Xbox 360 - NAT Type is Set to Strict (or Moderate)

Xbox 360 says NAT type is set to strict (or moderate)

If you cannot join online games or hear other players in games or chat, you might have a Network Address Translation (NAT) problem. If you have a NAT problem, you will see a NAT warning icon or error when you test your Xbox LIVE connection.

NAT warning icon

NAT error

To find out if you have a NAT problem, you can test your connection. Here's how:

1. Press the Guide button on your controller, go to Settings, and then select System Settings
2. Select Network Settings
3. Select Wired Network or your Wireless Network Name (if you are prompted to do so)
4. Select Test Xbox LIVE Connection

If you get a NAT error, try our methods below to attempt to resolve it.

 

• Preferred Method (Port Triggering)
• Alternate Method (Port Forwarding)
• Port Forwarding in an 844

Choose your brand of router:

Setting up Port Triggering on a Comtrend Router

1. Visit the router's IP address
   To start, we must be on your computer. Then, open up your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) and clear out the address bar at the top. Now type in 192.168.1.1 and press Enter
   
   
   
2. Enter the Network password
   Next you should have a popup asking for a User Name and Password. The User Name is user and the Password is user. Then press OK.
   NOTE: If this User Name and Password doesn't work, you may also try the following:
   User Name: root Password: central
   User Name: root Password: 12345
   User Name: support Password: support
   
   
   
   
3. Enter the NAT -- Port Triggering Setup
   Once logged in to the Comtrend router, click on Advanced Setup on the left side of the screen. Then click on NAT and then click on Port Triggering. Finally click on Add to begin setting up the Port Triggering.
   
   
   
   

    
4. Here, we will select the correct User Interface (ex. PPPoE) and the bullet next to Custom application. In the box next to it, type in Xbox. Then enter the following information in to the table:
   
   
   
   
   

   Once this information is typed it, then click on Save/Apply.
   
   

   
   
   
   
5. Port Triggering should now be set up in your Comtrend. You may need to wait a couple of minutes for the Comtrend to save the settings and take affect. If you are still getting the NAT Error, please follow our Alternate Method (Port Forwarding)

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Setting up Port Triggering on a Linksys router

1. Visit the router's IP address
   To start, we must be on your computer. Then, open up your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) and clear out the address bar at the top. Now type in 192.168.1.1 and press Enter
   
   
   
   
2. Enter the Network password
   Next you should have a popup asking for a User Name and Password. Skip the username and the default password should be admin, unless you have manually changed the password, and then press OK.
   
   
   
   
3. Once logged in to the Linksys router, click on Applications & Gaming at the top and then Port Triggering in the sub-menu.
   
   
   
   
4. On the Port Triggering page, enter the following values and then press Save Settings at the bottom:
   
   
   
   
5. Port Triggering should now be set up in your Linksys. You may need to wait a couple of minutes for the Linksys to save the settings and take affect. If you are still getting the NAT Error, please follow our Alternate Method (Port Forwarding)

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Part 1. Setting up a static IP on your Xbox 360

1. To start, we will need to turn on the Xbox. Then go to the Settings heading. From here you will need to move down and press A on System.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Next, choose Network Settings. Then you will want to select Wired Network.
   NOTE: The next steps are for the Wired Network settings. If you are connecting to a wireless network, then select Wireless Network instead. The steps for assigning a static IP for a wireless network should be somewhat similar.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Next, we will want to select Configure Network and press A. Here we want to select IP Settings by pressing A again. Then, we will want to select Manual to begin assigning a static IP.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Here you will need to fill out the IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway information. Once all three settings have been entered, select Done and press A.
   NOTE: These settings may vary depending on the brand of your router, but the following settings are the default for both Comtrend and Linksys brands.
   
   
   • IP Address: 192.168.1.115
   • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
   • Gateway: 192.168.1.1

   
   

5. Next we will want to select and change the DNS Settings to Manual as well. Depending on your ISP, these number will vary, but Nex-Tech's are:
   
   

   • Primary DNS Server: 24.225.5.2
   • Secondary DNS Server: 24.225.0.1

   Once these addresses are entered, select Done and press A.

   
   
   

    

6. Now we have successfully assigned a static IP address to your Xbox 360. Next we will need to set up the port forwarding inside your router. Please follow the steps below to configure your router.

Choose your brand of router:

Part 2. Setting up Port Forwarding on your Comtrend router

1. Visit the router's IP address
   To start, we must be on your computer. Then, open up your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) and clear out the address bar at the top. Now type in 192.168.1.1 and press Enter
   
   
   
2. Enter the Network password
   Next you should have a popup asking for a User Name and Password. The User Name is root and the Password is central. Then press OK.
   NOTE: If this User Name and Password doesn't work, you may also try the following:
   User Name: root Password: 12345
   User Name: support Password: support
   
   
   
   
3. Once logged in to the router, click on Advanced Setup on the left side of the page. Then click on NAT.
   
   
   
4. On the main section of the page, select the correct User Interface (ex. PPPoE), Custom Server and type in Xbox Live. Then type in your static IP used on the Xbox 360 in to the Server IP Address. If you followed the previous steps, we used 192.168.1.115
   
   
   
   
5. Finally, enter the following values in to the table. Once finished, press Save/Apply at the bottom of the page.
   
   
   
   
6. Port Forwarding should now be set up in your Xbox 360 and Comtrend. You may need to wait a couple of minutes for the Comtrend to save the settings and take affect. If you are still getting the NAT Error, please call our Help Desk at 888-565-3200.

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Part 2. Setting up Port Forwarding on a Linksys router

1. Visit the router's IP address
   To start, we must be on your computer. Then, open up your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) and clear out the address bar at the top. Now type in 192.168.1.1 and press Enter
   
   
   
   
2. Enter the Network password
   Next you should have a popup asking for a User Name and Password. Skip the username and the default password should be admin, unless you have manually changed the password, and then press OK.
   
   
   
   
3. Once logged in to the Linksys router, click on Applications & Gaming at the top and then Port Range Forward on the sub-menu
   
   
   
   
4. Enter the following information in the Port Range. Once completed, press Save Settings at the bottom of the page.
   
   
   
   
5. Port Forwarding should now be set up in your Xbox 360 and Linksys. You may need to wait a couple of minutes for the Linksys to save the settings and take affect. If you are still getting the NAT Error, please call our Help Desk at 888-565-3200.