How to Improve NAT Type After a Bad Test: Router, VPN, and FRP Options
After a bad NAT type test, choose the right fix: router settings if your router has a public IP, a VPN for the quickest fix, or FRP for specific ports.
Which NAT Fix Should You Try First?
1. Change router settings
Works only if you control the router and have a public IP. When CGNAT or double NAT blocks inbound access, it won't help, so choose a VPN or FRP instead.
2. Use a VPN
Simple and convenient, much like installing an app. It also helps behind CGNAT or double NAT, so it suits anyone who wants to skip router settings.
3. Use FRP port tunneling
Forward chosen game or app ports through a public server you rent. You set up and maintain it yourself; if that's not for you, a VPN takes far less setup.
Method 1: Change Router Settings
Start here if you can log in to your router. This path changes how your own router handles NAT, but it only works when your router is the final NAT device and has usable public reachability. CGNAT at the ISP or double NAT from another router can prevent local rules from receiving unsolicited inbound traffic.
Check if your router supports UPnP, Port Forwarding, or DMZ
Before changing settings, log in to your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and verify that it supports UPnP, Port Forwarding, or DMZ. Most retail routers provide all three under "Advanced", "NAT", or "WAN" settings. However, some ISP-supplied gateways, mesh nodes, or cellular routers lock down these features. If your router lacks these options, local NAT adjustments won't work—consider switching to the VPN or FRP methods below.
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.
Double NAT: Remove a second router layer
If an ISP modem-router and your own router both handle the connection, put the ISP device in bridge mode or the second router in access point mode, so only one device performs NAT.
Ask your ISP about CGNAT or public IPv4
If the router's WAN IP is private, shared, or different from your public IPv4, home port rules may be blocked upstream. Ask the provider for a public IPv4 address or removal from CGNAT.
Test your NAT again
After saving your router settings, run the NAT test again to check whether your NAT type has improved. Change one setting at a time so you can see what helps. Also test your game or app—port forwarding may improve its connection even if the NAT test result stays the same.
Method 2: Use a VPN Workaround
NAT improvement features can make it easier to join or host multiplayer games by allowing direct peer-to-peer connections.
Our test: one phone, three NAT results
We ran NAT Checker three times on the same phone and network. Without a VPN it returned Symmetric NAT, the type that most often breaks matchmaking, party chat and peer-to-peer play.
Symmetric NAT: the starting point.
Port-Restricted Cone NAT: a step up that makes direct peer-to-peer connections easier.
Full Cone NAT: the most open result, suited to hosting games and servers.
Your Current VPN May Not Fix This
Many VPNs have no NAT improvement feature or port forwarding, so connecting to one may not change your NAT result. We tested the two VPNs below on a real connection, and both improved it, as the results above show.
Proton VPN
- Moderate NAT feature
- Port Forwarding
- Improve NAT on PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox, and mobile; consoles require a compatible router or hotspot sharing.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
2-year plan·$2.49/mo $9.99/mo
PureVPN
- Improve NAT via port forwarding
- All-Port Forwarding add-on (select it separately at checkout)
- Improve NAT on PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox, and mobile; consoles require a compatible router or hotspot sharing.
- 31-day money-back guarantee.
5-year plan·$1.69/mo $12.95/mo
+ Port Forwarding add-on: $1.99/mo
Method 3: Use FRP Port Tunneling
FRP forwards a port on a public server to a game or service on your home network. Other people can then connect through the public server, even when CGNAT or double NAT blocks router port forwarding. It works best for self-hosted games and services with known TCP or UDP ports. You need a public-IP server and basic networking skills, and it may not help games that rely on platform relays or dynamic matchmaking. Any VPS host with a public IP works, such as Vultr or DMIT.
Which Method Should You Choose?
| Goal | Best method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Improve NAT on your own router | Router settings | UPnP, port forwarding, and DMZ change how your own router handles inbound traffic. |
| Improve everyday multiplayer without router changes | Proton VPN Moderate NAT | It is designed for direct peer-to-peer connections; switch to port forwarding only when hosting needs inbound traffic. |
| Host a game or service that needs several ports | PureVPN All-Port Forwarding | It can open all incoming ports, so other players or users can connect to what you host. |
| 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. |
NAT Type Improvement FAQ
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 VPN or a public-server tunnel.
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