Network troubleshooting technician providing live chat help

Joe B.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: Home networking, gaming latency & NAT issues, Wi-Fi routers, modems, PlayStation & Xbox online, DNS & IP configuration, ISP setup

Fix NAT Type Strict PS5 — NAT Type 3, NAT Type Failed, can’t join friends or party chat

Technician avatar Technician
Hi! We’ll get your NAT Type Strict on PS5 fixed so you can join lobbies, hear friends in party chat, and play online without errors. A couple of details will help me target the right steps.

When you run Test Internet Connection on the PS5, does it show NAT Type 3, Strict NAT, or NAT Type Failed? Are you on Wi-Fi or LAN cable, and do other devices in the house go online normally?

Also, what hardware do you have:
• Just one box from your ISP (a modem/router combo gateway)?
• Or a separate modem + Wi-Fi router like Netgear, TP-Link, ASUS, or Linksys?

Finally, what exactly breaks — is it can’t join friends’ sessions, Crossplay not working, Call of Duty / FIFA / Fortnite lobby timeouts, or party chat disconnects even though downloads and browsing work?
Customer
On the PS5 when I run the network test it shows NAT Type 3. Sometimes it even says NAT Type Failed. I can browse the store and download games, but I can’t join my friends’ parties or some multiplayer lobbies at all. Voice chat cuts out a lot.

I’m on Wi-Fi right now. The ISP gave us a modem, and I added my own TP-Link router for Wi-Fi. Other devices like laptops and phones browse the internet fine, so it’s mainly the PS5 that has the strict NAT problem.
Technician avatar Technician
Thanks, that’s perfect context. On PlayStation, NAT types behave roughly like this:

• NAT Type 1 (Open) — console is basically directly on the internet (often connected straight to the modem). Easiest time joining games, but not always necessary.
• NAT Type 2 (Moderate) — console is behind a router, but ports are open correctly. This is the ideal NAT type for PS5 for most people.
• NAT Type 3 (Strict) — heavy restrictions or double NAT. You can browse, but online multiplayer, crossplay, and party chat are unreliable or blocked.

Your PS5 is connecting to the internet, but the router is not letting the PlayStation Network open the ports it needs. Typical causes of NAT Type Strict PS5 are:
• UPnP disabled in the router so ports never open automatically.
• Multiple routers in the chain (for example ISP gateway + your own router) causing double NAT.
• Aggressive firewall rules or missing port forwarding for PlayStation ports.
• In some cases, your ISP putting you behind CGNAT (carrier-grade NAT) so you can’t get Open NAT at all without their help.

We’ll walk through a path to move you from NAT Type 3 / Strict toward NAT Type 2 or Open by testing the console, adjusting router settings like UPnP, and, if needed, setting up port forwarding or DMZ for the PS5.
Customer
That explains why I can download but not play with friends. The modem from the ISP is in the living room, then my TP-Link router is plugged into it and the PS5 connects to that over Wi-Fi. I haven’t really touched any of the router’s advanced settings.

I’m okay going to wired if I have to, but the console is in another room right now. I mainly just want to fix the NAT Type 3 / NAT Type Failed errors and be able to join parties reliably.
Technician avatar Technician
Great, we can definitely improve that setup.

Step A — Confirm how the PS5 is connected and re-run the test
1) On your PS5 go to Settings → Network → Connection Status → View Connection Status and run the test. Note:
  • Connection method (Wi-Fi or LAN).
  • NAT Type result (1, 2, or 3 / strict).
  • Whether it says NAT Type Failed at any point.

2) If possible, temporarily move the PS5 closer to the router and test on the 5 GHz Wi-Fi (or Wi-Fi 6) network instead of 2.4 GHz. This doesn’t change NAT type by itself, but it makes testing more stable.

3) If you can easily reach the router with a long Ethernet cable, also test once on LAN. Many routers give a cleaner NAT on wired connections to the PS5.

4) On a phone or laptop that’s connected to the same router, open a browser and log in to the router’s admin page (often something like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). Once we’re in, we’ll look for UPnP and port forwarding options to start changing NAT Type Strict.
Customer
I ran the test again. It still shows NAT Type 3 on Wi-Fi. I temporarily plugged in an Ethernet cable and it was still Type 3, so that didn’t fix it. I logged into the TP-Link router and see an option for UPnP, but it’s currently turned off. I don’t have any port forwarding rules set up for the PS5.
Technician avatar Technician
That explains a lot. With UPnP disabled, the router refuses to automatically open the ports the PS5 needs, which often results in NAT Type 3 / Strict NAT.

Step B — Try UPnP first (fastest fix for NAT Type Strict on PS5)
• In the router’s settings, go to the UPnP section and enable UPnP.
• Save or apply changes, then reboot the router and wait for Wi-Fi to come back.
• Reboot the PS5, then run Settings → Network → Test Internet Connection again.

In many homes, just turning on UPnP changes NAT Type 3 to NAT Type 2 on PS5, which is enough to fix party chat and matchmaking.

If you prefer to avoid UPnP or it doesn’t help, the next option is to:
• Give the PS5 a static IP address in your home network.
• Create port forwarding rules for core PlayStation Network ports (for example the TCP and UDP ranges Sony uses for PSN multiplayer and voice chat).

Let’s start with UPnP and see whether NAT Type Strict changes to NAT Type 2. What does the PS5 show after you enable it and rerun the test?
Customer
After turning on UPnP and restarting everything, the PS5 test now shows NAT Type 2, which is good. I can join parties more reliably, but sometimes I still get voice chat errors and “can’t connect to host” in a couple of games, especially in the evenings. My friend says I might have double NAT.
Technician avatar Technician
Good news that it’s showing NAT Type 2 now — that’s a big step up from NAT Type Strict. Your friend might be right about double NAT, which can still cause weird issues even with UPnP on.

Double NAT happens when:
• The ISP modem is also acting as a router (gateway with its own Wi-Fi and NAT).
• Your TP-Link router is doing its own NAT on top of that.

The PS5 then has to pass through two firewalls, which can break some online games and crossplay.

Step C — Check for double NAT and, if possible, simplify
1) Log into the ISP modem/gateway web page and see whether it has Wi-Fi and NAT/router features enabled.
2) Options that help for PS5 NAT issues:
  • Put the ISP device into bridge mode so only your TP-Link does routing.
  • Or leave the ISP box as router and set your TP-Link into Access Point mode (disabling its own NAT).
3) If neither option is available, another common workaround is to put the PS5 into DMZ on the main router (the one closest to the internet). That forwards all external traffic to the console’s IP, effectively giving it an open path for games and party chat.

As a quick test, if you temporarily connect the PS5 directly to the ISP modem or gateway (bypassing the TP-Link) and run the test again, do you still see any NAT Type Failed or strict behavior in games?
Customer
I tried plugging the PS5 straight into the ISP modem with an Ethernet cable. In that setup I also get NAT Type 2, and games seem a bit more stable, but I can’t keep it like that long-term because of the location. I looked at the modem’s settings and it definitely has its own Wi-Fi and DHCP enabled, so I guess both boxes are doing NAT.
Technician avatar Technician
That lines up with a mild double-NAT situation. Since you can’t easily re-wire the living room, we’ll aim for a stable NAT Type 2 on PS5 by giving it predictable routing.

Step D — Give PS5 a static IP and forward PlayStation ports
1) On the PS5, go to Settings → Network → Settings → Set Up Internet Connection and switch your current network to use a manual IP (or reserve a DHCP lease in the router). Choose an address that’s outside the router’s automatic range, like 192.168.0.50, and note it down.

2) In the router’s Port Forwarding / Virtual Server section, create rules that forward key PlayStation Network ports (the TCP/UDP ranges PS5 uses for online games and party chat) to that static IP. Most guides list the same core ports Sony recommends, so you can follow those ranges exactly.

3) If the router has a DMZ feature, you can optionally place the PS5’s static IP in DMZ instead of individual rules. That effectively simulates Open NAT for the console while other devices stay behind the firewall.

4) Save the changes, reboot the router, restart the PS5, then rerun the connection test and a few online games. You should see more consistent lobby joins, party chat, and crossplay, even at busy times of day.

If latency or rubber-banding is still bad, we’ll tune Wi-Fi signal, QoS, and bandwidth sharing next so that other devices streaming 4K or downloads don’t choke your PS5.
Customer
I set a static IP for the PS5 and added the port forwarding rules like you described. I didn’t enable DMZ yet. Now the test still shows NAT Type 2, but matchmaking is definitely faster and party chat hasn’t dropped so far.

The only issue left is that in the evenings, when everyone is streaming, some games feel laggier even though the NAT errors are gone.
Technician avatar Technician
Nice work — that means we’ve moved from NAT Type Strict / Type 3 to a stable NAT Type 2. What you’re feeling now is less about NAT and more about ping and congestion.

Step E — Optimize your PS5 connection for stable online gaming
• If possible, keep the PS5 on Ethernet. A wired connection nearly always gives the best latency and fewer spikes than Wi-Fi.
• If you must use Wi-Fi, put the console on the router’s 5 GHz or Wi-Fi 6/6E band, away from the microwave, baby monitors, or thick walls. Avoid crowded 2.4 GHz when you can.
• In the router’s settings, check for QoS / Gaming mode. Prioritize the PS5’s IP or MAC address so its traffic stays smooth when others are streaming or downloading updates.
• Make sure no VPN is running on the router or PS5 (via Smart DNS) while gaming — VPNs often increase latency and can break NAT detection.
• Keep router firmware updated so features like UPnP, port forwarding, and QoS work reliably.

With NAT fixed and the connection prioritized, you should see smoother matches in games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, Apex, EA FC, and other PS5 online titles.
Customer
I can’t permanently run a cable, but I moved the router closer and put the PS5 on the 5 GHz network and turned on QoS for its IP. That made a noticeable difference — games feel a lot more stable now and party chat sounds clean.
Technician avatar Technician
That’s exactly what we want to hear — solid NAT Type 2 on PS5 plus smoother ping.

To keep NAT Type Strict from coming back:
• Leave UPnP enabled or keep your port forwarding / DMZ settings in place for the PS5’s static IP.
• Avoid adding a third router or Wi-Fi extender that does its own NAT — that can put you back into double NAT territory.
• If you switch ISP equipment, make sure the new modem/router is either in bridge mode or has matching port rules for the PS5.
• Jot down your router login, Wi-Fi credentials, and the PS5’s static IP so you can quickly re-apply this setup after a factory reset or firmware update.

If at any point you start seeing NAT Type Failed or NAT Type 3 again — or a new game behaves differently — you can always open a chat with an expert and we’ll check the exact router interface with you in real time.
Customer
This was really helpful. I understand what NAT Type 3 actually means now, and everything is working way better — party chat, crossplay, and game lobbies. Thanks a lot for the step-by-step guidance.
Technician avatar Technician
Any time! If a friend complains that their PS5 shows NAT Type Strict, NAT Type 3, or NAT Type Failed, you can share this checklist — enable UPnP, check for double NAT, set a static IP, then add port forwarding or DMZ for the console.

And if you’d like someone to walk through your exact router, ISP modem, and PS5 network settings with you, just start a chat with an expert and we’ll take it from there.

Quick answer: the accepted fix for NAT Type Strict on PS5

Accepted fix when a PS5 shows NAT Type Strict / Type 3 or NAT Type Failed: run the network test on PS5, enable UPnP on your main router, give the console a static IP, then set up port forwarding or DMZ so PlayStation Network ports can reach the console. Where possible, remove double NAT by using bridge or access-point mode so the PS5 gets a clean NAT Type 2 connection.

Why your PS5 shows NAT Type Strict or Type 3 (UPnP, double NAT, firewall)

Most NAT Type Strict PS5 problems are not caused by the console itself, but by how your router and modem handle traffic. When UPnP is disabled, when two routers both run NAT (double NAT), or when a firewall blocks inbound connections, the PS5 can connect out to PlayStation Network but other players and party chat can’t reliably connect back in. That’s when you see NAT Type 3 and constant “can’t join session” errors.

Understanding the path — PS5 → home router → ISP modem → internet → PlayStation Network — lets you see where connections are being blocked. If other devices stream and browse normally while only the PS5 shows NAT Type Failed or Strict NAT, adjusting router settings like UPnP, port forwarding, DMZ, and bridge mode usually clears the issue and moves you to a more gaming-friendly NAT Type 2.

How to tell whether strict NAT is caused by your PS5, router, or ISP

To quickly narrow down NAT Type 3 / Strict issues on PS5, start with a couple of tests:

First, run Settings → Network → Test Internet Connection on the PS5 and note the NAT Type. Then temporarily plug the console directly into your modem or gateway. If NAT becomes more open when you bypass your own router, the problem lives in that router’s UPnP, port forwarding, or firewall configuration. If the NAT type is strict even when wired to the ISP device, you might be dealing with CGNAT or ISP-side restrictions that require contacting support.

NAT Type Strict PS5 — quick troubleshooting tips

Turn strict NAT into NAT Type 2 or Open by adjusting router and PS5 network settings.

Fast path: test your PS5 connection → enable UPnP on the main router → give the PS5 a static local IP → add port forwarding or DMZ rules for PlayStation Network ports → check for double NAT and, if needed, switch the ISP gateway to bridge mode or your own router to access-point mode → prefer Ethernet or clean 5 GHz Wi-Fi for the console. Once done, retest to confirm you’re on NAT Type 2 and that multiplayer, crossplay, and party chat work smoothly.

Disclaimer: This information is AI-generated and intended for general guidance only. For advice specific to your PS5, router model, and ISP, please consult a verified expert on Whizz-Tech before making decisions.

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FAQ

What does NAT Type Strict or Type 3 mean on PS5?

NAT Type 3 / Strict on PS5 means your console is heavily restricted by your router or ISP. You can usually browse and download, but multiplayer, crossplay, and party chat may fail or feel very unstable. The PS5 cannot receive all the incoming connections it needs because ports are blocked, UPnP is disabled, or there is double NAT.

How do I change NAT Type Strict to NAT Type 2 on PS5?

To move from NAT Type Strict / Type 3 to NAT Type 2 on PS5, enable UPnP on your main router, give the console a static local IP, and set up port forwarding or DMZ for PlayStation Network ports. If you have two routers (ISP gateway + your own), put one into bridge or access-point mode so you don’t have double NAT.

Is it safe to enable UPnP or DMZ for my PS5?

UPnP and DMZ are common tools for fixing NAT Type Strict PS5, but they open ports more widely. UPnP automatically opens ports on demand; DMZ forwards all inbound traffic to one device. For many home gamers this is acceptable when applied only to the PS5, but it’s smart to keep the console on its own IP, maintain strong router admin passwords, and avoid placing PCs in DMZ.

Can my ISP prevent me from getting Open NAT on PS5?

Yes. If your ISP uses carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) or locks down the modem/router so you can’t control port forwarding or bridge mode, it may be impossible to get truly Open NAT (Type 1). In those cases your realistic goal is a stable NAT Type 2, and you may need to contact the ISP to ask for a different line type, a public IP, or a modem that supports bridge mode.

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