COD NAT Type Moderate or Strict? How to Get Open NAT on PS5, Xbox and PC
Fix a Moderate or Strict NAT type in Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6 and Warzone: what each type blocks, Activision’s official ports for PS5, Xbox, PC and Steam, six fixes, and what to do behind CGNAT.
Quick Answer
Strict or Moderate NAT in Call of Duty means your router blocks some incoming connections, which breaks party invites and voice chat and slows matchmaking. Restart the router, turn on UPnP, or forward Activision’s ports to your console or PC (3074 TCP/UDP on every platform; PlayStation also needs TCP 3478–3480 and UDP 3478–3479). Then rule out double NAT. Behind CGNAT no router setting works: get a public IP from your ISP or use a VPN that can open ports.
A Strict or Moderate NAT type in Call of Duty means your router is blocking some of the incoming connections COD uses for parties, voice chat and matchmaking. To get Open NAT, turn on UPnP or forward Activision’s ports to your console or PC (3074 is the key one on every platform), then fix any double NAT. If your ISP uses CGNAT, router settings cannot open it at all.
The same ports and fixes apply to Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6, Warzone and Modern Warfare III: Activision publishes one port list for all of them. Matches themselves run on dedicated servers, so NAT mostly decides whether you can join friends, hear them, and how fast lobbies fill.
COD NAT Types: Open, Moderate and Strict
Activision uses Microsoft’s names on Xbox and PC and Sony’s on PlayStation. Per Activision, a Moderate player can only connect with Moderate or Open players, and a Strict player only with Open players:
| Xbox / PC | PlayStation | Can connect with | What you notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Type 1 | Open, Moderate and Strict | Fastest party joins and lobbies; can host |
| Moderate | Type 2 | Open and Moderate | Usually fine; some parties and voice chat fail |
| Strict | Type 3 | Open only | Party invites fail, long searches, no voice with many players |
Where to check it: in Black Ops 7 and Black Ops 6, open Settings → Account & Network → Network Info. The console’s own test (PS5: Settings → Network → Connection Status → Test Internet Connection; Xbox: Settings → General → Network settings) measures the console, which can differ from what COD shows on PC.
Want the raw answer from outside the game? Our NAT type test shows whether your network maps ports in a way that allows Open NAT.
Call of Duty Ports to Forward (PS5, Xbox, PC, Steam)
- TCP
- 3478-3480
- UDP
- 3074, 3478-3479
Forward these to the local IP of the console or PC that plays COD. On PC, use the Battle.net list for the Battle.net launcher and the Steam list for the Steam version. If your router only accepts single ports, start with 3074 TCP and UDP: it is the port COD itself listens on and the one that usually flips Strict to Open.
How to Change Your NAT Type in COD: 6 Steps
- 1
Restart the router and the console or PC
A stale UPnP table is the most common cause of a sudden Strict NAT. Power off the router for 30 seconds, then start the router first and the game device second.
- 2
Turn on UPnP in the router
UPnP lets COD open 3074 by itself and is the easiest route to Open NAT, especially with more than one console in the house. It is usually under Advanced → NAT forwarding or WAN settings.
- 3
Reserve the device’s local IP
Give the console or PC a fixed address in the router’s DHCP settings, so port rules keep pointing at the right device after a reboot.
- 4
Forward the ports for your platform
Create rules for the TCP and UDP ports above, pointing at that reserved IP. Do not combine manual 3074 rules with UPnP for a second device: only one device can own a port.
- 5
Allow COD through the PC firewall
On Windows, allow the game executable and Battle.net or Steam on private networks, and remove any third-party firewall rule that blocks inbound UDP.
- 6
Check for double NAT or CGNAT
If the router’s WAN IP is private (192.168.x, 10.x, 172.16–31.x) or in 100.64–100.127, there is another NAT in front of you. Bridge the ISP modem or ask the ISP for a public IP.
Router walkthroughs: TP-Link, ASUS, Netgear, Xfinity, Spectrum. Not sure about double NAT? Follow how to check for double NAT.
DMZ for consoles: putting a PS5 or Xbox in the router’s DMZ forwards every port to it and usually gives Open NAT at once. Use it only for a console, never a PC. See what a DMZ does on a router.
COD NAT Type on PS5, Xbox and PC
PS5: NAT Type 2 or 3
Type 2 is normal for a home router and usually shows as Moderate in COD. Type 3 means UPnP is off or another NAT is in front. Forward the PlayStation ports or use DMZ.
PlayStation NAT type guide →Xbox: Moderate or Teredo errors
Xbox needs UDP 3074 plus 88, 500, 3544 and 4500. “Teredo is unable to qualify” on Xbox or PC usually means UDP 3544 or UPnP is blocked.
Xbox NAT type guide →PC: Battle.net or Steam
PC COD gets its NAT from UPnP or port 3074. Two PCs, or a PC and a console, on 3074 at once will push one of them to Moderate.
Windows NAT type guide →Xbox players who see Teredo warnings can also read Teredo tunneling explained.
COD NAT Type Still Moderate or Strict After Port Forwarding
Rules point at an old IP
Two devices want port 3074
ISP modem in front of your router
Mesh or second router
Router WAN IP starts with 100.64–100.127
Moderate on 5G home internet or Starlink
Check whether you are behind CGNAT in two minutes with how to check for CGNAT.
Fixing COD Strict NAT Behind CGNAT
First ask your ISP for a public IPv4 address: some switch you off CGNAT for free or for a small monthly fee, and then the steps above work. If that is not an option, a VPN gives your PC the VPN server’s public address instead of the shared one. Two VPN features matter for COD:
- Moderate NAT mode keeps the same port mapping for every peer, which typically moves COD from Strict to Moderate on PC. It is one setting, but not Open.
- Open ports on the VPN address let unsolicited connections reach your PC the way a public IP would. That is what Open NAT needs, and it requires a VPN that can forward all ports or 3074 specifically, not one random port.
Proton VPN
- Windows: Settings → Connection → Advanced settings → NAT type → Moderate (Type 2)
- Its port forwarding gives one random port, so it cannot open 3074 for Open NAT
- Proton notes moderate NAT slightly lowers privacy; turn it on only for gaming
- 30-day money-back guarantee
2-year plan
PureVPN
- Open all ports, or forward specific ports up to 15 at a time
- Works over OpenVPN, so it can run on a VPN router for a PS5 or Xbox
- Optional dedicated IP keeps the same address between sessions
- 31-day money-back guarantee
5-year plan·$1.69/mo $12.95/mo
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A VPN adds a hop, so pick a server close to you and check your ping in a match. Consoles cannot run VPN apps: they need a router with a VPN client, see VPN routers. More on the trade-offs in how to improve your NAT type and VPNs for Warzone.
Related NAT Guides
Sources (checked October 31, 2026):
- • Activision: Ports used for Call of Duty games (one table for BO7, BO6, Warzone, MWIII, MWII)
- • Activision: Port forward and NAT FAQ (NAT names and who can connect to whom)
- • Proton VPN: Moderate NAT and PureVPN: Port forwarding