How to Change NAT Type on PS5 or PS4

You’ve just sat down to play, but it’s taking ages to find a match.

The MW3 reboot certainly has players, so what’s the problem?

Well, it could be a dozen different things. If restarting your console or router doesn’t help, you should mosey on down to your console settings, and make sure your NAT type is set up correctly. NAT stands for Network Address Translation, and it’s the mechanism that determines the flow of traffic to and from your internet-enabled devices. If it’s set up wrong, it can cause long wait times for matches, the inability to find matches at all, or other problems.

But don’t worry, we’ll show you how to check all that, and fix it.

What Is NAT Type on Your PlayStation and Why Is It Important?

So what does “Network Address Translation” mean, exactly? Well, it’s the method by which your router decides which devices should receive incoming data from the internet and if outside traffic sources are routed in. Essentially, your ISP gives your home network one public IP and NAT lets all your devices share it. It’s instrumental on networks where multiple devices use the same internet connection, e.g., almost every internet-enabled home or office network.

Essentially, it’s one of the “routing” functions of your router. However, there are three main ways in which your router can perform this function. These are known as “NAT types,” and here they are:

Open NAT 

It’s just that: open. It lets traffic come and go pretty much as it pleases, which makes for smooth gaming. Truly open NAT is also the most vulnerable kind, as it generally won’t block traffic from potentially malicious actors, and that means your console’s security features are left to handle any trouble.

• Open NAT connections can connect to any of the other types on this list.
• On your PlayStation, this will be called “NAT type 1.”

Moderate NAT 

This one is a little more secure, but also a little more annoying to manage. However, if you don’t mind putting in the time, it’s the NAT type that we recommend for gaming, so long as it doesn’t break anything in your game of choice.

• Moderate NAT connections can only connect to Open NAT and other Moderate NAT connections.
• On your PlayStation, this will be called “NAT type 2.” 

Strict NAT 

This is the most secure option by far, but completely unsuitable for gaming. If it seems that you can hardly find anyone to play with, or can’t connect to game servers at all, this NAT type is often the culprit.

• Strict NAT connections can only connect to Open NAT connections.
• On your PlayStation, this will be called “NAT type 3.”

Officially, Open NAT – or NAT type 1 – is the best type for gaming. At least, it’ll certainly bypass any router-firewall-based connection issues you might encounter. However, as mentioned above, it’s the least secure option. We’d recommend using NAT type 2.

How to Check Your NAT Type

This is the easy part. Just follow these three steps:

1. Open the Settings menu.
2. Select Network.
3. Then select View Connection Status.

On that screen, you’ll see the NAT type. Remember, type 1 is Open NAT, type 2 is Moderate NAT, and type 3 is Strict NAT. If you see type 3, you definitely need to make a few changes.

IMPORTANT NOTE: On this screen, you’ll also see the IP address for your console. Write that down somewhere, and take it with you while you perform your next steps.

How to Change Your Nat Type on PS5 or PS4

If you opt for Open NAT, relying on your console security features and maybe a VPN for extra security, you have two options: UPnP and a DMZ. If you opt for Moderate NAT, you’ll need to get comfortable with port forwarding. I’ll explain all three below, but you’ll need to be able to access your router’s settings page for all of these.

This will be different for every router. You’ll need to go to a local IP address in your browser such as “192.0.0.1” (just an example), and enter the username and password provided by your ISP. From there, you can do any of the following:

Enable UPnP (NAT type 1, or Open NAT)

UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is an option available on most routers these days. It’s one of the simplest ways to get Open NAT up and running, and the way that’s generally recommended. It works by reading incoming and outgoing traffic, and automatically opening and closing ports as necessary.

For context, ports are basically just virtual “lanes” down which data can flow. Every network-enabled device has a ton of them, and they can be opened or closed to allow data to pass through, or not.

UPnP does this automatically, introducing the tiniest bit of latency to your internet traffic, but it allows traffic to flow unimpeded when it’s working properly. It doesn’t leave random ports exposed, and thus is the safest way to get NAT 1.

1. You’ll need to look through your router’s settings to find the UPnP function, and make sure it’s enabled. Consult your router’s manual. Most router manuals can also be easily found on the internet.
2. Once you’ve enabled it, restart your router.
3. Go check your PlayStation settings to make sure it says NAT type 1.

How to Set Up Port Forwarding on Your PS4 (NAT type 2, or Moderate NAT)

And here is our recommended setup. Port forwarding allows you to specify which ports you want to open, and leave the rest of them closed. This will, in most cases, allow you to run your console like normal, and play your games, while blocking all non-essential traffic.

It can still break some games, but it mostly shouldn’t. Here’s how you do it:

1. Go into your router settings.
2. Find the port forwarding options, and use the console IP address to open specific ports for it. Block all ports except these, and be sure to choose the relevant protocols (TCP or UDP):
   1. TCP: 80, 443, 465, 993, 3478, 3479, 3480
   2. UDP: 3478, 3479
3. Look up the ports for your favorite online games, and be sure to unblock any ports necessary for those games to run.
4. Restart your router, and check your network settings again.

Every time you get a new online game, you’ll need to remember to look up any extra ports it might need, and go to your router to open them. When you’re done playing the game for good, it would also be a good idea to log back into your router and close them again.

Yes, this is definitely more work, and it can break some things. But in most cases, this is the safest way to play.

How to Fix “NAT Type Failed” on PS5 or PS4

A “NAT Type Failed” error usually means your router blocks your PlayStation console from connecting to the game servers because your NAT type is strict or unknown to your router. You can fix it by changing your NAT type using the methods described above, but there are a few simpler options you could try first:

1. Restart your console and router: Unplug both for about 5-10 minutes, then restart. Hopefully this will make your router forget the previous restrictions, assign a new IP to your PlayStation, and unblock ports.
2. Switch to a wired connection: Plug your console directly into the router with an Ethernet cable.
3. Update your router firmware: Log into your router admin panel and check if there’s a software update available. Install the latest firmware, and see if that helps. 
4. Enable QoS (Quality of Service) for gaming priority: Set your PlayStation IP address as the highest priority in the QoS device list. You can find and enable QoS under Advanced, Traffic Control, or Bandwidth Management in your router settings. 
5. Use a static IP address: Assigning your PlayStation a static IP address makes port forwarding and DMZ settings work reliably since your IP address won’t change after every restart.
6. Set network details: You can manually configure the network settings on your console by entering a new IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server address. You can get this information from your ISP or network administrator. 
7. Check for double NAT: If you’re behind two routers (e.g., modem and router), put your router in bridge mode or ask your ISP for help removing the second NAT layer.

Why Use a VPN for Your PlayStation Console

Using Open NAT on your router can be risky, especially if you don’t configure your port forwarding or DMZ correctly. PIA VPN offers secure port forwarding through its VPN servers. Instead of opening ports on your router, you forward them through PIA’s encrypted tunnel. This way, your PlayStation console can use Open NAT for optimal gaming without leaving your network vulnerable. 

Another reason PIA works so well for gaming is speed. It runs a network of 10-Gbps servers in 90 countries and uses light-weight VPN protocols like WireGuard to cut down on latency. 

For a small surcharge, you can also get a dedicated IP. A shared IP address can cause issues with game servers or login systems because you’re using the same address as many other players. A dedicated IP belongs only to you, so there’s very little chance of running into strict NAT behavior, matchmaking problems, or connection errors. 

You can install PIA on a compatible router and instantly add protection to all your connected devices, including your PS5 or PS4 console. Plus, it allows unlimited connections under one account, so you can install it on all your devices. Thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can test all this out risk-free.

FAQ