Disable macOS Firewall Logging

---
title: Disable macOS Firewall Logging
date: April 9, 2017
author: Jon LaBelle
source: https://jonlabelle.com/snippets/view/markdown/disable-macos-firewall-logging
---

Steps for disabling macOS Firewall logging to the `appfirewall.log` file.

> NOTE: Only disables logging, not the Firewall itself.

## Steps

1. Convert the current `com.apple.alf.plist` plist binary file into XML text.

```bash
sudo plutil -convert xml1 /Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist
```

2. Open the converted `com.apple.alf.plist` XML file in vim.

```bash
sudo vim /Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist
```

- Search for the **key** ***loggingenabled***:  
  <kbd>Esc</kbd> `/loggingenabled` <kbd>Enter</kbd>
- Change the **integer** value to ***0*** (zero) to disable logging
- Save the the changes and quit vim:  
  <kbd>:wq</kbd>

3. Convert the `com.apple.alf.plist` plist file back into binary format.

```bash
sudo plutil -convert binary1 /Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist
```

## Verification

To verify that Firewall logging is now disabled...

- **Apple-menu** -> **About This Mac** -> ***System Reports...***  
- Network  
    - Firewall  
        - ***Logging:*** `No`

## References

- [Apple Support Communities: Disabling Firewall logging](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2152506)