Our verdict: TinyWall is a light, quiet firewall controller for people who prefer to whitelist apps rather than answer pop-ups. It blocks most traffic right after installation, so you need a few minutes to allow your apps. It has no connection prompts, which some users will miss.
About TinyWall
TinyWall is a free firewall by Károly Pados that builds on the filtering platform built into Windows. It installs no drivers or kernel components, uses few resources and shows no pop-ups. Instead, you allow programs from the tray menu: by clicking a window, picking a process or choosing a file.
After installation TinyWall blocks most communication until you whitelist programs. It adds tamper protection for its settings, blocklists for known malicious hosts, temporary rules, UWP app support and boot-time filtering. Version 3.5 added ARM support and a dark mode. The code is on GitHub under the GPL v3, and the author states that it collects no data and has no telemetry.
What it does well
- Whitelist by window, process or file. Allow a program from the tray menu without writing rules.
- No pop-ups. Blocks silently instead of asking about every connection.
- Temporary rules. Allow an app for a limited time or until restart.
- Blocklists. Optional lists that block known malicious hosts and ports.
- Tamper protection. Password-protects settings and guards rules against other programs.
Who it is for
Good fit
Users who want outbound control in Windows Firewall without constant prompts.
Look elsewhere
Beginners who expect a firewall to work without setup, or anyone installing over a remote desktop connection.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open source, no ads or upsells
- No pop-ups and no extra drivers
- Light on resources
- Temporary rules and blocklists
Cons
- Blocks most traffic right after installation until you whitelist apps
- No prompts, so new apps fail silently until you allow them
- Current version needs Windows 10 21H2 or newer; older systems need the old 3.2.5 release
How to install TinyWall
Do not install TinyWall over a remote connection, or you may lock yourself out. After installation most network traffic is blocked: open the tray menu and use Whitelist by window, process or executable for your browser and other apps. The x86/x64 MSI covers both 32-bit and 64-bit PCs; ARM PCs need the separate arm64 download.
Questions about TinyWall
Is TinyWall free?
Yes. TinyWall is free and open source under the GPL v3, with no ads, limits or paid upgrades. The author accepts donations.
Why can't my apps connect after installing TinyWall?
TinyWall blocks most traffic by default. Use the Whitelist options in the tray menu to allow each program you need.
Does TinyWall replace Windows Firewall?
No. It controls the firewall built into Windows and adds a simpler interface and extra features on top.
