What Does NAT Type Mean? Open vs Moderate vs Strict NAT

• 24.09.2026
• Blog
• Ethan Martinez
• 0

NAT type tells you how easily your device can connect to other players, apps, and online services through your router. If your NAT is Open, things usually work smoothly. If it is Strict, expect blocked chats, failed lobbies, and that lovely “connection error” message right when your squad is ready.

What does NAT mean?

NAT stands for Network Address Translation.

That sounds boring. It is. But it matters.

Your home has many devices. Phones. Consoles. Laptops. Smart TVs. Maybe a fridge that thinks it needs Wi-Fi.

All of those devices share one public internet address from your internet provider. Your router uses NAT to keep track of who asked for what.

Think of your router like a front desk at a hotel.

• Your Xbox asks for game data.
• Your phone asks for a video.
• Your laptop asks for email.
• The router sends each reply to the right room.

Simple enough.

The problem starts when outside devices need to start a connection with you. Online games do this a lot. Voice chat does too. That is where NAT type comes in.

The three main NAT types

Most consoles and games show one of three NAT types:

• Open
• Moderate
• Strict

Some systems use other labels. PlayStation uses Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3. The idea is still similar.

Open NAT: the easy mode

Open NAT is the best result for online gaming.

Your device can connect to almost anyone. It can join matches. It can host lobbies. Voice chat usually works. Matchmaking feels faster.

If NAT types were people at a party, Open NAT is the person who talks to everyone.

With Open NAT, you can usually connect to:

• Other Open NAT players
• Moderate NAT players
• Strict NAT players

That does not mean your internet is perfect. You can still have lag. You can still have packet loss. You can still blame the servers. Sometimes you may even be right.

But Open NAT removes one big source of pain.

Moderate NAT: mostly fine, until it is not

Moderate NAT is common.

It means your connection is not fully open, but it is not locked down either. Most games still work. Most parties still connect. Then one friend joins, and everything breaks.

Honestly, it feels like Moderate NAT waits until Friday night to become annoying.

With Moderate NAT, you can usually connect to:

• Open NAT players
• Some Moderate NAT players

You may have trouble with:

• Strict NAT players
• Hosting matches
• Party chat
• Peer to peer games

Moderate NAT is not a disaster. It is more like a squeaky chair. Usable, but irritating.

Strict NAT: the fun blocker

Strict NAT is the one you do not want.

It means your router is blocking many incoming connections. Your device can reach out, but outside devices struggle to reach back.

Strict NAT can cause:

• Slow matchmaking
• Failed lobby joins
• Broken voice chat
• Random disconnects
• Problems hosting games

It drives me crazy that one setting buried in a router menu can add 30 seconds to every lobby search. Worse, it often fails with no clear reason.

With Strict NAT, you can usually connect only to Open NAT players. That limits your options. A lot.

NAT type and gaming

NAT type matters most in online games that use direct player connections.

Some games rely mostly on dedicated servers. In those games, NAT may matter less. Other games use peer to peer systems. In those games, NAT can make or break the session.

Common signs of NAT trouble include:

• You can play solo, but not with friends.
• You can hear some players, but not others.
• You get kicked before a match starts.
• Your console says your NAT is unavailable.
• Only one person in the group can host.

Here is a simple example.

Four friends try to play together. Three have Open NAT. One has Strict NAT. The Strict NAT player may not join the voice chat. The lobby may fail. The group may need to change host. Ten minutes vanish. Nobody is happy.

Is Open NAT unsafe?

This is a fair question.

Open NAT does not mean your whole network is exposed. It means the needed ports are easier to reach. Usually, this is done through router features like UPnP or port forwarding.

Still, do not open random ports for no reason.

Use common sense:

• Keep your router updated.
• Use a strong Wi-Fi password.
• Disable old devices you no longer use.
• Only forward ports you understand.

For most home gamers, Open NAT through a modern router is normal. Just avoid turning every security feature off because a forum post yelled at you.

Why your NAT type changes

Your NAT type can change after nothing obvious happened. Great, right?

Common causes include:

• Your router restarted.
• Your console got a new local IP address.
• UPnP stopped working.
• Your internet provider uses carrier grade NAT.
• You added a second router.
• Your VPN changed the route.

That second router issue is very common. It is called double NAT. It happens when two devices both act like routers. For example, your provider modem handles routing, and your own Wi-Fi router does it again.

Double NAT can turn a good connection into a weird mess.

How to check your NAT type

You can usually check NAT type inside your console or game settings.

• Xbox: Go to network settings and run the NAT test.
• PlayStation: Run the internet connection test.
• Nintendo Switch: Check the connection test result.
• PC games: Look inside the game’s network or connection menu.

Some routers also show gaming status in their admin panel. The wording may differ. Because of course it does.

How to improve your NAT type

Start with the easy fixes first.

1. Restart your router and device. Yes, really. It works often enough to try.
2. Use a wired connection. Ethernet is dull, but stable.
3. Turn on UPnP. This lets devices request the ports they need.
4. Remove double NAT. Put one router in bridge mode if needed.
5. Set a static local IP. This helps port forwarding stick.
6. Forward the right ports. Use official port lists from the console or game maker.
7. Check with your internet provider. Ask if you are behind carrier grade NAT.

If your provider uses carrier grade NAT, normal port forwarding may not work. You may need a public IP address. Some providers offer one for free. Others charge a fee. Annoying, but useful.

Open vs Moderate vs Strict NAT at a glance

NAT Type	Best For	Common Problems
Open	Smooth gaming, hosting, chat	Few NAT issues
Moderate	Normal play with some limits	Some lobby and chat issues
Strict	Basic connections only	Failed joins, chat errors, slow matchmaking

The simple rule

If you play online often, aim for Open NAT.

If you have Moderate NAT, you may be fine. Fix it only if you notice problems.

If you have Strict NAT, it is worth fixing. Especially if you play with friends, use voice chat, or host lobbies.

NAT type is not internet speed. It is not ping. It is not Wi-Fi strength. It is about connection permission.

Once you understand that, the whole thing feels less mysterious. Still annoying. But less mysterious.