Double NAT: What Is It & How to Fix It? - PureVPN Blog (2024)

GamingDouble NAT: What Is It & How to Fix It?

As a hardcore gamer, it is nearly impossible to resist the urge to answer the call of your friends for a battle night on, let’s say, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. And when you have made up your mind for binge-gaming, you would feel greatly annoyed when you can’t host a game or join a server.

The annoyance shoots through the roof when you see that all your efforts still lead to unable to host a server or join one. Ever wonder what the reasons could be behind such problems during online gaming?

6 out of 10 times, it can be a Double NAT issue. In today’s guide, we will discuss what a Double NAT is, how it ruins your online gaming experience, and what you can do to fix it once and for all.

What is NAT?

With NAT, your home network will be secured and hidden from the outside world. This process also allows all devices to share a single IP address provided by an internet service provider because every device on the network has its own private IP address, which can’t be accessed directly without going through this protocol first.

Read more: Find out everything about NAT types and how you can bypass it

What is Double NAT and How It Happens?

Double can sometimes mean trouble, and so as the Double NAT. Usually, on a home network, you connect to the internet through a single router that carries a public IP address and assign your devices a private IP address.

But often, you may find yourself behind more than a single router, such as in schools, hostels, hospitals, and everywhere there is advanced networking. Unlike in the situation of a single router, our devices are tagged with double private IP addresses in the case of a Double NAT, causing issues during online games while opening specific ports or even connecting a VPN.

In more simple words, Double NAT prevents the devices connected to the first private network from communicating to the connected devices to the second private network. So, the team chat room that you are unable to join or the Modern Warfare server you fail to host may probably be the issue that you are facing due to Double NAT.

How to Check a Double NAT

Double NAT isn’t something that you notice as soon as you switch to a different ISP. In fact, you won’t be able to tell that whether you are on a single NAT or Double NAT, not unless when you start noticing Double NAT error on your gaming console or unable to host servers.

But there’s away. By pinging to any public server on the internet via your operating system’s command prompt, you can detect if you are behind a Double NAT network. Here’s what you may need to do to identify or detect Double NAT:

  1. Open a command prompt on your OS.
  2. Type the following: tracert 8.8.8.8. It is Google DNS.
  3. Check the first two hops for private IP addresses.

If the first two hops show private and public IP addresses, you are using a single NAT. But if the first two hops show private IP addresses, such as 192.168.1.10 or 172.16.0.1, it means there’s a Double NAT.

What Problems Does Double NAT Cause?

For starters, Double NAT means double setups and configurations. For instance, if you wish to forward a service port on your router, let’s say to play an online game, you may need to forward ports on both routers. If you happen to configure port forwarding only on one router, the incoming traffic will stop midway, leaving you without internet, gaming, or any other desired service.

Double NAT may cause trouble when using applications or services that require Universal Play-and-Play (UPnP) support. For example, you may not be able to connect to any online game servers, use a VPN, or access an IP camera remotely. You may need to turn off UPnP on your router, and in some cases, open specific ports on your router.

In another case, Double NAT may prove to be an annoyance when you need to use the QoS (Quality-of-Service) feature on your router. QoS allows you to prioritize traffic on your preferred services, such as gaming, streaming, or downloading files. But when you have Double NAT involved, things get pretty complicated due to the QoS configurations on both routers.

How to Fix a Double NAT

If it is confirmed that you have a Double NAT problem, here are a few methods you can consider to fix the problem and seamlessly enjoy gaming.

1. Remove ISP Router from Your Network

The first thing you can do to fix the Double NAT router is to remove your ISP router and connect your internet and other devices directly to your preferred router. This way, you will only have a single NAT, and you will not have to face any issues with online games or port forwarding and configuration further.

2. Enable Bridge Mode on Your ISP Router

If you don’t want to part with your ISP router, you can turn it into a passthrough modem by enabling the Bridge Mode function. Disabling the Bridge Mode removes all the routing functionality from the router and passes the traffic without any hurdles. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Open your router’s login page (find details either on the back of the router or in its manual)
  • Enter the credentials to proceed
  • Click Wireless Options on your router (the name of an option may vary in different routers)
  • Toggle on or Enable Bridge Mode
  • Click Save Changes

3. How to Fix Double NAT via Your Router

Don’t worry if your router doesn’t support the Bridge Mode. You can still fix the Double NAT problem by making your non-ISP router an Access Point. The Access Point functionality will work in the same manner, removing the router’s NAT functionality.

  • Open your router’s login page (find details either on the back of the router or in its manual)
  • Enter the credentials to proceed
  • Click Wireless Options on your router (the name of an option may vary in different routers)
  • Toggle on or Enable Access Point (AP) Mode
  • Click Save Changes

How to Fix Xbox One “Double NAT Detected” Error

Your Xbox One may show a “Double NAT Detected” error in the network setting if your gaming console is behind multiple routers or gateways. In that case, you can fix the error by going through the above methods, such as enabling Bride Mode, removing the ISP router, or making one router an Access Point.

If the above methods still fail to resolve the Xbox One “Double NAT Detected” error, try out the following methods.

1. Use Perimeter Network (DMZ) to forwarding Connections

  • Log into your non-ISP router
  • Check the status page for WAN/IP Address
  • Log into your ISP router either through Wi-Fi or ethernet connection to a WAN port from PC
  • Go to the DMZ settings page.
  • Now, enable DMZ using the IP of your non-ISP router that you noted in step 2
  • Save settings

2. Use Double Router Port Forwarding

  • Log into your first router
  • Now, forward ports to the other router’s external IP address
  • Log in to the other router
  • Forward port to your gaming server or any other application you want to run smoothly
  • Now, configure the static IP address on the other devices
  • Ensure the second router has static IP configured

Here’s How to Set Up a Static IP Address on Windows 10

  1. Go to Command Prompt
  2. Type ipconfig /all
  3. Find your Network Adapter
  4. Note down the following: IPv4 Address, Subnet Mask, and DNS Servers
  5. Go to your router’s Status page to see if the DNS servers show the same IP as Default Gateway that you noted down
  6. Go to Windows 10 Settings app
  7. Click Network & Internet and then click Change adapter options
  8. Right-click to go to Properties of the main Network Adapter
  9. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
  10. Go to Properties
  11. Note down current configuration
  12. Select Use the following IP address
  13. Choose an IP address for your PC
  14. Enter the Subnet Mask and Default Gateway
  15. Click Use the following DNS server addresses
  16. Enter the two DNS servers that you noted from your router‘s status page
  17. Click OK.

How to Fix Double NAT on Starlink Routers

The easiest way to open and fix Double NAT is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) with a port forwarding add-on that encrypts your internet connection and open ports for a stable connection. A VPN helps you access streaming sites that are not available in your region, play uninterrupted games online, and enhance privacy on devices.

How to Fix Double NAT on Spectrum Routers

Spectrum is one of the leading internet service providers. The only downside is that you might struggle to use a few sites and platforms based on the region you are in. You can use PureVPN’s port forwarding add-on to open ports and bypass CGNAT on Spectrum routers.

How to Fix Double NAT on Xfinity Routers

The best way to fix and open NAT on Xfinity routers is to get a VPN and connect to a country server. Plus, you can use the port forwarding add-on with a VPN to open ports behind double NAT or bypass CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT) easily. The best part is that you don’t need any technical expertise to open ports behind a router at home or at work.

Bypass CGNAT Now

Final Note

Double NAT isn’t a concern for every internet user. As mentioned earlier, you may not even know if you are on a Double NAT network as you may not be having trouble with online games and other services.

But if you do have trouble playing games, you may find it difficult to tackle the Double NAT problem unless you follow our guide.

Topics :

double natNATNAT Firewall Add - on

Sameed AjaxSameed is a Digital Content Producer at PureVPN who covers cybersecurity, streaming, and weekly news. Besides that, he wastes time playing FIFA, eating pizza, and sending tweets.

Double NAT: What Is It & How to Fix It? - PureVPN Blog (2024)

FAQs

How do you fix double natting? ›

If you have 2 separate ISP devices, a modem and router, turn off and unplug the ISP-provided router, then connect your modem directly to your Wifi device. If your ISP-provided router is combined with the ISP's modem in a single device, enable bridge mode on your modem/router combo to fix the Double NAT issue.

Why do I have a double NAT? ›

Double NAT occurs when you connect your router to an ISP gateway or another router. Because NAT is performed by each router or gateway, your network is split into two different private networks.

Will a VPN fix double NAT? ›

The easiest way to open and fix Double NAT is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) with a port forwarding add-on that encrypts your internet connection and open ports for a stable connection.

How do I disable double NAT on my router? ›

If this router is independent of your modem, power off and unplug this router and directly connect your modem to your Google Nest Wifi router or primary Google Wifi point. If this router is combined with your modem, enable Bridge mode on your modem/router combo. This will take care of the potential double NAT issue.

How do I find a double NAT on my network? ›

You can check if you are using a double NAT by performing a trace route. Once the trace route is complete, check the first two IP addresses listed. If they are both private IP addresses, you are using a double NAT.

How do I reset my NAT settings? ›

To refresh the NAT table on a router where UPnP is already enabled, you need to disable UPnP, save your changes, and then power cycle your router. After that, you'll need to turn UPnP back on and save your changes. Important Don't combine port forwarding, UPnP, and perimeter network (also known as DMZ) settings.

Why do I have double NAT if I only have one router? ›

Having more than one NAT device usually happens when you connect your own router to a gateway installed by your internet service provider (ISP) that also includes the NAT and routing functions. Some ISPs install only a simple modem that lacks the NAT and routing functions, which eliminates the problem altogether.

Does double NAT cause problems? ›

Double NAT (Network Address Translation) can cause issues with your connection. You can check if you are using a double NAT by performing a trace route. Once the trace route is complete, check the first two IP addresses listed. If they are both private IP addresses, you are using a double NAT.

What is double NAT and why is it bad? ›

This allows multiple devices to share one IP address. It also makes your network more secure. Double NAT, then, is when you have two routers and the IP address conversion occurs twice. It's not always a bad thing, but it can cause connectivity issues when trying to communicate with devices outside of the network.

How do I change my NAT type from Double NAT to open? ›

Fix double NAT via your router
  1. Navigate to your router login page. ...
  2. Log in to your router using the required credentials.
  3. Navigate to the wireless options on your router. ...
  4. Enable Access Point (AP) Mode.
  5. Save your changes.
May 22, 2020

How do I open my NAT type with VPN? ›

Go back to Network & Internet and select Change adapter options. Locate your VPN service and right-click on it. Select Properties. Go to the Sharing tab and select Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection.

Does port forwarding work with double NAT? ›

Pro tips on using double NAT

You can still use port-forwarding, but it takes more work. Specifically, you need to program that twice, first on the port in question at the gateway (lower NAT) to the router's IP address and then at the router (upper NAT) to the IP address of the destination device.

How do I change my NAT type to open on my router? ›

How do I change my NAT type to open?
  1. Open your web browser and type in your IP address in the address bar;
  2. Fill in your login info;
  3. Look for UPnP settings (usually goes under ''Settings” / “Advanced Settings'' / “Network Settings'');
  4. Enable UPnP, reset the router, and restart your device.

What happens if I turn off NAT? ›

If NAT is turned off, the device will work on pure-router mode which can transmit data only. Please DO NOT turn it off unless your ISP supports this mode, otherwise you will lose Internet connection.

What does double NAT look like? ›

To check for double NAT on your network, log into your router and look up the IP address of its WAN port. If you see an address in the 10. x.x.x or 192.168. x.x range (both of which are private) it means that the device your router's WAN port connects to is doing NAT, and hence, you're dealing with double NAT.

How do I check my NAT settings? ›

The following is the most effective technique to determine your NAT type. Press the Windows key. Enter cmd into the command prompt and press Enter. In the new window, type ipconfig and press Enter.

Can my Internet provider fix my NAT type? ›

Your NAT type would be a result of your router/modem setup. You can fix it fairly easily yourself if you know what you're doing. Your ISP could technically use some kinda remote access to control your computer and go into the router settings and fix it.

Can I play games with a double NAT? ›

A double NAT can also result in performance issues if you play online games or use port forwarding rules and UPnP.

Which type of NAT is best? ›

According to Sony's version, NAT Type 1 is the best, and NAT Type 3 is the worst. Here's more on Sony's NAT Types: NAT Type 1 – Open: The system is connected directly to the Internet. NAT Type 2 – Moderate: The system is connected to the Internet with a router.

Should I enable NAT on my router? ›

Network Address Translation (NAT) is an advanced networking setting that most people do not use. We advise you not to disable NAT unless instructed to do so by a qualified technician, as it could open your broadband modem to outside intrusion and create a security risk.

Should I enable IPv6? ›

When possible, it is better to keep both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses enabled. For example, using only IPv6 can cause some accessibility issues, as only about one third of the internet supports IPv6 addresses. Likewise, disabling IPv6 can cause certain problems, especially if your router is already using an IPv6 address.

What are the 3 types of NAT? ›

Types of NAT
  • Static NAT. It is otherwise called balanced NAT. ...
  • Dynamic NAT. In this kind of NAT, planning of IP from an unregistered private organization is finished with the single IP address of the enrolled network from the class of enlisted IP addresses. ...
  • Overloading NAT. ...
  • Overlapping NAT.
Sep 15, 2021

What is twice NAT? ›

A Policy NAT is any translation that occurs based upon matching both the Source and Destination of traffic. A Twice NAT is any translation that involves translating both the Source and Destination of traffic.

Is NAT Type A or B better? ›

For Nintendo consoles, NAT Types range from Type A (best for peer-to-peer communication) to F (unable to complete peer-to-peer communication). If your NAT type is A or B, your console is connected properly and shouldn't run into issues.

How do I remove NAT restrictions? ›

If you use Windows, you can use Network Discovery to change NAT:
  1. Click the Start menu button;
  2. Go to Settings;
  3. Click Network and internet;
  4. Choose Wi-Fi;
  5. Then click Change advanced sharing options;
  6. Enable the Turn on network discovery option and check the Turn on automatic setup of network-connected devices box.
Dec 17, 2021

Does VPN need NAT? ›

However, if the data traffic is protected by a VPN, conventional NAT will not work because it changes the IP addresses in the security associations (SAs) that VPN requires to function. To avoid this problem, VPN provides its own version of network address translation called VPN NAT.

Can you change NAT with VPN? ›

TL;DR answer: you can change your NAT type by using a VPN like Speedify to bypass NAT restrictions of your Internet connection, leaving you with NAT Type 2 | B | Moderate. Use Connectify Hotspot to share the VPN connection over Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet.

Which port is best for port forwarding? ›

Here are a few common ports assigned by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority standards organization:
  • 20 = File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
  • 21 = File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
  • 22 = Secure Shell (SSH)
  • 25 = Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
  • 53 = Domain Name System (DNS)
  • 80 = Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
May 27, 2020

Should I enable or disable port forwarding? ›

Rather than risk your network security, avoid using UPnP for automatic port forwarding (and, where possible, disable it entirely). Instead, you should only create manual port forwarding rules for apps and services that you trust and that have no known vulnerabilities.

How do I fix my NAT type from strict to open? ›

This is why you have to learn how to fix strict NAT type. The simplest way to do this is by using a fast bonding VPN such as Speedify. This will bypass any NATs by tunnelling the traffic directly to the VPN server. As the server has a Moderate NAT (Type 2 | B), your connection will also get this NAT type.

Is NAT a switch or router? ›

Switches with NAT routing function combine switching and routing in a single DIN rail device. With ​Network Address ​​Translation​, they allow easy connection to the higher-level network for machines or systems with the same IP address range.

Does NAT type affect speed? ›

NAT builds a connection between those two IP addresses and allows devices to communicate with one another from different routers. The speed of this communication is based on the NAT settings and which type is being used.

How do I know if my router is NAT? ›

If by NAT you mean any NAT including a WIFI router for example click the windows button, type cmd, click on command prompt, type in ipconfig and press enter, see what it says to the right of "IPv4 Address". If it starts with 192.168 OR 172.16-172.31 OR 10 - you're on a NAT.

What is NAT settings? ›

Network Address Translation or NAT is used by a firewall, router, or computer and sits between an internal network and the rest of the world. The primary purpose of NAT is to take any amount of devices you have on your local network and allow them to use a single and unique IP address on the Internet.

How do I fix the NAT type on my router? ›

How do I change my NAT type to open?
  1. Open your web browser and type in your IP address in the address bar;
  2. Fill in your login info;
  3. Look for UPnP settings (usually goes under ''Settings” / “Advanced Settings'' / “Network Settings'');
  4. Enable UPnP, reset the router, and restart your device.

How do I make my NAT type better switch? ›

Visit the Settings option > Network and Internet > Mobile Network > Advanced > Access point names. Once you do that, you can change Access Point Names (APNs) and edit the numbers. By choosing the relevant provider, case in point: Android hotspot, you can get a NAT Type D.

Will an Ethernet cable fix double NAT? ›

Another solution is to connect the Xbox directly to your router with an Ethernet cable. In most cases, this will eliminate the double NAT issue–just use the first router on your network, not the second, as the hardwire point. All of these solutions can work to solve a double NAT error.

Should I disable NAT on my router? ›

Network Address Translation (NAT) is an advanced networking setting that most people do not use. We advise you not to disable NAT unless instructed to do so by a qualified technician, as it could open your broadband modem to outside intrusion and create a security risk.

How do I know if I am behind a NAT? ›

In order to find out if you router is behind a NAT, you need to trace how you are connected to internet. Go to checkip.dyndns.org You will get your public IP address. If there is more than 1 hop, you are behind a NAT.

Does NAT type affect WIFI speed? ›

NAT builds a connection between those two IP addresses and allows devices to communicate with one another from different routers. The speed of this communication is based on the NAT settings and which type is being used.

Should I disable or enable NAT? ›

If NAT is turned off, the device will work on pure-router mode which can transmit data only. Please DO NOT turn it off unless your ISP supports this mode, otherwise you will lose Internet connection. Notice: The default status of NAT is Enabled, so without special demand, please don't select the Disable option.

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