How to Disable Router Firewall

Co-authored by Michael Thompson-Brown and Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: September 20, 2024

This wikiHow teaches you how to turn off your Wi-Fi router's firewall. Keep in mind that doing this may increase the risk of encountering virtual intruders and malware in your network.

Quick Steps

Open the Command Prompt.
Type ipconfig /all and press Enter.
Find the "Default Gateway" number, which is your router's IP address.
Type the IP address into your browser and press Enter.
Locate your firewall settings in the router's interface.
Disable your firewall by clicking Disable or unchecking the firewall box.

For popular FAQs on disabling your router's firewall, jump to more common questions.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Finding Your Router's IP Address (Windows)

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To do so, either click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or press your computer's ⊞ Win key.
You should see the Command Prompt icon, which resembles a black box, pop up at the top of the Start window.

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Doing so will invoke a drop-down menu.
4
Click Run as administrator. This option will allow you to request information about your computer's network that only an administrator account can view.
- If you're on a guest, shared, or school account, you won't be able to access the administrator version of Command Prompt.
After doing this, Command Prompt will open.
This command forces command prompt to display the addresses of all connected networks.
Doing so will run the "ipconfig" command. You should see several sections of text appear.
8
Locate the "Default Gateway" number. You'll find this option under the "Wireless LAN Adapter Wi-Fi" heading. The number listed to the right of this category is the router's IP address.
- The number should look something like this: 123.456.7.8
Once you have this number, you're ready to proceed with disabling your router's firewall.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Finding Your Router's IP Address (Mac)

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It's in the top-left corner of your Mac's screen. Doing so will open the Apple Menu.
You'll see it near the top of the drop-down Apple Menu.
This is the purple, globe-shaped icon in the third row of options.
It's a button near the bottom-right side of the window.
This tab is at the top of the Advanced window.
6
Locate the "Router" number. The number listed next to "Router" on this page is the router's IP address.
- The number should look something like this: 123.456.7.8
Once you have this number, you're ready to proceed with disabling your router's firewall.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Disabling Your Router's Firewall

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To do so, click the URL bar at the top of the browser window to select its current contents, type in the "Default Gateway" or "Router" number exactly as it appeared, and press either ↵ Enter (PC) or ⏎ Return (Mac).
Normally, you won't have to enter your router's password if you're accessing its page via the IP address.
3
Locate and click the Advanced Settings option. This button's location will vary depending on your router's brand.
- For some router pages, this option might just be called "Settings".
Again, this option's location will vary depending on your router, but it will typically be in the "Firewall" section of the Settings area.
5
Click Disable. By default, your router's firewall should have a checkmark in the Enable box, so clicking Disable will switch your router's firewall off.
- This option may also say Off.
Doing so will disable your router's firewall, though you can turn it back on at any time from this page.

Common Questions: Disabling a Firewall

What can happen if I disable my router firewall?

With your router firewall disabled, you may be more vulnerable to online attacks. While you are one of millions of people using the internet daily, hackers look for vulnerabilities and having no router firewall leaves your network completely open. Even if it's a slim chance of happening, there is still a chance.

How do I change my router's firewall settings?

First, you'll need to access your router's settings. You can do this by finding the IP address for your router (using ipconfig or checking the manual). Then, look for firewall settings. It might be labeled Firewall or SPI Firewall. This is where you'll change your firewall settings.

Should I disable my router firewall?

Unless you have a good reason to disable your firewall, you shouldn't do it. And if you do disable it, make sure to only disable it temporarily. Avoid setting your router to Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) as this leaves your router the most vulnerable, and select a different, safer option—such as port forwarding.

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about firewalls and viruses, check out our in-depth interview with Michael Thompson-Brown.