NAT Type Problems Explained and Fixed
Your console connects to the internet, downloads games at full speed, and then refuses to join a friend’s lobby or lets party chat drop the moment someone speaks. Nothing looks wrong with your connection, yet the multiplayer menu warns about a Strict NAT or “NAT Type 3.” That is what NAT type problems look like in practice. Your device can reach the internet, but other players and services struggle to reach it.
NAT type is not a speed rating. It says nothing about your bandwidth or your ping. It describes how easily outside connections can get through your router to your device, and that matters mostly in peer-to-peer play, hosting, party chat and invites.
This guide explains what NAT is, how Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC each label it, how to tell whether NAT is really your problem, and how to fix it in an order that starts with the safest steps. It also covers the cases where the cause sits with your internet provider, not your router. Many fixes depend on your router, your ISP and your platform, so the guide says when a step might not apply to you.
Is this really a NAT problem?
Short answer: it is probably NAT if your console or PC reports Strict, Type 3, NAT Type C, D or F, “Double NAT detected,” or “UPnP not successful,” and the symptoms are about connecting to people: failed invites, no party chat, empty lobbies, an inability to host.
It is probably something else if the symptoms are about quality: rubber-banding, stutter, high ping, or choppy audio once you are connected. The diagnosis section below separates the two.
What NAT does and why it affects multiplayer
Your home network uses private IP addresses that only work inside your house. Your router has one public address facing the internet. Network Address Translation (NAT) lets every device share that public address by keeping a table of which internal device started which conversation.
Outbound traffic works naturally. When your console contacts a server, the router records it and sends the reply back to the right device.
Unsolicited inbound traffic is the problem. If another player’s console tries to contact yours first, the router has no matching entry and often drops the packet. That is a good default for security. It is a nuisance for peer-to-peer games.
How games work around it
Games and platforms use several techniques to connect two players who are both behind NAT:
- Hole punching. Both sides send traffic outward at roughly the same time, so each router sees a matching “reply” entry. Whether this works depends on how the router assigns and filters ports. The IETF’s NAT behavior requirements for UDP (RFC 4787) describe these mapping and filtering behaviors, and they note that stricter filtering can force a connection through a relay.
- Automatic port mapping. UPnP lets the console ask the router to open the ports it needs.
- Relays. If a direct path fails, traffic goes through a middle server. Valve’s Steamworks networking documentation says peer-to-peer connections through its newer APIs are relayed over Valve’s network when appropriate.
That last point explains why NAT matters less in some PC games than on a console. A game using a relay may connect fine on a restrictive NAT, while a game that relies on direct peer connections will not.
NAT types by platform
The labels differ by platform and do not map one-to-one, so treat each system on its own terms.
| Platform | Labels | What they generally indicate |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox | Open, Moderate, Strict (also “Unavailable”) | Open connects with everyone; Strict connects only with Open |
| PlayStation | Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 (also “Failed”) | Type 1 means no router in between; Type 2 is the normal result behind a router; Type 3 is restricted |
| Nintendo Switch | Type A through F | A and B are the healthy results; C, D and F signal increasing limits |
| Windows PC | Depends on the game or the Xbox Networking page | No single universal scale |
Xbox
Microsoft’s NAT troubleshooting guide says the target is an Open NAT with no “Double NAT detected” or “UPnP not successful” errors, and that you should follow its steps in order rather than skipping ahead.
PlayStation
This is where guides most often go wrong. Bungie’s support documentation describes PlayStation Type 1 as a console connected without a router or combined modem-router. If you use a home router, which most people do, Type 2 is the normal, healthy result, not a failure. Chasing Type 1 usually means chasing something your setup cannot provide.
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo uses letters. Type A and B are the ones to aim for, and B is usually fine if matchmaking and friend sessions work. Check Nintendo’s own pages at support.nintendo.com for the current definitions of C, D and F. If you use a business-style firewall, one vendor note from Fortinet says outbound NAT that does not preserve source ports can produce C or D, while preserving them gives B. That applies to that firewall family and may not match your router.
Windows PC
Windows has no single NAT label. Some Xbox-network PC games report a NAT type in the Xbox Networking page. Other games use their own tests, or a relay that makes your NAT type mostly irrelevant.
Who can play with whom
Platform rules vary by game, but the general pattern is consistent. Bungie’s table puts it this way:
| Your NAT | Can connect with |
|---|---|
| Open (PlayStation Type 1) | Anyone |
| Moderate (PlayStation Type 2) | Open and Moderate players |
| Strict (PlayStation Type 3) | Open players only |
This explains an odd experience: you may connect to a friend easily and fail with another, simply because of the other person’s NAT.
Common NAT type problems and what they point to
| Symptom or message | Likely meaning | First place to look |
|---|---|---|
| Can’t join or host lobbies | Inbound connections blocked | UPnP, double NAT |
| Party chat or voice fails | Peer path blocked | NAT type, router firmware |
| Matchmaking takes ages or fails | Restricted NAT narrows the pool of compatible hosts | NAT type first; server status second |
| Xbox “NAT Type: Unavailable” | Console couldn’t complete the NAT check | Router firmware, Teredo support, restart |
| Xbox “Double NAT detected” | Two routers translating in a row | Bridge or AP mode |
| Xbox “UPnP not successful” | Router didn’t answer the port request | UPnP setting |
| PlayStation “NAT Type Failed” | Test couldn’t finish | Basic connectivity, PSN status, DNS before ports |
| Windows “Teredo is unable to qualify” | The PC’s Teredo tunnel isn’t working | Windows Teredo state |
Two of these are worth underlining. Microsoft’s Unavailable guidance points first to router updates and Teredo support on the router, then a restart of both devices. And on PlayStation, “Failed” can come from the console being unable to reach PlayStation Network at all, so changing router ports may do nothing.
NAT or something else? How to tell
NAT affects whether you can connect. Latency, packet loss and input lag affect how a connection feels. They overlap in symptoms, but they have different causes.
You can have any of these combinations:
- Open NAT with high ping
- Strict NAT on an otherwise fast connection
- Moderate NAT with perfectly stable matches
- A healthy NAT with packet loss
| What you notice | Likely area | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| Can’t find or join games | NAT, or a server problem | Keep reading |
| Matchmaking errors in one game only | Often the game or its servers | Matchmaking error fixes |
| Connected, but delay is large | Latency | Fixing high ping |
| Rubber-banding, skipping, teleporting | Packet loss | Packet loss fixes |
| Delay between your input and the screen | Local display or controller chain | Reducing input lag |
If you are unsure whether your delay is network latency at all, the ping and latency calculator gives you a number to work with. A normal-looking number plus a Strict NAT warning points back to this guide.
One nuance: a restrictive NAT does not make your internet slower, but it can change how you connect to others, for example by forcing a relay or limiting which hosts you can join. That is a difference in path, not a bandwidth penalty, and no source I reviewed shows that Open NAT lowers ping by itself.
Why NAT type problems happen
Most causes fall into three groups.
In your home network
- UPnP is turned off or is not working properly on the router
- A second router or ISP gateway is also doing NAT (double NAT)
- A PC sharing its connection as a hotspot, which adds another NAT layer
- Stale or wrong port-forwarding rules
- Two consoles needing the same forwarded ports
- Router firewall settings, or old firmware
At your ISP
- Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT), where the provider shares public addresses across customers
- An ISP gateway that limits what your own router can do
Platform-specific
- Windows’ Teredo tunnel not qualifying (Xbox-network PC features)
- IPv6 misconfiguration on networks that mix IPv4 and IPv6
How common each cause is varies by region and provider, so work through them by cost and risk, not by assumed frequency.
The fix order: safest first
Each step below builds on the one before. Retest after each change using the platform’s own network test, then try the thing that failed (the party, the invite, the lobby).
Step 1: Read the exact message and run the built-in test
What it does: tells you which problem you have. “Strict,” “Unavailable,” “Failed” and “Double NAT detected” lead to different fixes.
- Xbox: open Settings, then General, then Network settings, and select Test NAT type, followed by Test multiplayer connection.
- PlayStation: Settings, Network, Connection Status, then Test Internet Connection.
- Switch: System Settings, Internet, Test Connection.
- Windows: check the Xbox Networking page in Windows settings (its location varies by Windows version).
Write down the result. You will compare against it.
Step 2: Restart the equipment, and use a cable if you can
Why it helps: it clears stale port mappings and lets UPnP renegotiate.
Power off the console, restart the modem and router (unplug briefly, then power on), wait until the router is fully back, then start the console. If you are on Wi-Fi, test once with Ethernet. NAT is not a Wi-Fi problem, but it removes one variable.
Limit: if the cause is double NAT or CGNAT, a restart will not change it.
Step 3: Check your router’s WAN address
What it does: shows whether your router has a real public address, which determines what is even possible.
Log in to your router’s admin page and find the WAN or Internet IPv4 address. Then compare it with the public IP a “what is my IP” site shows.
| What you see | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| WAN address matches your public IP | Your router likely has a public address; later fixes can work |
| WAN address starts 100.64 through 100.127 | Strong sign of CGNAT (this block is reserved for provider NAT) |
| WAN address is private (192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, 172.16–31.x.x) | A second NAT device sits upstream: double NAT, or possibly CGNAT |
A private WAN address on its own cannot tell you whether the second NAT is a router in your house or equipment at your ISP. Step 5 and the CGNAT section help separate the two.
Risk: none. This step only reads settings.
Step 4: Check UPnP
What it does: lets your console ask the router to open the ports it needs automatically.
How to check: find UPnP in your router’s settings (often under LAN, Advanced, or Firewall) and confirm it is enabled. Restart the console and retest.
When to skip it: if you prefer manual control, see the security discussion in the next section.
Step 5: Fix double NAT
What it does: leaves only one device in charge of translation.
Double NAT usually appears when your own router sits behind an ISP modem-router combo that is still routing. Other sources are a mesh unit or firewall with routing left on, or a PC hotspot.
How to check: the router WAN address from Step 3, or a traceroute from a computer on your network (tracert on Windows). Two private addresses in the first hops suggest double NAT, though complex ISP networks can also show multiple private hops.
Options:
- Bridge or passthrough mode on the ISP gateway. Your own router then handles NAT. Some ISP gateways also handle TV or phone services, so check what changes.
- Access point mode on the second router. The ISP gateway keeps routing and your router becomes a Wi-Fi extension. You lose its routing features.
- Remove the extra device.
- As a last fallback, some guides suggest a DMZ from the outer device to the inner router. That carries the security tradeoffs described below.
Limit: not every ISP gateway supports bridge mode. If yours does not, ask the provider.
Step 6: Reserve a fixed local IP for the console
What it does: stops the console’s address from changing, which would break any rule tied to it.
Use your router’s DHCP reservation feature (sometimes called address reservation) to tie the console’s address to its hardware address. You only need this before Step 7.
Step 7: Port forwarding, only if needed
What it does: permanently tells the router to send specific incoming traffic to one device.
Use it when UPnP is unavailable or misbehaving, you prefer manual rules, and your router has a real public address.
Do not rely on it when:
- You are behind CGNAT. Inbound traffic stops at your ISP’s equipment, so a rule on your router cannot receive it.
- You have more than one console playing the same game. Bungie notes that forwarding fixed ports conflicts when several consoles share a network, and recommends UPnP in that case.
- You are running UPnP for the same ports. Using both is discouraged.
Port numbers: this guide does not list a universal set, because requirements differ by platform and game and the lists published by different sources do not always agree. Use the platform’s or game’s official list. Bungie’s page lays out per-platform tables, but those are specific to its game. Match TCP and UDP exactly as listed, and forward only to the one device that needs them.
Risk: every forwarded port is an opening in your router’s default protection. Forward the minimum, and remove rules you no longer use.
Step 8: DMZ, as a last resort
On a home router, “DMZ host” is not the same as the network-security zone the term comes from. It sends all unsolicited incoming traffic, on every port, to one device. That device remains on your home network, so if it were compromised it would not be isolated from your other devices.
It can make a Strict NAT disappear because nothing is blocked, which is exactly why it is risky. It can also interfere with a second console. If you try it, use it for one console only, keep the console’s system software up to date, and switch it off again once you have a better fix.
Step 9: Consider IPv6
See the dedicated section below. It can help in some setups, but it is not a guaranteed cure.
Step 10: Contact your ISP
If Step 3 showed a 100.64 address, or double NAT persists after you have bridged your own gear, the limit is probably at the provider. See the CGNAT section for what to ask.
UPnP: should you leave it on?
Security guidance and gaming guidance point in different directions, and both have a point.
For: UPnP is the simplest way to get a console connected. Bungie’s documentation recommends it when possible and says it is required when more than one device plays the same game on one network.
Against: the US cybersecurity agency CISA’s home network guidance advises disabling UPnP unless you have a specific need for it, because malware inside your network can use it to open ports through your router’s firewall.
A reasonable approach:
- If you play online with a console and want the lowest-effort setup, enable UPnP, keep router firmware current, and keep remote management off.
- If you would rather keep UPnP off, use targeted port forwarding for one console and accept the extra setup.
- If you have several consoles or devices you do not fully control, favor the manual route.
Neither answer is universally right. It depends on your devices and your comfort with router settings.
Double NAT versus CGNAT
These look similar from the console’s seat, but who controls the second NAT is different.
| Double NAT | CGNAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the second NAT lives | In your home (second router, mesh, hotspot) | At your ISP |
| Who can fix it | You | Your ISP |
| Typical WAN address | Private (e.g., 192.168.x.x) | Often 100.64.0.0/10, sometimes private |
| Port forwarding | Can work once double NAT is removed | Normally can’t reach you |
What CGNAT is and why ISPs use it
IPv4 addresses are scarce. Some providers put many customers behind one shared public address instead of giving each a unique one. Your router receives an address from the provider’s shared range, and the provider’s equipment does the final translation.
How to confirm it
Step 3’s WAN check is the most reliable test. A 100.64.0.0/10 WAN address combined with a different public IP is strong evidence. The only certain confirmation is your provider’s own answer.
CGNAT does not always ruin gaming
Many games use relays or other traversal methods and run fine behind CGNAT. Problems show up most in peer-to-peer play and hosting, and mainly for platforms that rely on direct connections.
What you can do
- Ask your ISP for a public IPv4 address. Some provide one on request or on certain plans, sometimes for a fee.
- Try IPv6, if your provider and your game support it.
- Check your plan. Starlink’s help center says its default IPv4 policy uses CGNAT in the 100.64.0.0/10 range, a public IPv4 option exists on certain plans, native IPv6 is supported, and its own routers do not support port forwarding or firewall rules. Policies like this vary by provider and change, so check yours.
What to say to support: “My router’s WAN address is in the 100.64.0.0/10 range. I need a public IPv4 address for online gaming. Is that available on my plan?”
IPv6 and NAT in 2026
IPv6 provides enough addresses that devices do not need NAT to share one. It reached a milestone in 2026: the Internet Society reports that native IPv6 access to Google passed 50% for the first time on 28 March 2026, though usage has since moved around that mark.
That does not mean IPv6 automatically fixes your NAT problems:
- Your ISP, router and device all have to support it, and the game has to use it.
- A firewall still applies. Routers typically block unsolicited inbound IPv6 traffic by default, so you may still need firewall rules for hosting.
- Platform support varies. Testing published by RIPE Labs found that the PS5 supports IPv6 but not IPv6-only networks, and that many apps and games still used IPv4 only. That was 2021 testing, so check current behavior. The original Switch’s system software reportedly lacks IPv6 while Switch 2 supports it; confirm with Nintendo.
IPv6 is worth trying when you are behind CGNAT, but treat it as one option and test the result.
Platform walkthroughs
Xbox
- Run Test NAT type and Test multiplayer connection.
- If it reports “Unavailable” or a Teredo error, follow Microsoft’s guidance for that message: update router firmware, confirm Teredo support, then restart both devices.
- If it reports Double NAT or UPnP errors, apply Steps 4 and 5 above, and keep following Microsoft’s ordered troubleshooting steps.
PlayStation
- Run Test Internet Connection.
- If you get Type 2, you are in the normal range for a router setup.
- If you get “Failed,” check that the console can reach PlayStation Network and that DNS and your connection are working before changing ports.
- If you get Type 3, work through Steps 3–7. Remember Type 1 is not a realistic goal behind a router.
Nintendo Switch
- Run the connection test and note the letter.
- If you have A or B, stop. Further changes are unlikely to help.
- For C, D or F, check double NAT first, then UPnP. Parental controls and some firewall features can also interfere, though reports of this are anecdotal, so test with them toggled only if you are comfortable doing so.
Windows PC
- Open the Xbox Networking page and note NAT type and server connectivity. If server connectivity shows blocked, see Microsoft’s server connectivity guidance.
- To inspect Teredo, run
netsh interface teredo show statein an administrator command prompt. A healthy tunnel typically reports as qualified. - Check that Windows Firewall or third-party security software is not blocking the game.
- For Steam games, remember relays may make your NAT type matter less.
Common NAT myths
| Claim | Reality |
|---|---|
| Open NAT lowers ping | NAT type describes reachability, not latency. No source reviewed shows Open NAT reduces ping by itself |
| Strict NAT means slow internet | You can have Strict NAT on a fast connection |
| Port forwarding always fixes NAT | Not behind CGNAT, and not if double NAT is still present |
| DMZ is the best setup | It removes the router’s inbound filtering for that device |
| CGNAT makes online gaming impossible | Many games still work; peer-to-peer and hosting are hit hardest |
| UPnP is always unsafe (or always fine) | It’s a tradeoff; CISA advises disabling it unless needed, game publishers often recommend it |
| You must forward every port | Only what the platform or game documents |
| PlayStation Type 1 is always better | Type 1 means no router; Type 2 is normal |
| IPv6 removes every NAT problem | It depends on ISP, router, device, game and firewall |
Still stuck? A short checklist before contacting support
- Did the built-in test show the same result after each change?
- What is the router’s WAN IP, and does it match your public IP?
- Is there only one device doing NAT?
- Is the console reserved to a fixed local IP, if you used manual rules?
- Are you using UPnP or manual forwarding, not both?
- Is the game’s server status normal?
If all of these check out and the WAN address is in the 100.64 range, the next step is the ISP.
FAQ
What does NAT type mean?
It is a platform’s label for how reachable your device is from the internet. The labels differ by platform: Open, Moderate and Strict on Xbox, Type 1 to 3 on PlayStation, and A to F on Switch.
Which NAT type is best for gaming?
Open on Xbox, Type 2 on PlayStation when you use a router, and A or B on Switch. If matchmaking and friend sessions work, you do not need to chase a higher label.
Why is my NAT type strict?
Usually something is blocking or complicating inbound connections: UPnP not working, double NAT, CGNAT at your ISP, or restrictive firewall settings.
How do I fix NAT Type 3 on PS5?
Run the connection test, check your router’s WAN IP, enable UPnP, remove any double NAT, and use port forwarding only if UPnP isn’t an option. If you are behind CGNAT, ask your ISP about a public IPv4 address.
What does “NAT Type Failed” mean?
The console couldn’t finish the NAT check. It can reflect a connection or PlayStation Network problem rather than blocked ports, so confirm basic connectivity first.
Does UPnP fix NAT problems?
It often helps by opening ports automatically, but it won’t fix double NAT or CGNAT, and it carries security tradeoffs, which is why CISA advises disabling it unless you need it.
Do I need port forwarding?
Only if UPnP isn’t available or isn’t working and you have a real public address. It will not help behind CGNAT.
Does NAT type affect ping?
Not directly. NAT type describes whether others can reach you, not how fast packets travel. If your issue is delay, see the high ping guide.
Can double NAT cause multiplayer problems?
Yes. Two devices translating in a row can block inbound connections. Check your router’s WAN address, then use bridge mode or access point mode.
Can CGNAT cause strict NAT, and can I still play online?
Yes, it can cause it. You can often still play, because many games use relays, but hosting and peer-to-peer features may suffer.
Is it safe to put my console in the DMZ?
It exposes all of that device’s ports to the internet and leaves it on your home network. It is a last resort, not a standard fix.
Does IPv6 fix strict NAT?
Sometimes it helps, but it depends on your ISP, router, platform and game, and a firewall still applies.
Conclusion
Treat NAT type problems as a diagnosis first and a fix second. Read the exact message, check your router’s WAN address, and settle whether the second layer of NAT is yours or your provider’s. Then use the least invasive fix that fits: UPnP or a bridged ISP gateway for most home setups, targeted port forwarding when you need manual control, and an ISP request when the limit sits upstream. If the NAT looks fine and the game still feels bad, the cause is likely latency or packet loss, and those need different fixes.
Router menus, platform wording and ISP policies change, so confirm details against your own device’s documentation before changing settings.
