NAT Type Checker

Network Address Translation (NAT) determines how your home network communicates with the outside world. Your NAT type directly impacts online gaming, video calling, peer-to-peer file sharing, and VoIP services. A strict or moderate NAT type can cause matchmaking failures, voice chat dropouts, and inability to host game lobbies. This NAT Type Checker walks you through an interactive diagnostic checklist to identify your current NAT type and provides specific steps to fix restrictive settings. If you are experiencing connectivity issues, check your public IP address first to verify your internet connection is active.

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What Is NAT and Why Does It Matter?

NAT (Network Address Translation) is a method used by routers to share a single public IP address among all devices on your local network. When your computer sends a request to a website, the router replaces your private IP address (like 192.168.1.100) with its public IP address, keeps track of which device made the request, and routes the response back to the correct internal device. This process is invisible for basic web browsing, but it creates complications for peer-to-peer connections because external devices cannot easily initiate a connection to your device behind the NAT.

NAT was originally designed to conserve IPv4 addresses — there are only about 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses, far fewer than the number of devices worldwide. By allowing an entire household to share one public IP, NAT solved the address exhaustion problem. The downside is that incoming connections become difficult, which is why services like gaming, VoIP, and torrenting often require special configuration. You can check your current public IP and see if you are behind a NAT by visiting our What Is My IP page.

NAT Types Explained

Routers implement NAT in different ways, typically categorized into three or four types depending on the platform. Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo all report NAT types slightly differently, but the underlying network behavior is the same:

NAT Type	Xbox	PlayStation	Nintendo	Behavior
Open / Type 1	Open	Type 1	Type A	No restrictions. Can connect to all players, host lobbies, and accept incoming connections.
Moderate / Type 2	Moderate	Type 2	Type B	Some restrictions. Can connect to most players but cannot host for strict NAT users.
Strict / Type 3	Strict	Type 3	Type C/D/F	Heavy restrictions. Can only connect to open NAT. Cannot host. Voice chat may fail.

Technical NAT Classifications (RFC 3489)

The IETF standard RFC 3489 defines four technical NAT types based on how the router maps internal ports to external ports:

Type	Mapping	Filtering	Connectivity
Full Cone	Same external port for all destinations	Any external host can send to mapped port	Best (Open)
Restricted Cone	Same external port for all destinations	Only hosts you have sent to can respond	Good (Moderate)
Port Restricted Cone	Same external port for all destinations	Only host+port pairs you sent to can respond	Limited (Moderate-Strict)
Symmetric	Different external port for each destination	Only the specific destination can respond	Worst (Strict)

Symmetric NAT is the most restrictive and is common on corporate networks and some ISP-provided gateways. It makes peer-to-peer connections extremely difficult because the external port changes for every destination, preventing hole-punching techniques that games and VoIP use.

How to Fix a Strict or Moderate NAT

1. Enable UPnP — Universal Plug and Play allows applications to automatically request port forwarding rules. Log into your router at 192.168.1.1 and look for UPnP under Advanced or NAT settings.
2. Set up port forwarding — Manually forward the ports your game or application needs. Use our Port Checker to verify the ports are open after configuration.
3. Fix double NAT — If your ISP modem also does NAT, put it in bridge mode or place your router in the modem's DMZ. Check if you have double NAT by comparing your router's WAN IP with your public IP — if they differ, you likely have double NAT.
4. Use DMZ as a last resort — Placing your gaming console in the DMZ opens all ports to it. This achieves Open NAT but reduces security for that device.
5. Request a public IP from your ISP — Some ISPs use Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT), which adds another NAT layer you cannot control. Request a dedicated public IP.

NAT and Gaming: Compatibility Matrix

Your NAT / Peer NAT	Open	Moderate	Strict
Open	Yes	Yes	Yes
Moderate	Yes	Yes	No
Strict	Yes	No	No

As the table shows, Strict NAT users can only connect to Open NAT players. In popular games, this severely limits the matchmaking pool and can make multiplayer nearly unplayable.

Video: Understanding NAT Types

Pro Tip: Before changing NAT settings, test your current connectivity with a speed test and check if specific ports are reachable using our Port Checker. Many games publish their required ports in documentation — forward only those specific ports rather than using DMZ, which exposes your device to all incoming traffic. If you are on PlayStation, go to Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection to see your current NAT type. On Xbox, go to Settings > Network > Network Settings to view NAT status.

Related Guides

• Port Checker
• What Is My IP Address?
• 192.168.1.1 Router Login
• Internet Speed Test
• DNS Lookup
• Subnet Calculator
• WiFi Password Generator
• Network Latency Test

Frequently Asked Questions

What NAT type is best for gaming?

Open NAT (Type 1 on PlayStation, Open on Xbox, Type A on Nintendo Switch) is the best for gaming. It allows unrestricted peer-to-peer connections, meaning you can host lobbies, join any game, and use voice chat without issues. Moderate NAT works for most situations but may prevent connections to players with Strict NAT.

How do I check my NAT type on PS5?

Go to Settings > Network > Connection Status > View Connection Status. The NAT type is displayed as Type 1 (Open), Type 2 (Moderate), or Type 3 (Strict). You can also run the built-in Test Internet Connection from Settings > Network to see an updated reading.

Does NAT type affect download speed?

No. NAT type does not affect your download or upload speed for regular internet activities like web browsing, streaming, or downloading files. NAT only impacts the ability to establish direct peer-to-peer connections. Your speed is determined by your ISP plan, WiFi quality, and network congestion — test it with our speed test.

What is double NAT and how do I fix it?

Double NAT occurs when two devices in your network both perform NAT — typically your ISP-provided modem/gateway and your own router. This creates two layers of address translation, often resulting in Strict NAT. To fix it, either put the ISP modem in bridge mode (so it passes traffic without NAT), or place your router's IP in the modem's DMZ. Contact your ISP for help enabling bridge mode.

Can a VPN fix my NAT type?

Sometimes. A VPN can bypass Carrier-Grade NAT by creating a direct tunnel to the VPN server. However, the VPN itself introduces its own NAT layer, so results vary by provider. Some gaming VPNs are specifically designed to provide Open NAT. The trade-off is added latency from the VPN tunnel, which may increase ping times by 5-30 ms.

What is UPnP and should I enable it?

UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) allows applications on your network to automatically request port forwarding rules from your router. Enabling UPnP is the simplest way to achieve Open NAT for gaming without manually configuring ports. The security risk is minimal for home networks, though enterprise networks typically disable it. If you enable UPnP and still have Strict NAT, the issue is likely double NAT or CGNAT.