Windows Firewall Is Using Settings that Make the Device Unsafe

Some Windows users report that when they open Firewall & network protection on Windows Firewall, they receive the “Windows Defender Firewall is using settings that make the device unsafe” or “Microsoft Defender Firewall is using settings that may make the device unsafe” error message.

When you encounter the error, you can click the Restore settings button under the error message to fix the issue. If it is not working, you can try the following solutions.

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Fix 1: Via Registry Editor

You can fix the “Windows Defender Firewall is using settings that make the device unsafe” issue via Registry Editor.

Step 1: Press the Windows key and the R key at the same time to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Type regedit and then press Enter to open Registry Editor. You’ll be prompted for permission and please click Yes to open it.

Step 3: Follow the path to locate the correct system files:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BFE

Step 4: Right-click BFE to choose Permissiion…. Click Add… and type Everyone and click Check Names.

Step 5: Select Everyone from the Groups or user name, click Full Control, and click Apply > OK.

Fix 2: Run Antivirus

Then, it’s recommended to run an antivirus to get rid of the “Microsoft Defender Firewall is using settings that may make the device unsafe” issue. Follow the prescribed steps to run the Windows Defender Antivirus.

Step 1: Open the Windows Security application.

Step 2: Go to Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

Step 3: Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and then click Scan now.

Fix 3: Uninstall the Latest Security Update

The last method for you is uninstalling the latest security update. Follow the guide below:

Step 1: Type Control Panel in the Search box to open it.

Step 2: Click Programs and Features. Click View Installed updates and then uninstall the latest security update.

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Final Words

To sum up, this post has shown 3 solutions to fix the Windows Defender Firewall is using settings that make the device unsafe error. If you come across the same error, try these solutions. If you have any different ideas about this issue, you can leave a message in the comment zone.