---
title: "Enabling a Firewall in macOS"
canonical: "https://kb.uconn.edu/space/IKB/10731880901/Enabling%20a%20Firewall%20in%20macOS"
format: markdown
---
<span style="color: #222222">A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. Faculty, students, and staff can set up a firewall for Mac computers.</span>

## Setting Up a Firewall in macOS

1. Navigate to **System Settings. **
2. Click on **Network. **
3. Select the **Firewall **tab.
4. Click the** lock icon **to make changes, and type in credentials.
5. Select **Turn on Firewall**.

## Allowing Application Connections 

1. In the **Firewall **tab, click on the **lock** **icon** in the **Firewall **tab in order to make changes.
2. Click **Firewall Options...**
3. Click on the **+ (plus) **sign to select an application to get access through the firewall.
4. Click **Add. **The application should now show up in the Firewall Options window.
5. From here, you can select whether you want to either:
  - **Block incoming connections** to prevent it from getting a connection with a firewall.** **
  - **Allow incoming connections **so the firewall does not affect the application’s connections.
6. Click **OK** to save the changes and return to the **Firewall** tab.

> ⚠️ To remove any application you added to this list, click the **- (minus) **symbol when the application is selected.

## Related Articles

> Macro (contentbylabel)

> Macro (details)
> 
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