Table of Contents
1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences)
2. Go to Network & Security Settings
3. Turn On the Firewall
4. (Optional) Customize Firewall Settings
Final Notes
Home System Tutorial MAC How to turn on the firewall on Mac

How to turn on the firewall on Mac

Aug 22, 2025 pm 04:01 PM
firewall mac

Open System Settings (or System Preferences) by clicking the Apple menu, then select System Settings (Ventura and later) or System Preferences (older versions). 2. On macOS Ventura and later, go to Network > Firewall in the sidebar; on Monterey and earlier, open Security & Privacy > Firewall tab. 3. Click the lock icon, enter your administrator password, then click Turn On Firewall or toggle it on. 4. (Optional) Click Firewall Options or the three-dot menu to customize settings: allow built-in software, manage downloaded apps’ access, add specific apps, and enable stealth mode for enhanced protection. Enabling the firewall with stealth mode is recommended for basic security against unauthorized access, especially on public networks, and helps block incoming threats while keeping your Mac hidden from probing attempts.

How to turn on the firewall on Mac

Turning on the firewall on your Mac is a simple way to help protect your computer from unauthorized access, especially when connected to public or untrusted networks. macOS includes a built-in firewall called Application Firewall, which you can easily enable through System Settings. Here’s how:

How to turn on the firewall on Mac

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences)

  • Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of your screen.
  • Select System Settings (on macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (on older versions like Monterey or earlier).

Note: The interface changed starting with macOS Ventura (13.0), so the steps vary slightly depending on your macOS version.


2. Go to Network & Security Settings

On macOS Ventura and later:

How to turn on the firewall on Mac
  • In System Settings, click Network in the sidebar.
  • Scroll down and select Firewall.

On macOS Monterey and earlier:

  • Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
  • Click the Firewall tab.

3. Turn On the Firewall

  • Click the Lock icon ? at the bottom left and enter your administrator password to make changes.
  • Click Turn On Firewall (or the toggle switch if using Ventura ).

Once enabled, the firewall will monitor and control incoming network connections, blocking unauthorized attempts to access your Mac.

How to turn on the firewall on Mac

4. (Optional) Customize Firewall Settings

After turning it on, you may want to adjust settings:

  • Click Firewall Options… (or the three-dot menu on newer versions).
  • You can:
    • Automatically allow built-in software to receive incoming connections – recommended for most users.
    • Automatically allow downloaded software to receive connections – be cautious with this; disable it for tighter security.
    • Manually add apps to allow or block under specific conditions.
    • Enable stealth mode (highly recommended) – this makes your Mac invisible to probing requests from other computers.

Stealth Mode Tip: When enabled, your Mac won’t respond to ping requests or connection attempts from unknown sources, reducing exposure.


Final Notes

  • The macOS firewall primarily focuses on incoming connections. It doesn’t block outgoing traffic by default (unlike some third-party firewalls).
  • For most users, enabling the built-in firewall with stealth mode is sufficient for basic protection.
  • Make sure your Mac is up to date, as security improvements are regularly included in updates.

Basically, just go to Network > Firewall in System Settings, unlock it, and flip the switch. A couple extra clicks to enable stealth mode, and you’re good.

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