Windows Server - How to Properly Turn Off the Windows Firewall in Windows Server 2008 and Above

Stopping or disabling this service in Windows Server puts a server in an unsupported configuration. It can also cause numerous network-related issues.

There are still situations in which it is necessary to turn off the firewall, and there are supported methods for doing so that don't involve stopping or disabling the service. In Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2, the firewall can be turned off using the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console and netsh commands. Windows Server 2012 or above allows both of those methods and also offers the Set-NetFirewallProfile Windows PowerShell cmdlet.

1. To turn off the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console

1. Open the Server Manager console.
2. In Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2, in the left pane, expand Configuration and click Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.
   In Windows Server 2012 or above, select Windows Firewall with Advanced Security from the Tools menu.
3. In the center pane, click Windows Firewall Properties.
4. There are three profile tabs in the properties window, corresponding to the three Windows Firewall profiles (domain, private, and public). In each profile tab, select Off from the Firewall state dropdown list.
5. Click OK to close the firewall properties window.

2. To turn off the firewall using netsh commands:

1. Open an administrative command prompt.
2. Type
   netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off

3. To turn off the firewall using Windows PowerShell in Windows Server 2012 or above, including Windows Server Core:

1. Open Windows PowerShell.
2. Type 
   Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain,Public,Private -Enabled False