NAT Types Open Moderate Strict: What They Mean for Gaming

If you've ever struggled to join a friend's game lobby, faced constant connection drops in multiplayer matches, or seen a frustrating "NAT Type: Strict" warning on your console, you already know how much NAT types matter for gaming. Understanding the difference between Open, Moderate, and Strict NAT — and knowing how to change yours — can be the single biggest improvement you make to your online gaming experience.

In this guide you'll learn exactly what each NAT type means, why your router assigns one over another, and the concrete steps you can take to move from Strict to Open NAT on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. Along the way we'll cover port forwarding and static IP assignment — the two techniques that solve most NAT problems for good.

What Is NAT and Why Does It Control Your Gaming?

NAT stands for Network Address Translation. Your router uses it to share a single public IP address — the one your ISP assigns — among every device on your home network. When your console sends a packet to a game server, NAT rewrites the source address from your private local IP (like 192.168.1.50) to your public IP before it hits the internet. When a reply comes back, NAT translates it in reverse and delivers it to the right device. Without NAT, every device in your house would need its own public IP address, which would exhaust the IPv4 address pool almost instantly.

The problem for gamers is that NAT doesn't just translate addresses — it also acts as a firewall. Different NAT implementations apply different levels of restriction to incoming traffic. A "full-cone" NAT (what consoles call Open) will accept packets from any external address once an outbound connection has been established. A "port-restricted cone" NAT (Moderate) only accepts replies from addresses and ports your device already contacted. A "symmetric" NAT (Strict) creates a brand-new mapping for every destination, making peer-to-peer connections nearly impossible because neither side can predict the port the other will use.

Game consoles simplified this into three labels — Open, Moderate, and Strict — because that's what players actually care about: can I connect to other players or not? Xbox uses the same three terms. PlayStation uses Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 (which map to Open, Moderate, and Strict respectively). Nintendo Switch uses A, B, C, and D, where A is equivalent to Open and D is equivalent to Strict. The underlying mechanics are identical regardless of which platform you're on.

Your NAT type isn't something your ISP directly controls; it's determined by how your router handles connections. A router set to its factory defaults typically produces Moderate NAT because its built-in firewall blocks unsolicited inbound traffic — which is sensible for security but frustrating for gaming. Changing your NAT type means instructing your router to be more permissive with specific ports or devices.

How to Change Your NAT Type: Step-by-Step

There are several methods to open up your NAT type, ranging from quick fixes to permanent solutions. Work through them in order until your console or PC reports Open (or Type 2 / Type A at minimum).

1. Assign a static local IP to your console or PC — Before you configure any router rules, pin your gaming device to a fixed local IP address so the rules never break when DHCP reassigns addresses. Log into your router admin page (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 — see our guide on how to find your router IP), navigate to the DHCP reservation or static IP section, and reserve your console's MAC address to a specific IP like 192.168.1.100. Alternatively, set a static IP directly in the console's network settings.
2. Enable UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) — UPnP lets devices on your network automatically request port openings from the router without manual configuration. Find it in your router's WAN or advanced settings and toggle it on. This alone moves most consoles from Strict to Moderate or even Open NAT instantly, because the console will negotiate the ports it needs each time you launch a game.
3. Set up port forwarding for your gaming platform — UPnP is convenient but not always reliable. For a permanent Open NAT, manually forward the ports each platform requires. PlayStation Network needs UDP 3478, 3479, and TCP 3478, 3479, 443. Xbox Live needs UDP/TCP 3074 and UDP 88, 500, 3544, 4500. Steam uses TCP 27015–27030 and UDP 27000–27031. Our port forwarding guide walks you through the exact steps for every major router brand.
4. Place your console in the DMZ as a last resort — If port forwarding still leaves you with Moderate NAT, you can put your console's static IP into your router's DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). This forwards all inbound traffic to that device, bypassing the NAT firewall entirely. It sounds scary, but consoles have their own platform-level security — the real risk is if you accidentally DMZ a Windows PC. Use this only for dedicated gaming hardware, not a general-purpose computer.
5. Verify your NAT type changed — On PlayStation, go to Settings → Network → Test Internet Connection and look for "NAT Type: Type 2" or better. On Xbox, go to Settings → General → Network Settings and you should see "Open." On PC, use our port checker tool to confirm the relevant ports are reachable from the internet.

NAT Type Comparison: Open vs. Moderate vs. Strict

The table below summarizes what each NAT type means in practice, so you know exactly what to expect at each level.

NAT Type	Console Label	Connection Ability	Typical Cause
Open	PS: Type 1 / Xbox: Open / Switch: A	Can connect to all NAT types; host lobbies freely	DMZ, direct connection, or full port forwarding
Moderate	PS: Type 2 / Xbox: Moderate / Switch: B	Can connect to Open & Moderate; may struggle with Strict	UPnP enabled or partial port forwarding
Strict	PS: Type 3 / Xbox: Strict / Switch: C–D	Can only reliably connect to Open; frequent lobby failures	Double NAT, ISP-level CGNAT, or locked-down router
Double NAT	Varies (often Strict)	Severely limited; two routers both doing NAT	ISP modem/router combo plus your own router
CGNAT	Effectively Strict	No inbound connections possible at all	ISP shares one public IP across many customers

Troubleshooting NAT Problems: Common Mistakes & Best Practices

Even after following the steps above, some setups resist improvement. The most common culprit is Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT), where your ISP assigns you a private IP address rather than a true public one. You can check this by comparing the WAN IP shown in your router's status page against the IP shown on What Is My IP. If they don't match, you're behind CGNAT — contact your ISP and request a public IP, which some providers offer free of charge.

Another frequent mistake is enabling UPnP and creating manual port forwarding rules for the same ports. This causes conflicts because UPnP may try to remap ports that already have static rules, leaving neither working correctly. Choose one approach: either rely entirely on UPnP, or disable UPnP and use manual port forwarding exclusively. The manual approach is more reliable long-term because UPnP rules disappear when the console reboots, whereas static port forwards persist.

Firewall settings within Windows can also block game traffic independently of your router's NAT type. If your PC shows Open NAT in the game but you still can't connect to friends, check Windows Defender Firewall and make sure the game executable has inbound and outbound rules set to Allow. Some games also use variable ports, so a broad UDP range forward is sometimes necessary.

• Always assign a static local IP before creating port forwarding rules — without it, the rules will break whenever DHCP reassigns your device's address
• Reboot your router after making any NAT changes; some routers only apply new UPnP or firewall rules after a full restart
• If you use a VPN on your gaming device, expect Strict NAT by default — most VPN servers use symmetric NAT and don't support inbound port mapping
• Check your router's UPnP status page (if it has one) to see which ports your console has already opened — this quickly reveals whether UPnP is actually working

Pro Tip: Before calling your ISP about CGNAT, use our Port Checker tool to test whether any of your forwarded ports are reachable from the internet. If none of them are visible despite correct router configuration, CGNAT is almost certainly the issue and a single call to your ISP requesting a public IP will solve it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Open, Moderate, and Strict NAT for gaming?

Open NAT allows your console or PC to connect freely to players with any NAT type and lets you host game lobbies without restrictions. Moderate NAT can connect to Open and Moderate users but may struggle with Strict players. Strict NAT can only reliably connect to Open NAT users, which means you'll miss out on many lobbies and often experience slower matchmaking. You can check your current type in your console's network settings or by using a port checker to see whether your game ports are reachable.

Does NAT type affect ping or just who I can connect to?

NAT type primarily affects who you can connect to, not the latency of the connection itself. However, Strict NAT often forces game matchmaking to route your traffic through relay servers instead of direct peer connections, which can add 20–80 ms of extra latency. Achieving Open or Moderate NAT restores direct peer connections and can noticeably reduce lag in peer-hosted game modes.

Why does my NAT type say Strict even after port forwarding?

The most common reason is double NAT — your ISP's modem/router is performing its own NAT before traffic even reaches your router, so your port forwarding rules are invisible to the outside world. The second possibility is CGNAT, where your ISP assigns you a shared private IP address. Compare your router's WAN IP to your public IP at What Is My IP: if they differ, you're behind an extra layer of NAT that only your ISP can remove.

Is it safe to use the DMZ setting on my router?

Using DMZ on a gaming console is generally safe because consoles run locked-down firmware that doesn't expose sensitive services to the internet. The risk increases significantly if you put a Windows or Mac computer in the DMZ, since those operating systems run many more services that could be exploited. Always pair DMZ with a static local IP reservation so the DMZ entry always points to the correct device.

Will a wired Ethernet connection improve my NAT type?

Switching from Wi-Fi to a wired connection won't directly change your NAT type, since NAT is determined by your router's configuration rather than your connection medium. However, a wired connection eliminates wireless interference and provides lower, more consistent latency, which makes gaming feel better regardless of NAT type. If you need help improving your overall connection, see our guide on fixing slow Wi-Fi.

Can I get Open NAT without port forwarding?

Yes — enabling UPnP on your router is the simplest way to reach Open or Moderate NAT without manually configuring any ports. UPnP allows your console to automatically request the port mappings it needs each session. The downside is that UPnP mappings are temporary and can occasionally fail, so for a guaranteed permanent Open NAT, manual port forwarding combined with a static IP reservation is more reliable.

Related Guides

• Complete Port Forwarding Guide
• Port Checker Tool — Test Open Ports Online
• How to Set Up a Static IP Address
• Ping Test Tool — Check Your Network Latency

For authoritative networking standards and specifications, refer to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) or IETF RFC documents.