# Simplewall for Windows PC

- **Name:** Simplewall for Windows PC
- **Version:** 3.8.7
- **Developer:** Henry++
- **License:** FOSS
- **Platform:** Windows
- **Requires:** Windows 10 / 11
- **File type:** EXE Installer
- **Size:** 1.1 MB
- **Category:** Security & Privacy
- **Updated:** 2026-10-19
- **SHA-256:** 1864b3e2830c5ffadefb01a25d0aedba36a9acbdb8f257a722718b0b1d1aa144
- **Canonical page:** https://filecobra.com/app/simplewall-firewall-pc/
- **Download page:** https://filecobra.com/download/simplewall-firewall-pc/
- **Direct download:** https://github.com/henrypp/simplewall/releases/download/v.3.8.7/simplewall-3.8.7-setup.exe

> Simplewall is a free open source tool that turns Windows' built in Filtering Platform into an ask first firewall: every application must get your permission before reaching the internet. With a ~1 MB footprint, no…

Simplewall is a free open-source tool that turns Windows' built-in Filtering Platform into an ask-first firewall: every application must get your permission before reaching the internet. With a ~1 MB footprint, no kernel drivers, and one-click blocklists for telemetry and spyware hosts, it gives privacy-minded users outbound control that Windows Firewall simply does not offer by default.

## Installation

1. **Download the installer** — Download Simplewall from the official vendor link on this page.
2. **Run the setup** — Open the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen installation steps.
3. **Launch the app** — Start Simplewall from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

## Editorial verdict

Windows Firewall is fine at keeping intruders out, but it waves your own apps' outbound connections through without a word — and that is the gap Simplewall fills. Flip it on, and every new application that tries to phone home triggers a prompt: allow once, allow always, or block. In testing, the prompt flow was quick and clear, the rules list stayed readable even after a week of decisions, and the built-in blocklists for Windows telemetry, spyware, and ad hosts worked with one click. Because it configures the Windows Filtering Platform rather than installing drivers, there is no kernel-level risk and essentially no performance cost — the whole program is about a megabyte.

It is deliberately narrow: this is outbound application control, not a full security suite — no intrusion detection, no antivirus, no network monitoring graphs. The initial setup produces a flurry of prompts as every app introduces itself, which can overwhelm impatient users (a whitelist mode for system apps helps). And blocking the wrong Windows service can break things, so the blocklists deserve respect. But for taking back control of what leaves your PC, Simplewall is the lightest, most honest tool available. The internal blocklist editor also lets advanced users craft custom rules for specific hosts, turning it from a simple prompter into a genuinely precise instrument.

### Strengths

- Ask-first outbound control: every application must get your explicit permission before it can reach the internet.
- Uses the built-in Windows Filtering Platform — no kernel drivers, no background services, no performance penalty, tiny footprint.
- One-click maintained blocklists for Windows telemetry, spyware, and advertising hosts that update over time.
- Clear prompt and rules interface that stays readable and manageable even with hundreds of accumulated application rules.
- Free and open source (GPLv3) with portable builds, no account, no telemetry of its own, and no upsell.

### Trade-offs

- First-time setup triggers a flurry of prompts as each application introduces itself, which can feel overwhelming for impatient users.
- Blocking the wrong Windows service or system component can break functionality — the blocklists deserve respect and care.
- It is purely an outbound application firewall, not a replacement for antivirus software or a full security suite.

## FAQ

**Is Simplewall free?**

Yes — Simplewall is open source (GPLv3) and completely free, with no premium version.

**Does Simplewall replace Windows Firewall?**

No, it works with it. Simplewall configures the Windows Filtering Platform to add ask-first outbound application control, which Windows Firewall does not do by default.

**Will it slow down my PC?**

No — it installs no drivers and adds no background services; it only manages Windows' own filtering rules, so the performance impact is effectively zero.

**Can Simplewall block Windows telemetry?**

Yes — it ships with maintained blocklists for telemetry, spyware, and ad hosts that you can enable with one click.

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Source: https://filecobra.com/app/simplewall-firewall-pc/ · Mirrored from the publisher's own release channel by FileCobra. FileCobra runs no antivirus lab of its own.