How to Improve NAT Type After a Bad Test: Router, FRP, and VPN Options
After a bad NAT type test, choose the right fix: router settings for real NAT changes, FRP for specific ports, or VPN for the quickest workaround.
Quick answer after a bad NAT test
If NAT Checker just returned Restricted, Port Restricted, Symmetric, or Blocked NAT, do not start changing settings at random. Start with router settings only if you control the router and your ISP gives you a usable public IPv4 address; this is the only path that can truly improve your local NAT behavior. If CGNAT, double NAT, or router access blocks that path, use FRP when you need a specific game or app port reachable from the internet, or try a VPN workaround when you want the simplest test first.
Router settings can change your local network NAT type. FRP and VPN methods usually do not change the NAT type of your home router. They are workaround paths that may let you do the things a better NAT type normally allows, such as hosting a game room, accepting inbound connections, playing with friends, or making peer-to-peer features work.
Which NAT Fix Should You Try First?
1. Change router settings
Best first step for a bad NAT type when you control the router and your ISP gives you a usable public IPv4 address. Try UPnP, port forwarding, or DMZ carefully.
2. Use FRP port tunneling
Best for technical users who need to host a known TCP or UDP port even when local router changes are blocked by CGNAT or double NAT.
3. Use a VPN workaround
Best for users who want the easiest test. Success depends on the VPN provider, server, protocol, and whether your game or app accepts that route.
Method 1: Change Router Settings
Start here if you can log in to your router. This path is most likely to produce a real local NAT improvement. The catch is that it only works when your router is actually reachable from the public internet. If your ISP puts you behind CGNAT, local port rules often cannot receive unsolicited inbound traffic from outside.
Try UPnP first
UPnP lets games and consoles request temporary port mappings automatically. It is convenient on a trusted home network, but keep router firmware updated and avoid enabling it on untrusted shared networks.
Use port forwarding for known ports
If the game or app documents its TCP or UDP ports, reserve a stable LAN IP for your device and forward only the required ports. Wrong protocol, wrong local IP, or a second NAT layer will make the rule fail.
Use DMZ only as a fallback
DMZ can expose one device more broadly. It may help a dedicated console, but it is risky for a general-purpose PC. Prefer UPnP or narrow port forwarding first.
Check CGNAT before spending too much time
If the router WAN address is private, shared, or different from your public IPv4, your ISP may be using CGNAT. In that case, router settings alone usually will not open inbound access from the internet.
Not sure whether CGNAT is the reason your router changes do not work? Run the CGNAT check first, then decide whether to keep changing local router settings.
Read the CGNAT check guideMethod 2: Use FRP Port Tunneling
FRP is a practical workaround for users with some networking or programming experience. Instead of waiting for your home router to accept inbound traffic, you rent or use a server with a public IP address, run FRP on both sides, and map a specific public server port back to a local service on your home network.
Public server options for FRP
If router changes fail because of CGNAT or double NAT, FRP needs a server with a public IP address. Choose a region close to the players who will connect to you. Lower latency matters more than raw CPU. For Europe and North America, Vultr is a convenient first choice. For Asia-Pacific routes, DMIT is usually a better fit.
Vultr
Vultr has many global cloud locations and its official promotions page currently advertises free credit for new users, plus a Free Tier program in selected regions. That makes it a low-friction way to test an FRP server before keeping it long term.
DMIT
DMIT focuses on premium network routes and lists locations such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. Its Terms of Service currently mention a 3-day full refund window for new orders when usage stays under 30GB, and a partial refund option within 30 days.
Disclosure: some provider links in this guide are affiliate links. Provider offers, trial credits, regions, and refund rules can change, so check the provider's current official page before buying or deploying your FRP tunnel.
What you need
- A server with a public IP address that other players or clients can reach.
- A clear understanding of which local TCP or UDP ports your game, app, or server needs.
- Enough technical confidence to configure frps on the public server and frpc on the local machine.
- A way to test the mapped public IP and port from outside your local network.
When FRP is a good fit
FRP is useful when a specific local service needs to be reachable from the internet, such as a self-hosted game server or another app with known ports. It may not fix every matchmaking system, because some games use platform-specific relay, anti-cheat, NAT traversal, or dynamic peer discovery that cannot be solved by exposing one arbitrary port.
Method 3: Use a VPN Workaround
A VPN is the easiest option for many users because setup can be as simple as installing an app and connecting. The practical idea is that your game or device may use the VPN path instead of your restrictive home network path. That can help in some cases, especially when you cannot access the router or your ISP network is heavily restricted.
A normal privacy VPN does not automatically give you open inbound ports. Some VPNs may make gaming NAT better in specific setups, while others may leave it unchanged or make it worse. Before buying, ask the provider whether their service supports your exact device, game, platform, and NAT goal.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN currently offers a 3-day free trial on iOS and Android through the app. First-time website buyers also get a 30-day full-refund window, so you can test the NAT workaround before keeping it.
NordVPN
NordVPN currently offers a 3-day free trial for Android users through Google Play, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee for new subscriptions. It is a low-risk way to test whether a VPN workaround helps your NAT-related issue.
Which Method Should You Choose?
| Goal | Best method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Actually improve your local NAT type | Router settings | UPnP, port forwarding, and DMZ change how your own router handles inbound traffic. |
| Expose a known local service through a public IP | FRP tunnel | A public server can forward a specific external port back to your local program. |
| Try the simplest workaround first | VPN | It is easy to try, but success depends heavily on the VPN provider and game. |
NAT Type Improvement FAQ
Can I really change my NAT type?
Yes, but only the router-settings path can truly change the NAT behavior of your local network. FRP and VPN methods are workarounds that may let you host, connect, or play in ways that a better NAT type normally allows.
What should I try first after a Strict, Symmetric, or Blocked NAT result?
Try router settings first if you control the router and have a public IPv4 address. If you are behind CGNAT or cannot change the router, use FRP for a specific port or try a VPN workaround for the fastest test.
Will a VPN always fix NAT type?
No. A VPN can help some games and apps route around a restrictive home network, but it does not automatically provide open inbound ports. Test the exact provider, server, protocol, platform, and game before keeping a subscription.
What if CGNAT is the real problem?
If your ISP uses CGNAT, local port forwarding usually cannot receive unsolicited inbound traffic from the public internet. Ask the ISP for a public IPv4 address, use FRP through a public server, or test a VPN workaround.
Test Again After Each Change
Change one thing at a time, restart the game or device when needed, then run the NAT test again. If router settings do not work and CGNAT is present, stop repeating the same local rules and choose either a public-server tunnel or a VPN-style workaround.
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