PS5 NAT Type Failed: How to Get NAT Type 2 or Open

What NAT Type Failed Actually Means on PS5

When your PS5 shows NAT Type Failed, it means the console couldn’t determine how your router is handling inbound and outbound traffic. When it shows NAT Type 3 (Strict), it means your router is blocking or heavily filtering the ports PlayStation Network needs to function properly. Either way, you’re going to feel it in games like Call of Duty: Warzone, FIFA, Destiny 2, and Fortnite — slow matchmaking, inability to join friends, host migration errors, and higher ping than you should have.

NAT Type 1 is direct connection (no router). NAT Type 2 is the target — open enough to connect freely, still behind a router. NAT Type 3 is the problem. Let’s fix it.

Step 1: Run the PS5 Network Test First

Before touching any settings, get a baseline. Go to Settings → Network → Connection Status → Test Internet Connection. Write down exactly what it says — your download speed, upload speed, and NAT Type. If it says NAT Type Failed, note that too.

Also run Test PSN Connection on the same screen. This will tell you if the issue is your router configuration or something upstream with PSN itself. If PSN is having an outage, no router fix will help — check status.playstation.com first.

Step 2: Restart Everything in the Right Order

This sounds basic but the order matters. Power cycle your modem first, wait 60 seconds, then power on your router, wait another 30 seconds, then turn on your PS5. If you’re using a combined modem/router unit (common with ISPs like Xfinity or Spectrum), unplug it for 60 seconds and plug it back in.

After the restart, go back and run the network test again. Sometimes a stale NAT table entry is the entire problem, and a full restart clears it. If you’re still getting NAT Type 3 or Failed, keep going.

Step 3: Assign Your PS5 a Static IP Address

This is required before you can do port forwarding or DMZ. Your PS5 needs a fixed IP address that won’t change every time it reconnects to your network. There are two ways to do this.

Option A: Set a Static IP Directly on the PS5

Go to Settings → Network → Set Up Internet Connection, select your network, then choose Advanced Settings. Change IP Address Settings to Manual. You’ll need to enter:

• IP Address: Something outside your router’s DHCP range — for most home routers this means something like 192.168.1.150 or 192.168.0.150
• Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
• Default Gateway: Your router’s IP — usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1
• Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)
• Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4 or 1.0.0.1

Using 1.1.1.1 as your DNS often reduces DNS lookup latency by 10–20ms compared to your ISP’s default DNS, which is a real difference in fast-paced games.

Option B: Assign a Reserved IP via Your Router (Better Method)

Log into your router admin panel — type your gateway IP (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a browser. Look for DHCP Reservation or Address Reservation. Find your PS5’s MAC address (listed under Settings → Network → Connection Status → View Connection Status) and assign it a fixed IP there. This is cleaner because it’s managed at the router level.

Step 4: Open the Required PS5 Ports

Once you have a static IP, set up port forwarding in your router. In the router admin panel, look for Port Forwarding, Virtual Server, or Applications and Gaming depending on your router brand. Point all of these to your PS5’s static IP address:

• TCP: 80, 443, 3478, 3479, 3480
• UDP: 3478, 3479

These are the official Sony-specified ports for PSN. Some routers let you enter ranges; others require individual entries. Save and reboot your router after adding the rules. Run the PS5 network test again — most people go from NAT Type 3 to NAT Type 2 at this point.

Step 5: Enable UPnP on Your Router

If you don’t want to manually forward ports, UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) lets your PS5 request the ports it needs automatically. Log into your router admin panel and find UPnP under Advanced or WAN settings. Enable it and save.

Note: UPnP and manual port forwarding can conflict. Use one or the other, not both. If you’ve already set up port forwarding rules, don’t also enable UPnP for the same ports.

Step 6: Use DMZ as a Last Resort

If port forwarding didn’t work and you’re still stuck on NAT Type 3 or Failed, put your PS5 in the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). This places the PS5 outside the router’s firewall, giving it a completely open connection. In your router admin panel, find the DMZ setting (usually under Advanced → DMZ) and enter your PS5’s static IP address.

This will get you to NAT Type 1 in most cases. The tradeoff is reduced firewall protection for that specific device. Since the PS5 has its own security layer, this is generally acceptable for gaming use.

Step 7: Switch from Wi-Fi to Wired (Ethernet)

If you’re on Wi-Fi and dealing with NAT issues, you’re fighting two problems at once. Wi-Fi introduces packet loss, jitter, and interference that makes NAT problems feel even worse. A direct Ethernet connection to your router typically delivers:

• Ping improvement of 10–40ms depending on your setup
• Near-zero packet loss versus 1–5% on congested Wi-Fi
• More stable NAT detection during the PS5 network test

If running a cable isn’t practical, at minimum use a 5GHz Wi-Fi band instead of 2.4GHz, and make sure your PS5 is within 20–30 feet of the router with minimal walls between them.

Step 8: Check for Double NAT

Double NAT is one of the most common causes of permanent NAT Type 3 on PS5, and most people never realize they have it. It happens when you have two routers in your network — for example, a modem/router combo from your ISP, plus your own router connected to it. Your PS5 ends up behind two NAT layers, and port forwarding on only one of them does nothing.

To check: log into your router and look at the WAN IP address. If it starts with 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x–172.31.x.x, or 192.168.x.x, you have double NAT. The fix is to either:

• Put your ISP’s modem/router into Bridge Mode or IP Passthrough (call your ISP or check their support docs for exact steps — every ISP has a different name for this)
• Or connect your PS5 directly to the ISP modem/router and configure port forwarding there instead

Solving double NAT is often the single fix that finally gets someone from NAT Type Failed to NAT Type 2 after everything else has failed.

Step 9: Try a Different DNS Server

Your ISP’s default DNS can be slow and sometimes blocks PSN connectivity checks, which causes NAT Type Failed to appear even when your ports are open. Switch to one of these:

• Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1 — consistently fastest for gaming, average response under 5ms in most regions
• Google: 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4 — reliable fallback

Set these directly on your PS5 under Settings → Network → Set Up Internet Connection → Advanced Settings → DNS Settings → Manual.

Step 10: Disable PlayStation Network’s MTU Issues

While you’re in Advanced Settings on the PS5, check the MTU value. The default is 1500. If you’re on a PPPoE connection (common with DSL or some fiber setups), set it to 1492. This prevents packet fragmentation which can cause intermittent connection failures that look like NAT problems but are actually an MTU mismatch.

When Free Fixes Aren’t Enough: High Ping and Routing Problems

If you’ve done everything above and you’re getting NAT Type 2 but still seeing high ping in Warzone (120ms+), jitter in Destiny 2, or rubber-banding in Fortnite, your problem has shifted from NAT to routing. Your ISP is sending your game traffic on a suboptimal path to the game server — sometimes routing it halfway around the world before it reaches a server 50 miles away.

This is where a gaming VPN with dedicated routing infrastructure makes a real difference. WTFast optimizes the network path between your connection and game servers specifically, reducing hops, cutting ping, and stabilizing packet delivery. It works differently from a regular VPN — instead of anonymizing traffic, it’s purpose-built to find the fastest route to gaming endpoints.

If you’ve exhausted every router fix and your ping is still inconsistent or higher than it should be given your internet speed, start your WTFast free trial here and test it on the specific game servers that are giving you problems. It’s the practical next step when your ISP’s routing is the bottleneck, not your equipment.

Quick Checklist: PS5 NAT Type Fix Summary

• Run PS5 network test and check PSN status page first
• Full power cycle — modem, then router, then PS5
• Assign PS5 a static IP (192.168.1.150 or similar)
• Forward ports TCP 80, 443, 3478, 3479, 3480 and UDP 3478, 3479
• Enable UPnP if not using manual port forwarding
• Check for double NAT — resolve with Bridge Mode if present
• Switch DNS to 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1
• Use wired Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi
• DMZ as final option for guaranteed open NAT
• Use WTFast if ping and routing remain problematic after NAT is resolved

Once you’ve optimized your NAT type, you might still experience performance issues during gameplay — our Console Lag Fix Guide walks through additional network tweaks that can eliminate stuttering and input delay.

Once you’ve successfully configured your NAT type, you might also want to tackle any remaining connection issues by following our PS5 high ping fix guide to optimize your latency settings.

If you’re also experiencing lag issues on Xbox Series X, the same network optimization techniques we’ve covered here can be applied using these Xbox-specific network settings and connection fixes.

If you’re also experiencing connection issues on your Nintendo Switch, the same router optimization techniques can help reduce lag and improve your Switch’s online gaming performance.

If you’re also dealing with NAT issues on your Xbox Series X, the same router configuration steps can help you achieve an open NAT on Xbox using similar methods.

If you’re still experiencing NAT issues after adjusting your router settings, consider switching to a wired ethernet connection for your PS5 since it often provides more stable connectivity and can help resolve stubborn NAT problems.

If you’re still experiencing connection issues after fixing your NAT type, running a PS5 internet speed test can help you identify whether slow speeds are contributing to your gaming problems.

If you’re still experiencing NAT issues after trying these fixes, your router itself might be the bottleneck—our guide on choosing the right gaming router for PS5 explains which router features actually impact console gaming performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my PS5 keep saying NAT Type Failed even after port forwarding?

The most common cause is double NAT — you have two routers on your network and you’ve only forwarded ports on one of them. Check your router’s WAN IP. If it’s a private IP (starts with 192.168, 10., or 172.16–31), you have double NAT. Put your ISP’s device into Bridge Mode or configure port forwarding on the ISP device directly.

Is NAT Type 2 good enough for PS5 gaming, or do I need NAT Type 1?

NAT Type 2 is the recommended setting and what most PS5 gamers should aim for. NAT Type 1 requires connecting directly to a modem with no router, which removes your network’s firewall. NAT Type 2 gives you full multiplayer functionality — joining parties, hosting sessions, cross-platform play — while keeping your network protected.

What ports do I need to open for PS5 online gaming?

Sony’s official required ports are TCP: 80, 443, 3478, 3479, 3480 and UDP: 3478, 3479. Some games have additional port requirements — for example, Call of Duty titles benefit from also opening UDP 3074 and 27014–27050. Check the specific game’s support page if you’re still having issues in one particular title after opening the PSN ports.

Will putting my PS5 in DMZ hurt my network security?

DMZ removes your router’s firewall protection from the PS5 specifically, but the PS5 runs its own security layer. The practical security risk for a gaming console in DMZ is low — the PS5 isn’t running open server software that attackers commonly target. That said, if you have a choice, port forwarding is cleaner and more controlled. Use DMZ only if port forwarding doesn’t resolve the NAT issue.

My PS5 NAT is Type 2 but my ping in Warzone is still 90–150ms. Why?

NAT Type and ping are separate issues. Once NAT Type 2 is confirmed, high ping is almost always a routing problem — your ISP is taking an inefficient path to the game server. Check which region’s servers you’re connecting to in Warzone’s matchmaking settings, make sure you’re not connecting to EU servers from NA. If you’re on the correct region and still getting 90ms+ with a fast internet connection, your ISP’s routing is the problem, and a gaming-specific routing tool like WTFast will address it directly.