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NAT Type on Game Consoles (Open, Moderate, Strict) Explained

Follow these steps in order to diagnose and improve your NAT type.

  1. Understand what NAT type actually measures

    NAT type is a rating of how easily other players can connect to your console, and both PlayStation and Xbox report it as Open, Moderate, or Strict. The closer to Open, the smoother matchmaking and voice chat with other players tends to be; the closer to Strict, the more restrictions you are likely to run into.

  2. Check your console NAT type

    On PS5, go to Settings > Network > Connection Status and run the internet connection test to see your current NAT type. On Xbox, press the Xbox button, open Profile & System > Settings > General > Network settings, and the NAT type appears on the right side of the screen.

  3. Recognize the common symptoms of Moderate or Strict

    Slow matchmaking, being unable to match with certain players at all, dropped party voice chat, and game invites that fail to connect are the classic signs. Many games still run fine otherwise, so it is worth checking your NAT type specifically when online multiplayer is the problem.

  4. Check whether you have double NAT

    Running your own router behind an ISP-supplied modem creates a double NAT setup, where two devices each perform address translation β€” a common root cause of Strict NAT. Switching the ISP modem into bridge mode so only one device handles NAT is the most reliable fix.

  5. Try enabling UPnP first

    Turning on UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) in your router's advanced settings lets your console automatically request the ports it needs, which resolves many NAT type issues without any manual configuration.

  6. Forward ports manually if UPnP does not help

    If UPnP does not fix it, give the console a static IP address and forward the manufacturer's official PS5 or Xbox port numbers on your router. Placing the console in the DMZ is technically an option as a last resort, but it significantly increases security risk, so it is best avoided unless nothing else works.

If you suspect double NAT

If you are using both a carrier-provided modem and your own router, switching the modem into bridge mode collapses the setup back down to a single NAT, which resolves most Strict NAT issues at the root rather than working around them port by port.

If this is your first time forwarding ports

If UPnP alone does not solve it and you need to forward ports manually, start by confirming how to reach your router's admin page and the basic forwarding steps before entering the specific PS5 or Xbox port numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

My NAT type shows Strict but my games work fine. Do I still need to fix it?

Not necessarily. If you are not actually running into matchmaking or party chat problems, there is no urgent need to change anything β€” NAT type is just an indicator of how smooth those specific features are likely to be, not something that blocks a game from running.

Once I get an Open NAT type, does it stay that way?

Not always. Rebooting your router or changing its settings can knock you back down to Strict or Moderate. If UPnP is enabled, ports usually reopen automatically, but if you forwarded them manually, it is worth occasionally checking that the rules were not reset.