Xbox Port Forwarding: The Ports to Open and How to Open Them Behind CGNAT
The full list of Xbox ports from Xbox’s own support page, when a VPN with port forwarding is the fix, and how to set it up for Open NAT.
Quick Answer
Xbox uses UDP 88, 500, 3544 and 4500, UDP and TCP 3074 and 53, and TCP 80, plus UDP 9002 for remote play. PureVPN’s add-on opens all ports or up to 15 chosen ports, so all of these fit, even behind CGNAT, for $3.48 a month with the plan on 2 years.
Open Your Xbox Ports With a VPN
PureVPN
- Port forwarding add-on: all ports or up to 15 chosen ports
- Xbox’s 8 ports fit, including UDP 3074 and 88
- $3.48 a month with the plan on 27 months ($93.96)
- 31-day money-back guarantee
5-year plan·$1.69/mo $12.95/mo
+ Port Forwarding add-on: $1.99/mo, selected separately at checkout
Proton VPN Plus
- Moderate NAT on router setups, with WireGuard or OpenVPN
- Router guides for OpenWrt, AsusWRT-Merlin, DD-WRT and pfSense
- $2.49 a month on 2 years ($59.76)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
2-year plan·$2.49/mo $9.99/mo
This page contains affiliate links. If you sign up through them, NAT Checker may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Which Ports to Forward for Xbox
These are the ports on Xbox’s own support page, for Xbox Series X, Series S and Xbox One. Enter them in PureVPN’s add-on as chosen ports, or open all ports in one click.
| Port | Protocol | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| 3074 | UDP and TCP | Always: required to connect to the Xbox network |
| 88 | UDP | Always |
| 53 | UDP and TCP | Always |
| 80 | TCP | Always |
| 500 | UDP | Always |
| 3544 | UDP | Always |
| 4500 | UDP | Always |
| 9002 | UDP | If remote play won’t connect and your console reports Strict NAT |
Xbox says some game developers require more ports, so check the game’s own support page if one title still fails.
When VPN Port Forwarding Is the Fix for Xbox
A port only helps if outside traffic can reach it. On these connections, a rule at home either can’t be set or never gets used. A VPN with port forwarding gives your console ports on a server outside that block.
Get Open Ports Behind CGNAT With PureVPN| What’s blocking you | Why it stops Xbox ports |
|---|---|
| CGNAT from your internet provider | Your provider shares one public IP across many homes, so outside traffic stops before it reaches you. Check with our CGNAT check, and see CGNAT and gaming. |
| 5G, fixed wireless and Starlink | These lines often run behind CGNAT. See T-Mobile Home Internet and Starlink NAT type. |
| Dorms, offices and shared networks | Xbox says to ask the network administrator, because you don’t control that router. A VPN router of your own gives you ports you do control. |
| A provider router you can’t change | Some provider routers hide or limit their forwarding settings. Forwarding at the VPN moves the job away from them. |
Not sure what you have? Run our NAT test on a device on the same connection.
What Xbox Port Forwarding Gets You: NAT Types
Xbox says you want Open NAT. Here’s what it says each type means, and the VPN setup aimed at it.
| NAT type | What Xbox says it means | VPN setup |
|---|---|---|
| Open | You can play with people on any NAT type and host games | PureVPN with Port Forwarding |
| Moderate | You might not reach some players, and you normally won’t be chosen as host | Proton VPN with Moderate NAT on |
| Strict | You can only play with people on Open NAT, and you can’t host | Most VPN connections with no NAT option |
In our test on one phone, PureVPN with all ports open moved Symmetric NAT to Full Cone. Setups differ and no VPN can promise Open NAT on every one, so run Test NAT type on your Xbox during the refund window. Proton VPN forwards a single random port on desktop and routers, which doesn’t fit Xbox’s fixed list, so it’s the Moderate NAT pick. More in our VPN NAT type guide.
How to Port Forward Xbox With PureVPN in 4 Steps
- Get the plan with the add-on. On the order page, choose the 2-year plan and add Port Forwarding from the add-ons list.
- Enable the ports. In the Member Area, open Subscriptions and choose Configure next to Port Forwarding. Open all ports, or enter the Xbox ports from the table above, and apply the settings.
- Connect your Xbox through the VPN. Xbox has no VPN app, so set PureVPN up on your router using its guide for that model, and connect to a server that supports port forwarding. Then forward the ports on that router from the VPN interface to your Xbox.
- Test your NAT type. On the Xbox, go to Profile & system, Settings, General, Network settings, then select Test NAT type and Test multiplayer connection.
No VPN router yet? See the best VPN for routers, or our Xbox VPN guide for sharing from a computer.
What Xbox Port Forwarding Costs: From $3.48 a Month
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| PureVPN with Port Forwarding, 2 years (our pick) | $3.48 a month ($93.96 for 27 months) | All ports or up to 15 chosen ports, aimed at Open NAT |
| PureVPN with Port Forwarding, 1 year | $4.89 a month ($58.68) | The same on a shorter term |
| Proton VPN Plus, 2 years | $2.49 a month ($59.76) | Moderate NAT and audited privacy |
US prices before tax, read at checkout on November 6, 2026, during Black Friday offers. Seasonal deals, when running, show on the cards above; PureVPN’s 5-year deal there is for the plan alone. After the first term, plans renew at each VPN’s regular rate. Refunds don’t cover renewals, crypto, Google Play or App Store payments on PureVPN, or cash and bank transfer on Proton VPN.
Open Your Xbox Ports From $3.48 a MonthXbox Port Forwarding Not Working? 5 Fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| NAT still says Strict or Moderate | Check the add-on is set to all ports, and that you’re on a PureVPN server that supports port forwarding. Then run Test NAT type again. |
| Double NAT detected | Xbox wants this error gone. Connect the console directly to your VPN router, and put the router in front of it in bridge mode if your provider allows that. |
| A game still can’t connect | Xbox says some games need extra ports, so check that game’s support page, or switch to all ports. See Call of Duty NAT type and Battlefield 6 NAT type. |
| Remote play won’t connect | Add UDP 9002. It’s on Xbox’s port list, but not on the list PureVPN publishes for Xbox. |
| Two consoles in one home | A forwarded port points at one device, so aim it at the console that hosts. Xbox’s NAT page has separate steps for multiple consoles. |
Related Guides
Sources (checked November 7, 2026):
- • Xbox Support: network ports, NAT errors
- • PureVPN: its Port Forwarding and Xbox One port forwarding pages, and its order page
- • Proton VPN: Moderate NAT, port forwarding
- • NAT test: our own, on one phone