Windows Defender Firewall: Allow local program exceptions
Supported on: At least Windows XP Professional with SP2
Registry
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications Value name: AllowUserPrefMerge
Enabled: AllowUserPrefMerge = 1
Disabled: AllowUserPrefMerge = 0
Description
Allows administrators to use the Windows Defender Firewall component in Control Panel to define a local program exceptions list. Windows Defender Firewall uses two program exceptions lists; the other is defined by the "Windows Defender Firewall: Define inbound program exceptions" policy setting. If you enable this policy setting, the Windows Defender Firewall component in Control Panel allows administrators to define a local program exceptions list. If you disable this policy setting, the Windows Defender Firewall component in Control Panel does not allow administrators to define a local program exceptions list. However, local administrators will still be allowed to create firewall rules in the Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security snap-in. If you wish to prevent all locally created rules from applying, use the Group Policy Object Editor snap-in and configure Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security to specify that local firewall rules should not apply.