Error: Your NAT type is set to strict (or moderate)

When you run the Xbox LIVE connection test, you receive one of the following error messages: or





After testing your Xbox LIVE connection, a NAT warning appears as a yellow triangle:

Solution 1: Restart your network equipment

1. Turn off your Xbox 360 console and network hardware (for example, your modem and router).
2. Wait 30 seconds.
3. Turn on your modem and wait for it to come back online (approximately one minute).
4. Turn on the next piece of hardware (for example, the router), and wait another minute.
5. Repeat step 4 for every additional piece of network hardware.
6. Turn on your console, press the Guide button on your controller, go to Settings, and then select System Settings.
7. Select Network Settings.
8. Select Wired Network or the name of your wireless network, if you are prompted to do so.
9. Select Test Xbox LIVE Connection.

If you still receive a NAT warning, please try the next solution.

Solution 2: Turn on UPnP on your network hardware

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is a standard that helps routers communicate effectively. If your router or gateway supports UPnP, make sure this setting is turned on.

Please refer to your hardware documentation for help turning on UPnP. Most hardware manufacturers have websites that include support information.

If you change the UPnP setting on your network hardware, restart your hardware and test your Xbox LIVE connection.

If you still receive a NAT warning, please try the next solution.

Solution 3: Simplify your setup

Your router or gateway might be having problems sharing an Internet connection. To see whether this is true, try simplifying your setup.

1. If you have a wired connection: Temporarily unplug everything from your router, except the cable to your modem and the cable to your Xbox 360 console.
   or
   If you have a wireless connection: Temporarily turn off everything that's connected to your wireless network except your Xbox 360 console.
2. Test your Xbox LIVE connection. To do this: Press the Guide button on your controller, go to Settings, and then select System Settings, select Network Settings, select Wired network or your wireless network name (if you are prompted to do so), and then select Test Xbox LIVE Connection.

If you do not receive a NAT warning after simplifying your setup, it suggests that the router is having problems handling multiple connections. To try to fix the problem, please go to the next solution.

Solution 4: Open network ports

Your network hardware or firewall might be blocking communication with the Xbox LIVE servers.

If you're connected to a network through your workplace or a college, ask the network administrator to open the following ports:

• TCP 80
• UDP 88
• UDP 3074
• TCP 3074
• UDP 53
• TCP 53

If you’re not connected to a workplace or college network, you need to open network ports on your network hardware. Opening ports can be a little challenging, but the following information will get you started.

There are two ways to open network ports:Port triggering is the quickest way to open network ports, however, not all routers support port triggering. Check your router documentation to find out if port triggering is supported. If your router does not support port triggering, try Method 2: Port forwarding.

Method 1: Port triggering

When you set up port triggering on your router, you need to trigger the following ports:

• UDP 3074
• TCP 3074
• UDP 88

Typically, you need to do the following for each port that needs triggering:Refer to your router documentation for information on how to set up port triggering.

Method 2: Port forwarding

Part 1: Switch to manual IP settings

Before opening ports on your network hardware, we need to get the IP settings from your computer and then use those IP settings on your Xbox 360 console.

To get your computer’s IP settings

1. On your computer, click Start, type cmd, and then press ENTER.
   
   Note If you’re using Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then press ENTER.
   
   
2. At the prompt, type ipconfig, and then press ENTER.
3. Find your network connection (for example, look for something called "Local Area Connection" or "Wireless Network Connection"). Write down the numbers for the following items:
   • IPv4 address (or IP address)
   • Subnet mask
   • Default gateway
   
   
   
   Collapse this imageExpand this image

   
   
   
   
4. Make up a unique IP address for your Xbox 360 console and write it down. A simple way to do this is to add 10 to the last number of your computer’s default gateway address. For example, if your computer’s address is 192.168.1.1, use 192.168.1.11 for your console’s unique IP address.

Note Each IP address on your network must be unique.

Now let’s set your console’s IP settings.

To set your Xbox 360 console’s IP settings

1. On your console, press the Guide button on your controller, go to Settings, and then select System Settings.
2. Select Network Settings.
3. Select Wired Network or the name of your wireless network, if you are prompted to do so.
4. Select Configure Network.
5. On the Basic Settings tab, select IP Settings.
6. Select Manual.
7. Select IP Address.
8. Enter the unique IP address that you made up, and then select Done.
9. Select Subnet Mask, enter your computer’s subnet mask, and then select Done.
10. Select Gateway, enter your computer’s default gateway, and then select Done.
11. Select Done.
12. Press B on your controller and then test your connection again.

Part 2: Open ports on your router or gateway

Now let’s open ports on your router or gateway, so that your network hardware can communicate with the Xbox LIVE servers (this is also called "port forwarding").

To open ports on your router or gateway

1. Start your web browser.
2. In the Address bar, type the default IP address for your router or gateway, and then press ENTER.
   
   
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   Here are the default IP addresses for a few router or gateway manufacturers.
   Collapse this tableExpand this table

   Manufacturer	Default IP address
   Belkin	192.168.2.1
   Cisco/Linksys	192.168.1.1
   DLINK	192.168.0.1
   Netgear	192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1

   If your manufacturer is not listed above, refer to your documentation or your hardware manufacturer's website for help finding the default IP address.
3. Type your user name and password (for your router or gateway), and then click OK.
   
   Note If you do not know the default user name and password, refer to your hardware manufacturer’s documentation.
4. Once you are logged in, you should see your router or gateway's configuration page.
5. Open the following ports:
   • Port 88 (UDP)
   • Port 3074 (UDP and TCP)
   • Port 53 (UDP and TCP)
   • Port 80 (TCP)

A resource that might help you open ports on your router is www.portforward.com. Click the following link and then find your router:If your router is not listed on the Port Forward website, contact your Internet service provider or router manufacturer for help with opening network ports.

Router manufacturers

Asus (http://support.asus.com) (support.asus.com)
Belkin (http://en-us-support.belkin.com) (en-us-support.belkin.com)
Buffalo Technology (http://www.buffalotech.com/support) (www.buffalotech.com/support)
Linksys by Cisco (http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/support) (www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/support)
D-Link (http://support.dlink.com) (support.dlink.com)
Netgear (http://www.netgear.com/support) (www.netgear.com/support)
SMC (http://www.smc.com) (www.smc.com)
Sweex (http://www.sweex.com) (www.sweex.com)
Tenda (http://www.tenda.cn) (www.tenda.cn)
zyXel (http://www.zyxel.com/web) (www.zyxel.com/web)

Microsoft disclaims any and all liability arising out of your use of the third-party companies, software, solutions, services and training listed on the site. All software, solutions, services and training are provided "as is" and without warranty unless provided by the authoring third-party company.

How does NAT affect online gaming?

When you have a NAT warning, you might experience the following symptoms:

• You cannot hear a certain a player within a game or someone cannot hear you.
• You cannot join a party or your friend cannot join your party.

Some things to be aware of:

• NAT problems do not affect game play speed. A NAT warning affects the ability to connect and communicate with other players.
• You should not experience a NAT warning if you are using a wired modem connection.
• If you are using the network at your workplace or college, there is a good chance that you are behind a proxy server or firewall, which is why you are experiencing NAT issues. Contact your network administrator for help.
• If you’re using hardware that is compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7, NAT issues should not occur.