For programs such as: Skype, Chrome, ditto. . . .
Is there a way for me to prevent this from occurring so the Windows Firewall knows that I allow these apps access so I can just use them?
EDIT screenshot of the alert:
You can setup a Windows Firewall rule with NETSH to allow a specific application inbound and/or outbound on any profile from an elevated command prompt run as administrator with the below syntax or something similar:
Confirm the full explicit paths of the programs you want to allow incoming and outgoing thru the Windows Firewall for all applicable profiles, and set them correctly for each where needed in program="<value>" with the value needed there being the full path e.g. C:\path\path\app.exe.
Setting up a Windows Firewall rules to allow an app inbound and outbound will help prevent the prompting of the Windows Firewall you may get each time an app is launched and asked you to allow it.
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Skype Out" dir=out action=allow program="C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" enable=yes profile=domain,private,public
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Chrome Out" dir=out action=allow program="C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" enable=yes profile=domain,private,public
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Skype In" dir=in action=allow program="C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" enable=yes profile=domain,private,public
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Chrome In" dir=in action=allow program="C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" enable=yes profile=domain,private,public
You could also go to wf.msc and then add a rule to tell the Windows Firewall to allow a specific app inbound and/or outbound on all profiles.
Instructions
- Press
+R, type in wf.msc and then press Enter.
Click on Inbound Rules and then click on New Rule... to the right
In the Rule Type options window check the Program option and then press Next
In the Program options window in the This program path field either browse find or specify the full explicit path of the exe of the apps file which you want to allow through the Windows Firewall and then press Next
In the Actions options window ensure the Allow this connection option is selected and then press Next
In the Profile options window ensure that all three options of Domain, Public, and Private are selected and then press Next
In the Name field type in a name for the new rule and then press Finish
You should now see the new rule you just created. You could then click on the Outbound Rules option and follow the same steps 1 - 8 as listed above for the app you need to allow outbound connections.
Just follow these steps for allowing all the incoming and outgoing app rules you need and scale accordingly to prevent Windows Firewall from prompting after each reboot.
To whoever in future it may concern. (about NETSH method in previous answer by IT solution , WIN 7)
If you have app listening for connections and Windows still keeps nagging about program add "edge=yes" parameter for inbound direction.
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd734783(v=ws.10).aspx?
So complete rule command from example would become:
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Skype In" dir=in action=allow program="C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" edge=yes enable=yes profile=domain,private,public
For outbound rule there is no "edge" parameter. After adding in and out rule Windows firewall should stop asking user about permission.
