If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated with poor online gaming experiences on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S, the root problem might be your NAT Type. In this guide, we’ll provide you quick insights into what NAT Types are, how to check them, and provide easy solutions to refresh or change them, ensuring a smoother online gaming experience. Stay tuned with us to get to know about how to change NAT type on Xbox One and Xbox series
What is NAT Type?
NAT stands for Network Address Translation, and it plays a crucial role in how your Xbox communicates with your router and connects to the internet. If you’re encountering issues like game lag, slow connection, being kicked out of games, or inability to host online multiplayer games, your NAT Type could be the root cause.
Different NAT Types
Here are the different types of NAT explained so that you can better understand the issue.
1- Open NAT
- Best NAT Type.
- Enables seamless connection to other players.
- Allows hosting multiplayer games with users of any NAT Type.
2- Moderate NAT
- Acceptable but not ideal.
- May experience slower connections and game lag.
- Hosting games may not be consistent.
3- Strict NAT
- Worst NAT Type.
- Limited to connecting with Open NAT players.
- Increased game lag and frequent disconnections during gameplay.
Your Xbox One typically utilizes Universal Plug ‘n’ Play (UPnP) to communicate with the router and achieve an Open NAT Type automatically. However, this may not always be successful, leading to the need for manual intervention.
How to Check Your NAT Type on Xbox One?
Checking your NAT Type is a straightforward process:
- Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the ‘Guide’ menu.
- Navigate to ‘Profile & System’ (represented by your profile picture).
- Select ‘Settings’ and then ‘Network settings.’
- Find your NAT Type under ‘Current Network Status.’
Also Read: How to Connect Xbox Controller to Mac?
How to Change Your NAT Type on Xbox One?
If your NAT Type is Moderate or Strict, you can try the following steps to improve it:
Test NAT Type
- In the Settings menu, go to Network Settings.
- Select ‘Test NAT Type’ and refresh if necessary.
Hard Reset
- Press and hold the power button for a hard reset.
- Re-test your multiplayer connection in ‘Network settings’ after the reboot.
Alternate Port Selection
- In Advanced settings, select Alternate port selection.
- Switch from Automatic to Manual and try different port numbers.
Energy Saver Power Mode
- Enable Energy Saver power mode in the Settings menu under General.
- Turn off Instant On and enable Energy-saving.
How to Change NAT Type on Xbox Series X/S?
For users with Xbox Series X/S, the process remains the same as Xbox One. Microsoft’s seamless compatibility between the two generations ensures a consistent experience.
Does NAT Type Affect Ping?
While the NAT type itself doesn’t directly influence your ping, having the wrong NAT type can lead to connection problems, resulting in issues similar to high ping. Slow speeds, chat problems, multiplayer issues, and disconnections can all be attributed to an incorrect NAT Type.
Follow the outlined tips to ensure you have the correct NAT type for an optimal online gaming experience.
