NAT type describes how easily other devices on the internet can connect to your PC or console. It's usually shown as Open, Moderate or Strict (Xbox, PC) or Type 1, 2 or 3 (PlayStation). Open is best. Strict NAT can stop you joining parties, hearing friends in voice chat or matching with other players. The usual fix is enabling UPnP or forwarding a few ports on your router.
What is NAT?
Your ISP gives your home one public IP address. Your router shares it between all your devices using Network Address Translation (NAT): it keeps track of which device started which connection and passes replies to the right one.
Outgoing connections are easy. The problem is incoming connections, such as another player trying to connect to you in a peer-to-peer game or voice chat. If the router doesn't know which device should receive that connection, it blocks it. Your NAT type shows how open your router is to those incoming connections.
NAT types by platform
| Meaning | Xbox / PC | PlayStation | Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully reachable | Open | Type 1 | A |
| Works behind a router, mostly fine | Moderate | Type 2 | B |
| Restricted connections | Strict | Type 3 | C–F |
Type 2 / Moderate is normal for most home setups and usually fine. Type 3 / Strict is the one that causes problems.
What a strict NAT causes
- You can't join or host parties with some friends.
- Voice chat works with some people but not others.
- Long matchmaking times, or "connection failed" errors.
- Problems hosting lobbies in peer-to-peer games.
Two players with Strict NAT often can't connect to each other at all.
How to check your NAT type
- PS5: Settings → Network → Connection Status → Test Internet Connection.
- Xbox: Settings → General → Network settings → shows NAT type, with an option to test it.
- Switch: System Settings → Internet → Test Connection.
- PC: the Xbox app's network settings show your NAT type for Xbox services.
How to fix a strict NAT
1. Enable UPnP
Log in to your router (often at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and turn on UPnP. Games and consoles can then open the ports they need automatically. Restart the console and test again. This fixes most cases.
2. Forward ports manually
If you prefer to keep UPnP off:
- Give your console or PC a reserved IP address in the router's DHCP settings.
- Forward the ports listed on the official PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo support pages to that address.
- Restart and test again.
3. Fix double NAT
If you have two routers, such as an ISP modem-router plus your own router, both are doing NAT. Fix it by:
- putting the ISP device into bridge mode, or
- putting your own router into access point mode.
4. Check for CGNAT
Some ISPs share one public IP address between many customers. This is called carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT), and it makes Open NAT impossible from your side. Signs: the WAN IP shown in your router starts with 100.64–100.127, or doesn't match what "what is my IP" sites show. Ask your ISP for a public IP address. Some provide one for free, others for a small fee.
5. Use DMZ only as a last resort
DMZ forwards all incoming traffic to one device. It fixes NAT but removes the router's protection for that device. Only use it for a console, and only if the other methods fail.
NAT type and ping
NAT type doesn't change your ping. But fixing it can fix "lag" that's actually connection trouble, especially in games that use peer-to-peer connections or relay servers. If your NAT is open and you still lag, see how to reduce ping and router settings for gaming.
