How to fix NAT Type problems for your Xbox One gaming console.
2. NAT Types
If you are gaming on a console and are having trouble playing multiplayer games, joining lobbies or talking to other players through voice chat, it may be due to your internet connection or more specifically the type of NAT your network has. This guide will explain what NAT is, what the different NAT types are for your console and how these issues may be resolved.
What NAT is
Network Address Translation (NAT) is a technology that allows you to have multiple devices connected to the internet at the same time while having only one physical connection to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). The connection to the ISP is established through a modem whereas the NAT is accomplished with the use of a router. Interconnecting a modem and a router is how all your devices in your home are able to connect to the internet at the same time. Units that can replace the combined use of a modem and a router also exist and are called gateways. The NAT has the following effects on a network:
Connections initiated from inside the home network like surfing the web, checking email and joining a game work fine because the router passes the connection request out. Once the connection is established data flows both in and out.
Connections initiated from outside the home network are dropped by default. This is because the router doesn't know to which device on your home network the incoming connection was intended for. In a multiplayer game these incoming connections are sometimes required for joining lobbies and voice chat.
Xbox NAT Types
Your NAT type is determined by the settings or features of the router on the network you are using to connect to the Internet. Your NAT type, combined with the NAT type of other online players, determines whether you can successfully communicate with them in party chat or use multiplayer gaming.
The Xbox console has the following NAT types:
Open: You can chat with other people, as well as join and host multiplayer games with people who have any NAT type on their network.
Moderate: You can chat and play multiplayer games with some people; however, you might not be able to hear or play with others, and you typically won't be chosen as the host of a match.
Strict: You can only chat and play multiplayer games with people who have an Open NAT type. You can't be chosen as the host of a match.
If your NAT type is Open, your console is connected properly. If you are having problems, it may be due to a glitch with your connection and may be resolved with a simple reboot. If your NAT Type is Moderate or Strict, this generally indicates that there is some sort of restriction or blockage that is preventing your console from communicating properly. This means that your router's settings will have to be altered to allow proper communication, or might be altogether incompatible with your game console.
The table below illustrates who you can play multiplayer games with and communicate with in a party chat.
Xbox BXbox ANAT TypeOpenModerateStrictOpenYesYesYesModerateYesYesNoStrictYesNoNo
Press and hold the Xbox button on the front of the console for approximately 10 seconds or until it turns off.
Press the Xbox button to turn it back on.
Reboot the Home Network
Unplug the power cable from both your modem and router.
Verify all lights are off on the modem and router.
After 30 seconds, replug the power cable into your modem and then your router.
It may take at least one minute for the internet to reconnect.
5. What's next?
6. NAT Type Configuration
In order to get thebest NAT Type for your game console, you may need to do one of the following:
Open required ports via Port Forwarding within your router.
Enablethe DMZ (demilitarized zone)setting for your game console within your router. This opens all ports of communication for a specified device that's connected to your router.
Enable UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) on your router.
Not all of these options may be available to you depending on what kind of router you have in your home. In order to determine which ports need to be "opened" on your routerto configure Port Forwarding,you may need to contactyour game console's manufacturer, or refer to the console's supplied documentation. For details on how to configureyourspecific router, please refer toyour router'ssupplied documentation for support.
To begin, access the Settings menu from your Xbox Series X/S console and select “Network”. Click “Advanced Settings” from here and then choose “Alternate MAC Address”. You should then see an option for “NAT Type”, which you can select to choose either Open or Moderate from the available options.
How do I fix my strict NAT type? You can fix your NAT type by heading into Settings, Network Settings, or Advanced Settings on your router and enabling UPnP. You'll then need to reset your router and device to ensure the changes are made.
If you have 2 separate ISP devices, a modem and router, turn off and unplug the ISP-provided router, then connect your modem directly to your Wifi device. If your ISP-provided router is combined with the ISP's modem in a single device, enable bridge mode on your modem/router combo to fix the Double NAT issue.
The most efficient way to check your NAT type is the following: Press the Windows key and R.Enter cmd and press Enter.Type ipconfig in the new window and press Enter.
Is UPnP better for gaming? One reason you might want to take the risk of UPnP is for gaming. UPnP certainly makes the gaming experience easier. Instead of you having to manually identify your port number for each device or online game, UPnP does it for you.
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) essentially allows applications to forward ports automatically, avoiding the hassle of manual "port forwarding." Although they often achieve the same end result, UPnP allows the console to seamlessly request a port, rather than requiring specific port numbers to be entered manually.
NAT type 2 means you're connected behind another router e.g. Modem > Router > PS4. NAT type 1 is also an open NAT but on a single modem/router setup e.g. Modem/Router combo > PS4.
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