Modern Warfare NAT Type ‘Strict’ – How To Fix It

Chances are if you’ve played a Call Of Duty game or are playing the Modern Warfare beta this weekend, you’ve entered into the game and been met with a little note saying your “NAT Type” is Strict.

Having a Strict or even Moderate NAT type can cause major headaches for players who like competing online. Multiplayer games need a smooth and clean pathway to your internet connection, and having any restrictions in place — like a Strict NAT type — can make it difficult for you to enjoy your time playing online.

Before we get started on how to fix the “NAT Type: Strict” error, let’s take a look at what each NAT type means.

Just a quick not before we get started: This section is broken up into both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 sections. The steps remain essentially the same, although to find your NAT type on each console is slightly different. The ports are also different, so follow the steps in the Xbox One section, but just make sure you use the PS4 port numbers listed below.

Modern Warfare NAT Type: Open

When you have an Open NAT type, you’re able to chat with other people, join and host multiplayer games, and interact and play with players who have any other type of NAT type on their network.

Modern Warfare NAT Type: Moderate

If you have a Moderate NAT type, you’ll be able to chat and play online with some people, but you might not be able to with everyone. You also won’t be chosen as the host of a match.

Modern Warfare NAT Type: Strict

If you have a Strict NAT type, you’re restricted to chatting and playing multiplayer games exclusively with people who have an OPEN NAT type. You also can’t be chosen as the host of a match.

How to check your NAT Type

On Xbox:

1. Scroll left from Home to open the guide.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select All Settings.
4. Select Network.

You’ll see on this page what NAT Type you have. Occasionally it says “Open”, but Call Of Duty will list at as Moderate or Strict. We’ll address this shortly.

On PlayStation: 

Go to Settings > Network > Internet Connection Status.

How to set NAT Type to ‘Open’

Next we’re going to fix it so that your NAT Type is Open in Call Of Duty, regardless of what it says in your console’s network settings (sometimes it says Open when it’s in fact closed).

On Xbox One

Step 1: Find the access address to your router. Normally this is 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.254. Check your router’s manual for more information. Type in the router’s address into your web browser as you would an internet address (use http:// if you’re facing trouble).

Step 2: Log into the router. Normally, the username and password is simply “admin” and “admin”, although it may be different for some routers, and the ISP may have changed it. In that case, the login details should be on either the bottom of the router, on the router’s box, or in the router’s manual.

Step 3: Ensure that “UPnP” is enabled. This is often in the router’s “Advanced” settings.

Step 4: You need to open up some ports and assign them specifically to your console. This will vary from router to router, so Google your router’s brand name and model number, followed by “port forwarding”. As an example using my own router, the search should look like this “Huawei H2U56 port forwarding”.

In the case of my router, it shouldn’t be all that different to yours, so I’ll explain how I do it. I log into my router using “admin” and “admin” as the username and password. I click on “Advanced”, then “UPNP” and make sure that the “enable” box is ticket. Then I tick on “NAT” and select “Port Mapping”. I click on “New”, and then “TCP/UDP” (in some routers there are two individual options). Then I put in the ports I need opening.

53, 3074, 53, 88, 500, 3544, 4500

In all of the “Port” boxes (External, External end, and Internal) I put in the number, and then in “Internal Host” I put the IP of my router (whatever the number is that you put into your browser). Here’s an example for opening the 53 port. It’s “Name_1” because that’s just the name I’ve given it. I have every port the name “Name_#”.

As you can (barely see … sorry for the poor quality), the port 53 appears three times, followed by the IP. The three ports are posted in the “External”, External End and Internal boxes. This might vary router to router, but not that much.

On PlayStation 4

Follow the steps above under “On Xbox One”, but use the following ports.

80, 443, 465, 983, 3478-3480, 3658, 5223, 6000-7000, 9293, 10070-10080

If you’re still having NAT issues, post in the comments below and we’ll try to assist you! Be sure to list your router brand and model number