Table of Contents
Open Firewall Settings in System Settings
Turn On the Firewall
Customize Firewall Settings (Optional)
What the Firewall Does (and Doesn’t Do)
Home Operation and Maintenance Mac OS How to enable the firewall in mac os

How to enable the firewall in mac os

Jul 29, 2025 am 02:09 AM

To enable the firewall on macOS, go to System Settings > Network > Firewall (Ventura and later) or System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall (older versions). 2. Click Turn On Firewall, authenticating with an administrator password if needed. 3. Optionally, configure settings via Firewall Options: enable stealth mode for invisibility to network scans, allow automatic access for built-in and signed software, or block all incoming connections for maximum security on public networks. 4. The firewall blocks unwanted incoming traffic by default but does not filter outgoing connections or replace antivirus protection. 5. For best results, keep the firewall on and stealth mode enabled, especially when using untrusted networks.

How to enable the firewall in mac os

Enabling the firewall on macOS is a simple way to help protect your Mac from unauthorized access, especially when connected to untrusted networks. Here’s how to turn it on and configure it properly.

How to enable the firewall in mac os

Open Firewall Settings in System Settings

  1. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
  2. Go to Network > Firewall (on newer macOS) or look for Security & Privacy > Firewall.

On macOS Ventura and later, Firewall is under System Settings > Network > Firewall. On earlier versions like Monterey or Big Sur, it's in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall.

Turn On the Firewall

  • If the firewall is off, click the Turn On Firewall button.
  • You may need to click the lock icon in the corner and enter your administrator password to make changes.

Once enabled, macOS will start filtering incoming connections. By default, it allows essential services and apps that need incoming access.

How to enable the firewall in mac os

Customize Firewall Settings (Optional)

After enabling, click Firewall Options (or the three-dot menu) to fine-tune settings:

  • Block all incoming connections – Useful when on public networks. This disables sharing and blocks all unsolicited traffic (not recommended for home use).
  • Automatically allow built-in software to receive incoming connections – Lets macOS-approved system services work normally.
  • Automatically allow downloaded signed software to receive connections – Allows apps from the App Store and identified developers to accept connections.
  • Enable stealth mode – Recommended. This makes your Mac invisible to probing requests (e.g., ping or network scans).

You can also manually add apps to allow or block by clicking the or buttons.

How to enable the firewall in mac os

What the Firewall Does (and Doesn’t Do)

  • ✅ Blocks unwanted incoming connections.
  • ❌ Does not monitor or block outgoing traffic (macOS has no built-in outbound firewall).
  • ❌ Not a substitute for antivirus or safe browsing habits.

For advanced protection, consider third-party tools that offer two-way firewall control.

Basically, turning on the firewall is a quick security win—especially on public Wi-Fi. Just make sure it’s enabled and stealth mode is on for the best protection.

The above is the detailed content of How to enable the firewall in mac os. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Statement of this Website
The content of this article is voluntarily contributed by netizens, and the copyright belongs to the original author. This site does not assume corresponding legal responsibility. If you find any content suspected of plagiarism or infringement, please contact admin@php.cn

Hot AI Tools

Undress AI Tool

Undress AI Tool

Undress images for free

Undresser.AI Undress

Undresser.AI Undress

AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos

AI Clothes Remover

AI Clothes Remover

Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.

Clothoff.io

Clothoff.io

AI clothes remover

Video Face Swap

Video Face Swap

Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!

Hot Tools

Notepad++7.3.1

Notepad++7.3.1

Easy-to-use and free code editor

SublimeText3 Chinese version

SublimeText3 Chinese version

Chinese version, very easy to use

Zend Studio 13.0.1

Zend Studio 13.0.1

Powerful PHP integrated development environment

Dreamweaver CS6

Dreamweaver CS6

Visual web development tools

SublimeText3 Mac version

SublimeText3 Mac version

God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)

Hot Topics

PHP Tutorial
1505
276
What is Private Relay in iCloud and how does it work? What is Private Relay in iCloud and how does it work? Jul 14, 2025 am 12:11 AM

PrivateRelay is a privacy protection feature launched by Apple that hides user identities and browsing content through encryption and segmentation of network requests. The specific operation is divided into two steps: one is to encrypt the data and forward it through two relay servers. The first is to know the IP and the second is to know the content that does not know the user's identity; the second is to realize privacy isolation, and even Apple cannot obtain the complete record. Supported devices must meet: iOS15/iPadOS15/macOSMonterey and above systems, log in to AppleID and subscribe to iCloud services, and are only available for Safari browser. Its benefits include preventing ISP tracking, no additional settings are required, default activation, etc.; the limitation is that it does not support the wall surfing and only protects Safar.

How to set up file sharing between two Macs on the same network? How to set up file sharing between two Macs on the same network? Jul 14, 2025 am 12:08 AM

To share files between two Macs on the same network, first make sure that the two devices are connected to the same LAN, then enable file sharing on the host, set shared folders and access permissions, and then connect from another Mac through the access sidebar or manually enter the SMB address, and finally you can browse, copy or transfer files. Common problems include waiting or restarting the network when the device cannot be discovered. If the permissions are incorrect, you need to check the username, password and sharing settings. If the connection fails, you can try the SMB address. If the firewall blocks, you can temporarily close the test.

How to customize the Dock on a Mac? How to customize the Dock on a Mac? Jul 12, 2025 am 01:29 AM

To adjust the Dock on Mac according to usage habits to improve efficiency, you can follow the following steps: 1. Adjust the size and position: Go to "System Settings" > "Desktop and Dock", check "Automatic Show and Hide Dock", slide the bar to adjust the icon size; select the left, bottom or right place in "Dock Position". 2. Add or remove apps and folders: Drag the app from "Applications" to the Dock, and drag out the outside of the icon to remove the item. 3. Customize behavior and animation effects: Set click icon to display recent documents, window thumbnail previews, and use dividers or empty launchers to improve organization and quickly return to the desktop. Turning on the auto-hide function helps save screen space and make your work more focused.

How to run older 32-bit apps on modern macOS? How to run older 32-bit apps on modern macOS? Jul 12, 2025 am 12:32 AM

If macOS no longer supports 32-bit programs, you can try the following methods: 1. Use a virtual machine (such as ParallelsDesktop or VMwareFusion to install the old version of macOS to run 32-bit programs. You need to prepare a Mac, virtual machine software and legacy system image with good performance; 2. Find a 64-bit updated version of the software or use alternative software, such as using GIMP or AffinityPhoto instead of the old version of Photoshop; 3. Install Windows through BootCamp on Intel Mac to run 32-bit applications, but the operation is complicated and the driver may be incompatible; 4. If the software is no longer maintained, you can only keep the old Mac running. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and should be based on the technology

How to use ssh to connect to a remote server from a Mac? How to use ssh to connect to a remote server from a Mac? Jul 17, 2025 am 12:46 AM

To connect to a remote server using SSH from your Mac, just run the corresponding command through the terminal. First open the terminal program (you can search through "Applications" → "Utilities" or Spotlight), and then enter the command in sshusername@server_ip format. If you want to specify a non-default port, add the -p parameter. If you want to log in without password, you can execute ssh-keygen to generate the key, ssh-copy-id upload the public key to the server, and ensure that the server configuration allows key authentication. Common problems include network blockage, port not open, username errors and improper permission settings. It is recommended to use the ssh-v command to troubleshoot problems. Although the whole process is simple, you need to pay attention to the firewall and files

How to format a USB drive to FAT32 or exFAT on a Mac? How to format a USB drive to FAT32 or exFAT on a Mac? Jul 13, 2025 am 12:41 AM

Apple computers can format the USB disk to FAT32 or exFAT through Disk Tools. 1. Open "Applications → Utility Tools → Disk Tools", and select it after inserting the USB disk; 2. Click "Erase", customize the name, and select the format (FAT32 is highly compatible but a single file does not exceed 4GB, exFAT has no such limitation and is suitable for large files); 3. Generally, select "GUID Partition Map" for partitioning schemes. If you encounter problems, you can try "MBR"; 4. After confirming the settings, click "Erase" to complete. If the FAT32 option cannot be found, you can choose "MS-DOSFAT" instead. If it is still not feasible, it may be because the system version is old or the USB drive is abnormal. You can try restarting, changing the device, or formatting it on Windows before bringing it back to your Mac for use. suggestion

Where is the Library folder on a Mac and how do I access it? Where is the Library folder on a Mac and how do I access it? Jul 15, 2025 am 12:49 AM

To find the Library folder on your Mac, you can follow the following steps: 1. Open the Finder window; 2. Click "Go" in the top menu bar; 3. Press and hold the Option (⌥) key to make the "Library" option appear; 4. Click to enter the Library folder. This folder contains subfolders such as application support files, caches, preferences, logs, and keychains, and is suitable for debugging applications, clearing caches, or managing extensions. If you need frequent access, you can run the "chflagsnohidden~/Library/" command through the terminal to make it permanently displayed. If you hide it again, use "chflagshidden~/Library/".

How to force quit an unresponsive application on a Mac? How to force quit an unresponsive application on a Mac? Jul 17, 2025 am 01:41 AM

When the Mac application is unresponsive, there are three ways to force exit: 1. Use the shortcut key Command Option Esc to pop up the "Force Exit Application" window, select the unresponsive application and click "Force Exit", which is suitable for daily GUI applications; 2. Find and end the process that occupies resources through "Activity Monitor", which is suitable for troubleshooting background problems; 3. After using psaux|grep "application name" to obtain the PID in the terminal, enter kill or kill-9 to terminate the process, which is suitable for advanced users to handle complex situations.

See all articles