How to set up Port Forwarding in Windows

Without Port Forwarding, 'inbound' traffic and data coming from the Internet will not be able to communicate with the application/game and you will not be able to perform some of its Internet-based functions. This tutorial will show you how to set up Port Forwarding in Windows.

Note : you may also need to set up Port Forwarding on your router. Refer: 6 Simple Steps to Install Port Forwarding on Router for more details.

Setting up Port Forwarding on Windows

First, press the Win key on your keyboard, then type firewall into the Start search menu and click Windows Defender Firewall .

On the left, click Advanced settings to open the Firewall rules window . Since port forwarding typically involves inbound traffic (i.e. traffic to PCs from data centers or corporate servers), click Inbound Rules  on the left.

How to set up Port Forwarding in Windows Picture 1

If you've been using your PC for a while, you'll see a long list of "rules" in between, which apply to the different apps, services, and software that you allow to deliver traffic to your PC. mine.

To see how ports work, right-click an entry in the list and choose Properties.

You will see the protocol type (usually TCP or UDP, although there are various alternatives) as well as the Local port - the port in the firewall to which you are allowing connections.

How to set up Port Forwarding in Windows Picture 2

What is really important here is the Remote port , which is the port that the client (application, software trying to connect to you) uses to connect.

For most applications, as shown above, a remote port is randomly assigned by the client, so it defaults to All ports  on the Windows firewall.

Create a new gate rule

Click New Rule on the right, then in the new window click Port. Choose whether the connection will use TCP or UDP (any application that requires you to forward should be specified), then select the ports you want to open.

You can allow 'All local ports' or specify which local ports to open. You can specify a port, a range of ports, or select several ports (separated by commas).

How to set up Port Forwarding in Windows Picture 3

Click Next , then click Allow the Connection . Choose whether the connection will apply on your domain, your private home network, or a public network location (not recommended for the sake of security). On the next screen, give the rule a name.

Once created, the rule will be in the large Inbound Rules list in the Advanced Security window .

The new rule will now be in the list of incoming rules, where you can double-click it to modify it, making it only apply to specific programs and services, etc.

How to set up Port Forwarding in Windows Picture 4

At any point, you can right-click the rule and choose Disable or Delete.

Now you know how to set up Port Forwarding in Windows!

Hope you are succesful.

Micah Soto

Update 30 July 2021