
We can turn On or Off Windows Defender Firewall Notifications in Windows 11/10 in two quick and easy ways. We’ll explore this topic under the methods outlined below in this section:
- Via Control Panel
- Via Windows Defender Security Center
Let’s look at the step-by-step process described with each of the methods.
It would be best if you were signed in as an administrator to turn on or off Windows Firewall notifications.
1] Enable or Disable Windows Defender Firewall Notifications via Control Panel
To turn On or Off Windows Defender Firewall Notifications via Control Panel, do the following:
- Press the Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
- In the Run dialog box, type
controland hit Enter to open Control Panel (Large icons) view. - Click the Change notification settings link on the left side.
- Check (default) or uncheck the Notify me when Windows Firewall blocks a new app option for what you want for each type of network (ex: private and public).
- Click OK.
You can now exit Windows Defender Firewall settings.
2] Turn On or Off Windows Defender Firewall Notifications in Windows Security Center
To turn On or Off Windows Defender Firewall Notifications in Windows Defender Security Center, do the following:
- Press the Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
- In the Run dialog box, type
windowsdefender:and hit Enter to open Windows Security Center. - Click the cogwheel (Settings) icon.
- Click on the Manage notifications link under Notifications.
- Turn on (default) or off. Notify me when Windows Defender Firewall blocks a new app for all network types (ex: domain, private, and public), OR check (on – default) or uncheck (off) what you want for individual network types (ex: domain, private, and public).
- Click on Yes if prompted by UAC to approve.
You can now exit the Windows Security Center.
Related post: How to Restore or Reset Windows Firewall settings to defaults.
How do I know if my Windows security alert is real?
If you have received a notification from the Windows Security app on your PC, check using Task manager if the process belongs to Windows Security or if some other app is trying to impersonate it. If it’s an email, you need to check the email id and verify if it belongs to Microsoft. It’s best not to click on any of the links but go to your Microsoft account and check if a notification is available. Suppose you are still unsure whether a security alert is accurate. In that case, you may want to seek the help of a qualified IT professional or contact the company or organization that issued the alert for more information.
Read: How to open Windows Firewall.
