Make sure you don’t have any third-party antivirus software installed on your Windows. If there is any, then you need to uninstall it because Windows overrides the third-party antivirus firewall instead of your Defender Firewall. Hence, before proceeding to the following methods, ensure the antivirus software is uninstalled.
1. Delete firewall rules from the Registry Editor.
The first thing you need to do is delete the incorrect firewall rules from the registry editor. Incorrect firewall rules can be created by third-party antivirus software or pirated malware applications to disable the Windows Firewall from functioning. Hence, delete the firewall rules folder from the registry editor by using the following instructions. Before following the steps, ensure that you back up your registry files, as they can be used later if you make a mistake in the registry editor.
2. Configure the Windows Defender Firewall Service Permissions.
You should have permission on your account to run the Windows Defender Firewall. If you don’t have permission to run the Windows Defender Firewall, it will display an error. Therefore, configure the Windows Defender Firewall service to run under Local Service, which means the Windows Defender Firewall service will run with every account on your Windows. To do so, follow these steps:
3. Use the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter.
Windows Firewall Troubleshooter is a utility that allows users to automatically repair problems. Since this error is related to the Windows Defender Firewall service, it can be fixed by running the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter. To do so, follow these steps:
4. Reset the Windows Firewall settings to the default.
Resetting the Windows Firewall settings to their default is a method for restoring the firewall configurations applied to all network locations. If your Windows Defender Firewall service is not functioning because of incorrect settings, resetting them will resolve this issue. Follow these steps to reset the firewall settings.
5. Use a System Restore.
If you are still facing the error, unfortunately, you cannot do anything from your side except use a system restore utility or reset your Windows. System Restore is a utility that allows users to create a restore point, which can be used later to restore the previous version of Windows if something unusual happens, such as encountering this type of error. If you haven’t created a restore point in the past, consider resetting your Windows or using the best third-party antivirus software to protect your Windows. To use a system restore utility, follow these steps:
6. Reset your Windows.
If you don’t have a restore point or you don’t want to use third-party antivirus software for its firewalls, then you either need to reset or reinstall Windows. These are the last two solutions that you can use to get rid of this error message. You cannot use your Windows Firewall without fixing this error. Hence, it is recommended not to disregard this error and consider resetting or reinstalling Windows. If you plan to reset Windows, you can follow the provided steps. If your intention is to reinstall Windows, please refer to the appropriate article.
