<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001590423</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0001327567</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>PALO ALTO NETWORKS INC</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-35594</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>3000 Tannery Way</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>Santa Clara</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>95054</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>4087534000</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>WILLIAM D JENKINS JR.</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>6218</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>1164133.96</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>697000000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>12/26/2025</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>08/20/2022</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Units</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>6218</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>08/20/2022</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <remarks>Sales that were executed on December 26, 2025 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on December 29, 2025 given December 24, 2025 and December 26, 2025 were treated as federal holidays for EDGAR filing purposes.</remarks>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>12/26/2025</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>09/26/2025</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ William D Jenkins Jr.</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
