Windows

Ping Firewall | How to Let Windows Firewall Allow Ping

Jack

By Jack Lin

Update on

Ping Firewall

Ping

Ping tests to find the data speed from one place to another. It can be from your computer to a website. When the program was first developed, it was being used to test to find out the speed of data traveling and the existence of a network at the other end.

This was one of the revolutionary inventions at that time, and it still gets used today. Finding the data speed of a communication signal has become commonplace in the modern age.

Ping

PS: If you are looking for the answers to Windows Firewall Basics, here you are.

How Does Ping Firewall Works?

The function that makes the ping work will sound a little goofy. Ping actually waits to get a response from pong. Some of you may be confused about the functions behind the ping. In the technical scope, ping sends packet data to an IP address and waits for the electronic tone to return (Refers as pong).

The origins of the name ping /pong come from the sound that a submarine’s sonar makes when the signal bounces off a physical object underwater.

Also, click here to read more about the importance of firewalls.


Modern Use for Ping Firewall

Ping gets used to test the time that it takes for the data to travel from your computer, and go through multiple nodes to reach the destination. Then send the data back to you.

Ping determines the speed of the data and the time it takes for the connection to be established and the time that it takes to completion of the data transfer.

The rate of ping is a number of links to the delay time on the internet. It is measured in milliseconds. The lower the number, the better the experience will be; if the number sits somewhere between 20 to 30s, then you are going to experience delays in your data transfer. Which could ruin the experience?

In this day n age ping gets used in multiplayer gaming, where the speed of the internet can be very crucial in determining the end of the match. With so much value on ping firewalls, it is necessary to learn how to make Windows Firewall Allow Ping in its function to provide more information to the user.

Ping Firewall

Ping sent data packets to the destination network device and waits for the reply to measure the speed of data transfer. These data packets are known as Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP).

Performing these tests will also get you the results as to if the network device is the inactive status or not. Which is nice to get with the response time for each data packet? This leads us to one question – Why do we need to allow ping through the Windows firewall?

If the system is familiar with the job of sending ICMP data packets to check the speed of data transfer and the existence of the network device at the other end, then why allow it?

Because the Windows firewall on default setting blocks any ICMP packets from the network. If you are not getting your ping number, that means your firewall has been blocking the ICMP echo request.


How to Make Windows Firewall Allow Ping?

There are plenty of options for Windows Firewall Allow Ping without any blockage from the firewall. Sure, you have the choice to block out the firewall altogether. But that will jeopardize your whole system, and the connection of the network will suffer from it too.

The much easier solution to this problem would be to create a new rule to accept ICMP on the firewall. Methods of achieving that are various, you could do it by inputting codes in the command prompt or going into the advanced section of Windows Firewall Allow Ping on it.

Making new rules might harm the rules that have already been set up, so creating new exceptions might open up security risks for your network.

Using Command Prompt to Make Windows Firewall Allow Ping

You can use CMD to let Windows Firewall Allow Ping in its system. It is also the fastest way to create a ping request in the system. follow the steps to allow ping through CMD –

  • Open CMD with run as administrator. You can do that by pressing Windows + X / Windows + R (Through the Run Command) / or you can use the search bar, and type in ‘Command Prompt‘.
Command Prompt
  • To enable ping through a firewall, you have to create two new rules. One to accept ICMPv4 request and the other to accept ICMPv6.
  • To accept ICMPv4, input this on command display –
    netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=”ICMP Allow incoming V4 echo request” protocol=icmpv4:8,any dir=in action=allow
accept ICMPv4
  • To accept ICMPv6, input the following code on the cmd interface –
    netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=”ICMP Allow incoming V6 echo request” protocol=icmpv6:8,any dir=in action=allow
  • There is no need to restart the computer after applying the code. If you want to go back to the things as they were. By that. If you want to disable the ping requests, kill the rules.
accept ICMPv6
  • Then input this to disable the ping, again on ICMPv4 –
    netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=”ICMP Allow incoming V4 echo request” protocol=icmpv4:8,any dir=in action=block
disable the ping
  • Use the following line for ICMPv6 ping requests –
    netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=”ICMP Allow incoming V6 echo request” protocol=icmpv6:8,any dir=in action=block

It is upon the user to create a rule to their liking. The name of the rule can be whatever you want it to be. But the same rules apply when you want to disable the exception or rule.

You can use the following code to see the rules and information regarding the rules that have been created in the firewall. In case you want to disable the rule, you can do it.

netsh advfirewall firewall show rule name=all

see the rules and information

By inputting this line of code will list all the rules that have been created. Just scroll down or up to see the entire catalog of rules.

Using Windows Firewall with Advanced Security

You can also make Windows Firewall Allow Ping by changing the setting in the advanced options of the Windows firewall if you don’t want to deal with all the codes in the command prompt section to allow ping through the firewall.

Then you can always use this option to reach the same conclusion. Here you will be able to do it through a graphic user interface than just a window to type codes in.

Follow the steps below to allow ping requests through the Windows firewall.

  • Search for ‘Windows firewall‘ on the search bar. Upon entering, it might take you to the advanced security page.
  • If that doesn’t work, you can manually go inside the advanced security page on the Windows firewall screen.
  • Once you open the Windows firewall, the next step is to change the rule. Which is an important part of this guide? You have to make a rule to accept ICMPv4 and ICMPv6 requests.
  • On the advanced security page, you will see an option to create new rules on the page.
  • Click on ‘Inbound Rules‘ on the left side of the panel. Then right-click on it, and you will see a lot of options here. Just hit ‘New Rule.’
New Rule
  • This will create a new window; here, you have to select the proper items to get to the next step. Once you are in the ‘New Inbound Rule Wizard‘ Windows, just select ‘Custom‘ and then hit ‘Next.’
New Inbound Rule Wizard
  • On the next page will see ‘All programs‘ or ‘This program path.’ Just select ‘All programs‘, then just hit ‘Next.’
Apply Rules to All Programs
  • Now, this page might confuse some people, but don’t worry; just choose ‘ICMPv4‘ in the ‘protocol type‘ and hit the ‘Customize‘ button.
choose 'ICMPv4' in the 'protocol type'
  • In the list of ‘ICMP types,’ enable ‘Echo Request‘ and then press ‘OK.’ Then hit ‘Next‘ on the ‘New inbound rule wizard‘ window.
enable 'Echo Request'
hit 'Next' on the 'New inbound rule wizard' window
  • On the next page, you select a specific IP address in the ‘Any IP address‘ option if you want your ping allowance to be specific to certain websites. Once you are done with that, hit next.
select a specific IP address in the 'Any IP address'
  • We are nearly at the end; on this page, you will hit the ‘Allow the connection‘ option. To enable the connection. Once you enable the connection, then you can hit next.
hit the 'Allow the connection' option
  • On this page, you will get to set up some control over your rules, whether you want to connect to the public network or private network. You can hit ‘next‘ if you accept all types of connections. Or disable it if you don’t want to respond to the public network.
accept all types of connections
  • We are finally at the end, here, all you have to do is enter a ‘NAME‘ for the rule, and the description is optional. And then just hit finish afterward.
enter a 'NAME' for the rule

If you want to turn on the ICMPv6 options, then you have to follow all the steps. But do a little change in the protocol type section. Here you have to input ‘ICMPV6‘. Then you are officially done with the work. You can delete the rule by clicking on delete.

turn on the ICMPv6 options

FAQs

Q1. Can I enable ping on all network profiles? Yes, you can enable ping on all network profiles (Private, Public, and Domain) by following the steps mentioned in the article.

Q2. Are there any risks in allowing ping through the Windows Firewall? Enabling ping responses can expose your system to potential security risks. Ensure you understand the implications and consider the network environment before allowing ping through the Windows Firewall.

Q3. Why is ping blocked by default in Windows Firewall? Windows Firewall blocks ping requests by default to enhance security and protect your computer from unauthorized access and potential attacks.

Q4. Will enabling ping affect my network performance? Enabling ping should not significantly impact your network performance unless there is excessive network congestion or high ping request traffic.

Q5. Can I use third-party firewall software to allow ping? Yes, third-party firewall software may have similar settings to enable or disable ping requests. Consult the documentation or support resources provided by the firewall software manufacturer for specific instructions.

Conclusion

Letting Windows Firewall Allow Ping can be gruesome; on the other hand, you will have full access to the ping service.

For almost everybody in the world who uses the internet for a living, the speed of the data in these cases is more important than ever.

This is where the ping firewall becomes more important than ever. If your firewall is blocking the ICMP, then you won’t be able to test the speed of the internet.

That’s why you have to follow some instructions to make Windows Firewall Allow Ping service in your system.

Jack
Jack

10 years of experience in information and computer technology. Passionate about electronic devices, smartphones, computers, and modern technology.

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