To ensure the display of relevant information in real time, many client programs for online games today require the ability to establish not only outgoing, but also incoming connections to the game server. In Microsoft Windows, inbound connections on most ports are blocked by the built-in firewall by default. Therefore, it is often necessary to open a port for a game to function properly.
Necessary
an account that is a member of the Administrators group
Instructions
Step 1
Open the Windows Control Panel folder window. To do this, click the "Start" button in the taskbar, select the "Settings" section of the displayed menu. Select "Control Panel".
Step 2
Open the window for configuring firewall settings. In Control Panel, look for the "Windows Firewall" shortcut. Open it by double-clicking or using the corresponding item in the context menu.
Step 3
Check out the existing set of firewall exceptions. Click on the "Exceptions" tab of the current dialog. Review the list of Programs and Services. If it contains an item corresponding to the port that you want to open, or the executable module of the game, just select it and click OK. Otherwise, proceed to the next steps.
Step 4
Add to the list of exceptions the port that the game needs to run. Click the Add Port … button. In the dialog that appears, specify the type of protocol (TCP or UDP), the display name of the exception, and the port number. Click the Change Scope … button and go to step seven if you want to restrict the valid address range. Please note that an open port is always available (even when the game is not running) and other programs can accept connections through it. Therefore, if the purpose of the actions performed is to ensure the operation of one game, it makes sense to add it to the list of exceptions, and not open the port. If so, follow steps 5-7.
Step 5
Add the game to your firewall exceptions list. Click the "Add Program …" button. Review the list in the dialog that appears. If it contains an item corresponding to the executable file of the game, select it and go to the seventh step.
Step 6
Find the executable module of the game. In the Add Program dialog, click the Browse button. Go to the game folder. Highlight the required file. Click the "Open" button.
Step 7
If necessary, specify the ranges of IP addresses from which incoming connections can be accepted through the port or by the program added to the exclusions. Click the Change Scope … button. In the Change Scope dialog, select your preferred option and, if necessary, enter the address lists. Click OK.
Step 8
Apply the changes you made. Click the OK button in the current dialog. A new entry appears in the firewall exceptions list for the port or program. Click OK on the Windows Firewall dialog.
