Solved Firewall stopping internet cnx !!

Fresh install (a few days old).
Just realized that app like Edge Firefox are being blocked by Firewall. I think its the Firewall but not data to prove it.
I am probably responsible. Fresh install marked my internal network as Private. In settings, just above Private, there is Public network. It says recommended (I assumed over private). Since last incident, decided to apply and change from Private to Public. This is what happens when you are not an IT guy
Now can't connect through app like Firefox, Edge and whatnot.
Created outbound rules for Firefox in Public and Private and can connect now. I guess this is a workaround ?
The point; I cannot create rules for every app I have. This is way too cumbersome. What is the best approach to simplicity and yet keep security as explained by Microsoft using the Public networking option ?

Thank you for help and time.

If you are in your internal network, the firewall is normally set to Private. When you are on a public network... such as a hotspot, you want to set it to Public.

Rick is correct.
- "Private" means that you can do the things that you want within your own Private home network.
- "Public" means that untrusted people are on the network, such as is the case for your internet connection [however it's done, not just using hotspots].

The "Private" setting knows how to manage both Private & Public aspects of your home network so that it manages your internet connection appropriately.

I have not seen a home network with a recommendation to set it to Public. I don't understand what fault condition might cause such a recommendation.
I suggest you set your home network back to Private and check all your settings within Advanced sharing settings. See, for example, Step 3 in the network discovery tutorial.



Best of luck,
Denis

This is why I put it on Public. I know its dumb, but from that message I understood "put it to public for better security"
Is there a simple explanation as far as why switching from private to public would cause app to not connect ?

I'm sorry, I cannot explain why those browsers could not connect to the internet.

The recommendation you illustrate should not appear for a home network. It inhibits file & printer sharing [it can be got round but setting it as Private does the job for you].
For example,
- If I connect to my home network [with or without an internet connection to it being active], it is a Private network & my computers can see each other, files can be exchanged 7 the network printer-scanner can be used by all computers.
- If I connect to my phone's mobile hotspot to get an internet connection then it is a Public network & other computers cannot see mine.
I'll have to get my Windows 11 computer out later to look at that dialog. Its network connections had already been set up when using Windows 7 & 10 but I'd like to check that dialog.

All the best,
Denis

Thank you @Try3 for the explanation and thank you for taking the time.
If my understanding is correct I should not manually change the network status (private/public) ?
If I connect to a hotspot, it will be set up as a Public network automatically ?

If you are on a home network [so you can see & exchange files with other home computers] then you should set it as Private.
If you are connecting to a network you do not trust, such as an internet connection through a phone's hotspot or an internet cafe's / library's / ... network, then set it to Public.

Confusion & mistakes can arise because, when you first connect to a new network, Windows does not use the terms Private or Public but Discoverable & non-Discoverable.
- Discoverable = Private i.e. the network contains trusted computers that you are happy to be seen by so that files can be exchanged & resources shared.
- non-Discoverable = Public i.e. the network contains non-trusted computers - the internet is an example of this, you can never trust the internet.

You can change the status later on by various methods but I think the most straightforward method is to "forget" the network in Settings, Networks and then connect to it again so you get presented with the Discoverable & non-Discoverable choice again.

Because you have been changing the network type already, I do urge you to check Advanced sharing settings [post #3].

Best of luck,
Denis

Was trying to check the Advanced sharing settings but I have a different setup than your screenshot in post #3. I am missing the part that says advanced sharing settings. I found it under Control Panel..




If I switch back to Private, will I be cut off from the internet? Since I switched to Public and was cut off from the internet.

I guess the Private network is set up differently


It's very much counter intuitive if I compare the Microsoft message in the screenshot from post #1 and now those screenshots in Control Panel. The later makes more sense and I understand why in a local known network it should be labelled as Private..
But even sometimes on a Public network you would want to print. Then you have to go to advanced sharing settings and turn on the option file and printer sharing.

incedis said:

If I switch back to Private, will I be cut off from the internet?

Click to expand...

No.
If you are worried by any changes then make a new system image beforehand.
If you don't know what I mean then see my ditty - File backup vs imaging, imaging utilities, backing up drivers [post #3] - TenForums and, if I were you, I'd just decide on Macrium rather than agonise over which imaging utility to choose. There are so many Macrium users in this forum that you can always be confident of getting help. And that article includes a link to the Macrium tutorial on TenForums - it's excellent.

incedis said:

I guess the Private network is set up differently

Click to expand...

Yes. And the diagrams you've posted show settings that make sense for Private & Public.

incedis said:

But even sometimes on a Public network you would want to print. Then you have to go to advanced sharing settings and turn on the option file and printer sharing.

Click to expand...

No change is necessary. Your computer can print whatever type of network you are connected to.
- File & printer sharing would allow other computers to use those shared resources [for file reading/writing/exchange and for use of shared printers]. So File & printer sharing only makes sense on a Private network i.e. for other computers that you trust.
- By not allowing file & printer sharing on a Public network, you are stopping internet users getting control of your files & your printer.


All the best,
Denis

back to private network all his good.
Thank you for your time.

I'm glad it has all been resolved.

Denis

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