The Beginner’s Guide to Port Forwarding

Unless you’re a skilled networking engineer, you probably don’t know how port forwarding can benefit you in your personal internet use. You may not even fully know what it means as many “beginner” guides actually use more professional jargon than networking handbooks. 

Enough is enough — port forwarding is accessible to everyone, so it should be understood by everyone. We created this guide to show you what port forwarding actually is, how it works, what you can use it for, and how to set it up. We won’t leave you in the dark about what happens after either. We’ll even take you through possible port forwarding risks and what you can do to stay safe.

What Is Port Forwarding?

A port describes an online channel for internet traffic to pass through. All devices connected to the internet use various ports to communicate with each other, getting you to the service you want to use. Normally, apps and devices know which ports to use, based on pre-programmed settings. For example, your browser connects to port 443 to access secure HTML websites and your PC keeps your date and time updated with port 123.

There may be instances where you want to use a specific port, like setting up a Minecraft server to play with friends or improving your torrenting speeds. That’s where port forwarding comes in as it lets you decide which ports your internet traffic should use. 

Port forwarding is also handy if your router creates unnecessary issues, like slowdowns or content blocks. When you map out your ports, you stop the router from constantly checking (and possibly blocking) outside connections. This helps your traffic move more efficiently as it no longer has to go through a router sorting process and security checks. As a result, you experience less lag while gaming or streaming Netflix.

How Does Port Forwarding Work?

Have you ever pretended to create a phone line with two cups and a string? Port forwarding works on a similar principle. 

Imagine your devices as one cup and the outside services or devices you want to use as the other one. Normally, the string connecting them has a huge knot in the middle (AKA your router) which slows it down and impedes their communication. However, port forwarding cuts the knot out of the equation and enables direct communication between outside services and your devices.

This requires you to swap the IP addresses your router assigns to your devices to routable IPs and specify exactly which port (or port range) you want to use. You can easily change these in under 10 minutes in your router settings. 

The Difference Between Static and Dynamic Port Forwarding 

Static ports remain the same throughout the whole time you’re using them, while dynamic ones swap every time you establish a new connection. 

Static ports are more convenient to use if you’re port forwarding on a router. It saves you from manually configuring a new port for every device or app — every program sending data through your router will simply use the same port.

Dynamic ports are easier to establish as they don’t have numbers assigned to them, so you can recycle any unused connections. However, they can be a bit of a pain to use as you’ll have to reconfigure your connection in every program if your Wi-Fi suddenly drops or you want to use a different device. 

Is Port Forwarding the Same as Port Triggering?

Though they fall under the same umbrella, port triggering and port forwarding come with slight differences.

Port Forwarding	Port Triggering*
Static port configuration	Dynamic port forwarding
Keeps ports open at all times until you disable port forwarding	Opens and closes ports when triggered by communication requests
Requires a unique static IP address to configure port forwarding to each device	Automatically assigns IP addresses when triggered
Works only on one device or system on the network	Can be configured on multiple devices on the network, but works on one connection at a time
Stops NAT firewalls from checking incoming communication	Allows routers to still monitor inbound traffic
Leaves you more prone to cyberattacks	Fewer chances of incoming attacks compared to port forwarding
Common for torrenting and gaming	Common in offices when multiple devices are using the same router

Generally speaking, port forwarding works better as a direct connection between your device and a gaming server or a P2P seeder. Port triggering is more useful in work environments as it allows network admins to connect multiple devices at the same time. However, you can use either method depending on your preferences and what you want to do online.

What Can You Use Port Forwarding For?

You can use port forwarding for multiple online activities, including:

✅ Connecting to gaming servers and playing with friends

✅ Boosting your speeds

✅ Accessing devices on your home network while away

✅ Hiding your IP address and protecting certain files

✅ Creating a data backup

✅ Hosting servers for other people to use, for example in Minecraft

✅ Using a VPN on your home network

This list is in no way exhaustive since port forwarding can benefit anything you do online. However, you have to remember it comes with a few risks — even though the benefits might outweigh them, depending on your needs. 

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Watch Out for Risks of Port Forwarding

As handy as it may be, port forwarding isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. To make the most of it and not compromise your security, you need to know what risks you’re opening yourself up to when choosing a port. As a general rule, port forwarding: 

❗ Opens up the door for hackers to get into your devices and install malware.

❗Creates a favorable environment for privacy breaches as hackers can monitor or steal data files.

❗ Might allow hackers access to your home IoT devices or security cameras (only if they’re involved in port forwarding).

The good news is the chances of these risks happening are quite low. Port forwarding is like leaving your back window open for your cat to come and go as it pleases. Sure enough, the pet benefits from this arrangement as you intended, but the risk of pocket thieves leveraging it to break into your house is also there. 

With the right security precautions, like putting up a high fence or installing a security camera, you can discourage intruders from sliding through the gap.

Easy Tips for Safe Port Forwarding

⛔ Be mindful of possible port forwarding risks, like creating a point of entry for hackers and privacy breaches

⛔ Follow port forwarding instructions and watch detailed videos to help you set up port connections on any device

⛔ Create a plan B to use if anything goes wrong when you set up or run port forwarding

⛔ Constantly check your connection, especially if you’re not running port forwarding with a VPN

⛔ Use a VPN with port-forwarding enabled to get a second pair of eyes monitoring your traffic for malicious activity and protecting your data

Quick Guide to Configuring Static Port Forwarding on Your Devices

Set Up Port Forwarding on Windows

Port Forward on Macs

Use Port Forwarding on PlayStation

Set Up Port Forwarding on Xbox

Enable Port Forwarding on a Router

By default, mobile devices don’t allow for port forwarding, so you can either use a VPN with the feature enabled or set up port forwarding on your router. This method will also work on any other device connected to your home network.

List of Most Popular Ports

You can choose from over 65,000 ports when you’re setting up port forwarding on your device. As a rule of thumb, you should always aim to go above 1,000 and below 65,000 as they’re most likely to be free. However, feel free to use this cheat sheet with commonly used port numbers: 

For a full alphabetical catalog of apps, games, websites, and their corresponding ports, check out this huge port list.

Port Forwarding with a VPN

Despite being quite different, port forwarding and VPNs share some qualities and can be used together. While it’s not necessary to combine them, it can add to your internet security. 

Let’s circle back to the window analogy. Even with a higher garden fence and security cameras, the most persistent thieves could still technically come through. Adding a VPN to the equation is like putting an invisible cloak on everything inside your house. Your cat can still get in and out, but if a burglar was to squeeze through, they won’t see anything to steal.

That’s because a VPN applies tough encryption to your data packets, which completely hides the information they’re transporting from point A to B. No visible data = no stolen details! Better yet, you don’t have to set up a new IP address yourself. A VPN will port forward using one of its own IPs, keeping your location hidden too. 

Some VPNs already offer port forwarding in their subscriptions. This means you don’t have to pay extra for the luxury of staying safe and being fully in control of your traffic. 

PIA makes port forwarding easy. All you need to do is tick a=the port forwarding option in our “Network” settings and the app will find a secure port and give you a new IP address when you connect. No faffing around with extra settings and buttons. 

Once you connect, you’ll still get instant protection from our 256-bit AES encryption, which is currently the strongest on the market. PIA’s advanced Kill Switch also allows for safe port forwarding on less reliable Wi-Fi networks at hotels, schools, or offices. If your connection drops, the VPN cuts your traffic altogether, preventing your data from escaping through the cracks.

We’re not just saying that — we truly stand by our product. So much so, you can use PIA for safe port forwarding risk-free for up to 30 days as we back all our plans with a money-back guarantee.  

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What Is Universal Plug and Play AKA UPnP?

UPnP is another method of port forwarding, which uses a set of protocols to fully automate the process. It opens up direct communication between devices and apps on the same network, so they can share IP addresses and learn about each other. Interestingly, 76% of common routers come with it automatically turned on! This means your network may already be using it without you knowing. 

The process is very similar to port triggering since UPnP opens and closes ports as and when requested. The only difference is the automation and lack of your input. Because of no need for human setup, UPnP is a popular choice for home networks or small offices. 

Despite its advantages, UPnP lacks the ability to differentiate malicious connections from safe ones. So if a hacker was to request a connection, UPnP would let them in without hesitation. This requires additional security features, so you’d still need to set up extra software yourself. Or swap to port triggering for a bit more manual (but safer) port forwarding.

Learn How to Port Forward with UPnP

You’re Ready — Go and Port Forward on Your Devices Yourself

You have the right to adjust your internet as you please and avoid firewall headaches.  Port forwarding is a great way to get back in control of what happens with your traffic, while also boosting your speeds and bypassing network checks. 

Remember port forwarding opens your devices to any outside requests, including malicious ones. Use a VPN with port forwarding to decrease the risk of compromising your network. 

PIA secures your data with top-grade encryption, an advanced Kill Switch, and more. Our VPN also sets up port forwarding for you so it saves you the hassle of checking which ports are free and what IP address you should use. Better yet, you can use PIA to port forward safely.

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