What NAT type means and why it matters for gaming and video calls

NAT type is a setting on your router that controls how your PC connects to other devices on the internet. NAT stands for Network Address Translation. Your NAT type affects whether you can join online games smoothly, whether video calls work without lag, and whether other people can connect directly to you.

Most home routers use one of three NAT types: Open, Moderate (or Type 2), and Strict (or Type 3). Open NAT means your router lets other devices reach you easily. Moderate NAT means some connections work but others may be slow or fail. Strict NAT means your router blocks most incoming connections, which causes lag and connection failures in games and video calls.

You do not need to know your NAT type for everyday browsing or email. You only need to check it if you play online games, use video conferencing, or stream content and you are having connection problems.

Key Takeaways

  • You can check your NAT type using the Windows Settings app under Network & Internet, or by running a command in Command Prompt.
  • Open NAT is best for gaming and video calls; Moderate NAT works for most uses; Strict NAT causes lag and connection failures.
  • Your NAT type depends on your router settings, not your internet speed, and you may need to log into your router to change it.
  • Port forwarding and UPnP are the two main ways to improve a Strict NAT type, and most routers support at least one of them.

Check NAT type in Windows Settings

The easiest way to check your NAT type is through the Windows Settings app. Open Settings, then go to Network & Internet in the left sidebar. Click Advanced network settings at the bottom of the page.

Scroll down until you see Advanced network settings again (the full menu). Click it. Look for a section called Network status or More network options. In some versions of Windows, you will see a button labeled View your network properties. Click that button, and your NAT type will appear next to "NAT type" in the window that opens.

If you do not see NAT type listed, your router may not report it to Windows, or you may be using an older version of Windows that does not display this information. In that case, use the Command Prompt method below instead.

Check NAT type using Command Prompt

Open Command Prompt by pressing Windows key + R, typing cmd, and pressing Enter. At the prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

netsh int ipv4 show nat

This command displays your current NAT settings. Look for a line that says "Enabled" or shows your NAT type. If the result is blank or shows "No entries found," your router is not reporting NAT information to Windows, and you will need to check your router directly instead.

If you want more detailed information, you can also type ipconfig /all and press Enter. This shows your IP address and gateway address. Your gateway address is the address of your router — write it down, because you will need it to log into your router if you want to change your NAT settings.

Check NAT type through your router

If Windows does not show your NAT type, you can check it by logging into your router directly. Open a web browser and type your gateway address (the one you found using ipconfig /all) into the address bar. Most home routers use 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.

The router will ask for a username and password. If you have never changed these, they are usually printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the router. Common defaults are "admin" for both username and password, but this varies by brand.

Once you are logged in, look for a section called Network Settings, WAN Settings, or UPnP. Some routers display NAT type directly in the status page. Others show it under port forwarding or UPnP settings. If you cannot find it, check your router's manual or search the model number plus "NAT type" online.

What each NAT type means for your connection

Open NAT means your router accepts all incoming connections. Games connect when ready, video calls have no lag, and you can host game servers. This is the best NAT type for online gaming and streaming.

Moderate NAT (also called Type 2) means your router accepts some incoming connections but blocks others. You can join most games and video calls, but you may experience occasional lag or fail to connect to certain servers. Most home users have Moderate NAT and do not notice problems.

Strict NAT (also called Type 3) means your router blocks most incoming connections. Games take a long time to connect, video calls drop frequently, and you cannot host servers. If you have Strict NAT and you play online games or use video conferencing regularly, you should change your router settings.

How to improve Strict NAT using UPnP

The easiest way to improve Strict NAT is to enable UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) on your router. UPnP lets your games and apps automatically open ports on your router without you having to do it manually.

Log into your router using the method described above. Look for a setting called UPnP, Universal Plug and Play, or UPnP IGD. It is usually under Network Settings or Advanced Settings. Check the box to enable it, then save and restart your router.

After your router restarts, restart your PC and check your NAT type again. It should improve to Moderate or Open within a few minutes. If it does not change, your router may not support UPnP, or your game may not support it either. In that case, try port forwarding instead.

How to improve Strict NAT using port forwarding

If UPnP does not work, you can manually open ports on your router using port forwarding. This tells your router to send traffic on specific port numbers directly to your PC.

First, find out which ports your game or app uses. This information is usually in the game's settings menu or on the publisher's website. Write down the port numbers.

Log into your router and look for Port Forwarding, Virtual Server, or Port Mapping in the settings menu. Click the button to add a new rule. Enter the port number, select TCP or UDP (or both, if the game uses both), and enter your PC's local IP address (the one that starts with 192.168).

Save the rule and restart your router. Your NAT type should improve within a few minutes. If you have multiple games with different port requirements, you may need to add multiple rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does NAT type affect internet speed?

No. NAT type controls which connections your router accepts, not how fast data travels. If your internet is slow, the problem is your internet service provider or your Wi-Fi signal, not your NAT type. Improving NAT type will not make web pages load faster.

Can I change my NAT type without logging into my router?

No. NAT type is a router setting, and you must log into your router to change it. You cannot change it from Windows alone. If you do not know your router password, you may need to reset your router to factory settings, which will erase your Wi-Fi password and other settings.

Why does my NAT type keep changing?

Your NAT type can change if your router restarts, if you enable or disable UPnP, or if your internet service provider changes your public IP address. If it changes frequently, check whether UPnP is enabled and whether your router is restarting unexpectedly due to overheating or power issues.

What if port forwarding does not improve my NAT type?

Port forwarding opens specific ports, but it does not always change your NAT type reading. If your NAT type stays Strict after port forwarding, your game may still work better because the ports are now open. Test your game connection directly instead of relying on the NAT type number.

Is Moderate NAT good enough for online gaming?

Yes. Moderate NAT works for most online games and video calls. You only need to improve it to Open if you experience lag, frequent disconnections, or if you want to host game servers. Many players with Moderate NAT never notice problems.