Enabling/Disabling the firewall using command line

With the command line

Under Windows XP SP2, it is possible to enable or disable the firewall with the following command lines. 

First open the command prompt: (Windows + R keys) and type : cmd

• Disable the Windows XP firewall:

  • netsh firewall set opmode disable

• Enable the Windows XP firewall:

  • netsh firewall set opmode enable

Validate with the Enter key. 

With a.BAT file

It is also possible to create a batch file (with extension. Bat) incorporating one of these command to enable or disable the firewall by simply double-clicking. 

You can create a batch file to enable or disable the firewall by double-clicking on Notepad and inserting one of two lines above, then saving the file with the .bat extension (ex: Activatefirewall.BAT). 


To go further you can create two files on the desktop, to enable and disable the firewall:

• Click on Start/All Programs/Accessories/Notepad (or Start/Run/notepad/[OK])
• Add the command:

  • netsh firewall set opmode disable

• Click on File/Save As
• In "File name" write "Disablefirewall.BAT"
• Save directly on your desktop
• Double-click this file to disable the firewall in Windows XP
• Repeat the above operation, but now using the command

  • netsh firewall set opmode enable

• In "File name" write "Activatefirewall.BAT"
• Save directly on your desktop
• Double-click this file to activate the firewall in Windows XP