NAT Type From Strict to Open How to Change NAT Type on Xbox 2022

– NAT Type From Strict to Open –

When trying to join an online game or access other features of the Xbox Live service, you may sometimes receive an error message entitled “Your NAT form is set to strict.” The problem comes from a conflict that exists between your Xbox console and your home network.

You need to overcome the error by modifying the IP address of the console and opening multiple ports on your network router before playing the multiplayer game or installing any Xbox Live content.

Network Address Translation, or NAT, enables one IP address to act as the identifying address on a local network for various computers and devices.

In cases where you need to set up a server, to allow connectivity to and from various ports, you need to set the NAT type as “open” Another common reason for opening the NAT form is online gameplay on consoles like the PS3 or the Xbox 360.

You won’t be able to host a game, use voice chat or in some cases play at all when your NAT is set to tight. If you have an Internet telephone service, a strict-rule NAT may not allow you to make or take calls.

Here is how to change your NAT type from Strict to Open.

What is NAT?

The term NAT stands for Network Address Translation. This is essentially the process your router uses to connect devices to the Internet.

To combat this, your internet provider will take the IPv4 addresses from all the separate devices in your household and will use one IP address for all of them.

This is where the confusion arises in your router as from the outside, all connected devices will be seen to be using the same IP address.

This is where NAT comes to the router’s rescue. NAT is used to keeping a log of every request made to the router from each individual device.

Once that request has reached the web and it responds to your router, NAT will then ensure it’s sent back to the correct device.

What is useful to note is that there can be problems with your connection if your Internet Service Provider is strict with internet traffic, or if there are limitations on specific types of content being sent/received.

Your Xbox will usually use UPnP in order to process an open NAT type.

This is great as it allows your console to communicate effectively with your router so that you can play Xbox Live on an Open NAT type without having to configure it yourself.

However, we know for a fact that the implementation of UPnP on the Xbox One is flawed and therefore might not always give you the NAT type that you need in order to connect with others online.

Different Types of NAT

NAT types are a way of categorizing NAT. There are three types and each dictates how good an online experience you will have.

You can often see which NAT type you have in the pre-game lobby of an online match, however, if that is not an option you can find out by opening the network settings on your console. We go into that in more detail below.

Below is a table where you will find the compatibility issues with differing NAT types and it may explain why you are having problems connecting with other players.

Open NAT

This is the optimal type available. With an Open NAT, you should have no problems connecting to other players, as well as being able to chat and party up with players with no problem.

You can also host multiplayer games with people of any NAT type.

Moderate NAT

While acceptable under most circumstances, it is by no means an ideal NAT type. With a moderate NAT type, you may find that your connection to games is slower, game lag may increase and in most circumstances, you will not be the host.

Strict NAT

This is the worst NAT type available. You will only be able to connect with players who have an open NAT, and even then you might have problems with chat and game connection.

Game lag will be worse and you will often find yourself being disconnected during gameplay.

How to Check your NaT type on Xbox One

While you can check your NAT type in the pre-game lobby, if it isn’t there, you can conveniently find it in the Xbox network settings menu. Here’s the process:

Navigate to Home
Select Settings
You can view Network Settings and the NAT type under ‘Current Network Status’

How to Change a NAT Type From Strict to Open

Step 1

Type “cmd” (without the quotes) in the Windows Search box. Select the Command Prompt to open a command window.

Step 2

Type “ipconfig /all” (without the quotes) and press “Enter” to execute the command.

Step 3

Look through the list of names until you see either “Default Gateway” or “IPV4 Gateway” and write down the numbers next to those names. The numbers will look similar to “192.168.0.0.”

Step 4

Open Internet Explorer, type the Gateway IP address in your address bar and press “Enter” to open your router’s configuration page.

Step 5

Enter your router password. If you don’t know the password, you may need to contact the manufacturer. However, for many devices, the default password is “admin.”

Step 6

Click the “Administration” link on your router. Change the “UPnP” setting from “Disabled” to “Enabled.”

Step 7

Click the “Save Settings” or “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page. Exit your router configuration tool.

Enable UPnP on Xbox One

The steps for enabling UPnP on your router are simple. Note: the steps may vary between router models.

Head over to your router’s login page. (Login process may vary between routers.)
Log in to your router using the required credentials.
Navigate to the UPnP menu on your router. (This may vary between models, so search for specifics on your router. If UPnP isn’t available, we recommend port forwarding.)
Enable UPnP.
Save your changes.
Open the Settings app on your Xbox One.
Select the Network tab.
Select the Test NAT type tile. (You should now have Open NAT on your Xbox One.)
Restart your console.

There you have it! That’s all it takes to fix NAT-type issues on Xbox One.

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