McAfee firewall doesn't turn on

[Leaving]

The McAfee firewall doesn't turn on.

In installed the free version of McAfee that all Bell Fibe Internet subscribers have access to yesterday. When I turn on the console, the display shows an exclamation point in a triangle with the message Turn on Firewall under it.

When I click the Turn on button, it displays the usual cute animation graphioc to show that something is happening. Then the app again shows that the firewall is still off, with the same exclamation poin in triangle graphic and Turn on button as before. Clicking that button does literally nothing.

Is this just a gimmick? Should I pay for real security software, or have real humans actually got this thing to work?

[BellNick]

Hi there @Leaving
Thank you for your post and welcome to the Community.
Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the McAfee program to see if that resolves the issue?
Are you able to share with the Community what device you are using?
Looking forward to hearing back.

[Leaving]

I’m using an iMac with the most up to date version of the OS. This is a new installation of McAfee. Uninstalling and reinstalling it seems pointless. If it doesn’t work out of the box, then it doesn’t work period.

[BellNick]

Hi there @Leaving 
When you downloaded McAfee, where did you download it from?
Do you happen to have any other firewalls active?
Looking forward to hearing back.

[Leaving]

I downloaded it from Bell’s web site, specifically from MyBell after clicking on “Internet” then “Go to internet overview” then clicking “download” under “Security.”

No other firewall nor AV was running at the time.

I do not understand why you are asking me this question. I would not have made a forum post about something I downloaded from McAfee directly. I also would not have asked the question if it was something that any basic user could figure out through basic troubleshooting because I am not a basic user and I already did the basic troubleshooting.

Will you please take this seriously and give something other than a textbook answer?

[BellNick]

Hi there @Leaving 
We'd like to have this looked into and have sent you a private message.
Please check your Messages within your profile avatar in the top right corner.
Unsure how to check or send a private message? See How to send a private message

[NMerchant]

I am experiencing similar issue. Using Macbook and OS is macOS Monterey. please help!!!

[Vanadiel · Accepted solution]

I would check the McAFee version and other requirements.

McAfee Apple Silicon 

[DLyons]

I have the same issue,,,,using Macbook air, macOS Sonoma v14.5

[BellNick · Accepted solution]

Hi there @DLyons
Thank you for your post and welcome to the Community.
We'd recommend trying to re-install McAfee. If you still encounter issues we'd recommend checking out McAfee's support article How to manage the McAfee Firewall on Windows or macOS.
Looking forward to hearing back how that goes.

[DLyons]

No solution.  I reinstalled "McAfee Security from Bell - Good", but no change.  the File Wall still shows as "off" and toggling "on" automatically goes back to "off" after a few seconds.

McAfee link was no good.  The references to macOS did not match the software experience at all...in fact the Windows version was closer to what I'm seeing.  I contacted the McAfee chat line and they said "...please contact bell canada support team. As they are having separate support team. They are right team to fix the issue for you."

This is frustrating.

[ZaneP]

If you have enabled the firewall on your all Windows and MacOS devices, McAfee is redundant.

What would beneficial is an accessible and configurable firewall at the router level: on the HH4K or Giga gateway modems. But that's unlikely, given the probable headaches for Bell's support teams.

[Jean Lemire]

I have the same problem And I tried the proposed solution suggested by @BellNick 

It doesn't work.

I had to call support at least 4 or 5 times in the past after updating the Bell McAfee software and each time they referred me to McAfee support in an eastern european country, Bulgaria, I think, so the technician could talk to me in French. I don't mind talking in English, I am bilingual, but my software is in French as well as my OS.

Each of these times, I had to spend at least one hour before they were able to fix the problem.

When will Bell / McAfee produce a fully working software?

[BellNick]

Hi there @Jean Lemire 
Thank you for your post and welcome to the Community.
Could you please attempt the following to see if it helps resolve the concern?
Check your device to ensure there is no other firewall / antivirus software installed or active. If there is none, please try the following:
Uninstall McAfee from your device and then restart your device. After uninstalling and rebooting, download & install the McAfee Preinstall Tool (clicking the hyperlink should automatically download the tool).
 

• Double-click McPreInstall.exe
• Click Start inside the Preinstall Tool
• Read the warning message and click OK
• After the tool is done, click OK
• Click Close and restart your computer
• Once you have completed this, attempt to install McAfee again

Please keep the Community updated on how that goes.

[Jean Lemire]

Hi BellNick.

I can't run exe files since I am on a Mac running Mac OS 13.7.1.

I already uninstalled the previous McAfee Software, restarted my Mac, reinstalled the software, restarted the Mac again. I was able to switch all the options ON except the FireWall.