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How to block folders with firewall in Windows

Steps to block a folder with the firewall

In the most recent Microsoft operating systems, such as Windows 10 or Windows 11, we can use the firewall that they bring integrated. It works very well, it is free and we can configure it as we are most interested in so that you can block connections or create lists.

One of those options that we can find in this type of program is to block a specific folder so that it does not have access to the Internet. However, it is not integrated with this Windows application, although we will be able to use a free program for it. This is Fab firewall. It is linked to the Windows firewall, as we will see.

Download Fab firewall

The first thing we have to do is download the program Fab firewall. It is available for the latest versions of Windows and is completely free.

Keep in mind that no need to install. It is a portable version and once we have downloaded it we will only have to execute the file. It will automatically open and we will see a first window where applications or connections that we have previously blocked with another firewall, such as Windows Defender, appear. If you have not blocked anything, it will be blank.

Fab firewall first window

Add folders

Subsequently, we have to add the folders that interest us. This is very useful if, for example, we have a series of applications installed in a single folder and we want Internet access to be blocked in all of them, thus saving time.

To do this we have to go to File and click on Add folder content. Once this is done, a new window will appear to select the folder within the computer and choose the one that corresponds, the one we want to block.

Lock an entire folder with the firewall

It will automatically start to track the folder, the EXE files it contains, and add them to the block list. This will also be added to the Windows Defender block list. From that moment, everything inside that folder will be locked and you will not have access to the Internet.

Blocked programs in the folder

Any program that we had installed and that was inside that folder, will get blocked. They could not have access to the Internet. We can suddenly block as many programs as we want, since it acts on all those that are inside that folder that we have added.

What Fab firewall does is create a new rule every time we add folders. It creates those rules both in its own application and in the Windows firewall, so we can also see it in Microsoft’s own application.

Other Fab firewall options

We have focused on being able to lock an entire Windows folder so that you do not have access to the Internet, but with the Fab firewall program we can carry out different actions. Although it is a simple application, we are going to show some of the main features.

Block apps

One of the most basic options that these types of programs usually have is to be able to block other apps installed. For example, if we have a program that works through the Internet and we are not interested in connecting or consuming data, we can block it.

To do this you have to go to File and, there, click on Add application. Later we will have to select the specific program, the one we want to block, and add it. It will appear in the Windows firewall blocked list.

Create lists

It also allows create lists, import or export them. It is useful if we want to add a series of programs or processes that we do not want to connect to the Internet. We can create the list and activate or deactivate it at any time, so this makes it easy to use.

In addition, these lists can be exported to any other firewall that we install or that we are using on another computer and we want it to block the same programs.

Block Internet

A very useful option is the power block all connection from the Internet at the click of a button. With Fab firewall we can do it. It does not matter if we are connected by Wi-Fi or by cable, what it does is prevent any program or process from connecting to the Internet.

We have to go to Firewall and click on Block Internet. We will automatically stop having a connection, although we will continue to be connected to the router. You can test it if you enter the browser and open any page. To reverse that you have to give Block Internet again, but this time uncheck the box.

In short, by following these steps that we have mentioned, it is possible to block entire folders in Windows so that they do not connect to the Internet. We have used the Fab firewall application, which links to the Windows firewall and also has some simple and cool features.

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