How to allow Microsoft Edge through Windows Firewall

To allow Microsoft Edge through the firewall in Windows 11 or Windows 10, open Windows Security → Firewall & network protection → Allow an app through firewall. Click Change settings, find Microsoft Edge, tick Private and Public, and click OK to save.

If Edge still cannot connect, the block may be related to a custom rule, additional security software, or a workplace or school policy. There is no need to start by creating advanced rules.

How to allow Edge through Windows Firewall

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, then go to Privacy & security if you use Windows 11, or Update & Security if you have Windows 10.
2. Go to Windows Security and open Firewall & network protection.
3. Select Allow an app through firewall and click Change settings to edit the list.
4. Find Microsoft Edge. If it is not listed, use Allow another app → Browse. The default location given for its executable is C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application, although this may vary if it is installed on another drive. In that folder, select msedge.exe and add it to the list.
5. Tick the Private and Public boxes for Microsoft Edge and click OK to confirm. These boxes correspond to the network profiles on which the app is allowed.

Return to the browser and try loading a page to check whether it works.

If you are using a work or school computer, bear in mind that the block may be enforced by a managed policy. In that case, contact your IT administrator: changing a local setting will not necessarily resolve a restriction imposed by your organisation.

What to check if Microsoft Edge still cannot connect

Before blaming the firewall or adding more rules, check these other possible causes:

• Restart your computer and, if that does not help, your network equipment. Unplug the router and other network devices from the power supply for two minutes. If you have a separate modem, turn it on first and wait about two minutes; then plug in the router and give it about five minutes to start up before turning on the remaining devices.
• Check your third-party antivirus or firewall. It may have its own restrictions. If you temporarily disable it to see whether Edge can connect again, turn protection back on once the test is complete. If you identify it as the source of the block, check its application controls and allow the browser. Changing permissions in Windows is no substitute for checking these settings.
• Check for updates. In Edge, open the three-dot menu and go to Settings → About Microsoft Edge. For system updates, check Windows Update.
• Run the Network and Internet troubleshooter. In Windows 11, you can find it under Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters.
• Check your VPN or proxy. If you use a VPN, disconnect it during the test. If you use a proxy, find its settings in Windows, disable the configured server and enable automatic settings detection to see whether the problem goes away.
• Check the network profile. You can set your home Wi-Fi to a private network through Network & Internet and the connection properties, but keep the public profile when using networks in hotels or cafés.

If only certain pages fail to load, check their permissions in Edge settings before making further firewall changes: the problem may not affect the browser’s connection as a whole.

Advanced rules: only if allowing the app is not enough

Creating inbound and outbound rules is not a required step, and most users should not need to do it. This procedure is intended for persistent problems, particularly when blocking rules have previously been configured and you are comfortable working with the firewall.

1. From Firewall & network protection, open Advanced settings and accept any confirmation prompt that appears.
2. In the left-hand panel, select Outbound Rules, then select New Rule in the right-hand panel. Choose Program.
3. Under the option asking for the program path, click Browse and select msedge.exe in the installation folder mentioned earlier.
4. Click Next, choose Allow the connection and continue to the profile selection screen.
5. The wizard lets you apply the rule to Domain, Private and Public profiles; selecting all three extends its scope to those network types. Give it a descriptive name, such as “Allow Microsoft Edge outbound connections”, and click Finish.

Now check whether the browser can connect: if it works, you do not need to keep adding rules. If you also need to review inbound connections, the equivalent procedure starts with Inbound Rules → New Rule: select Program, the same executable, Allow the connection and the profiles, then save it with a name that distinguishes it from the previous rule.

As a last resort, Firewall & network protection offers an option to restore defaults. Use it only if the previous checks do not work, as it resets the firewall configuration rather than just changing Edge’s permissions.