Modern Warfare 3: Strict/Moderate NAT Type Fix

MW3 Strict NAT – MW3 is a multiplayer game; to connect to other players online seamlessly, the game requires a clear pathway. If you don’t have it, the game will show the NAT type as strict or moderate. This will lead to various issues, such as:

• Problems with voice chat
• Unable to join lobbies
• Broken game connections
• Unable to find matches

Having an Open NAT ensures you can chat with people, join interconnected VOIP servers, host multiplayer lobbies, etc. Anything that requires your internet connection.

In this article, we will discover the different NAT Types and how to change Call of Duty: MW3 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X, and PC.

How To Fix MW3 Strict or Moderate NAT

Note: This guide is applicable for both MW3 and upcoming Warzone.

Different NAT Types

• Open – Seamlessly join games, voice chats, host multiplayer lobbies and perform game network-related functions.
• Moderate – You will never be chosen as the host of a game, and you will have trouble joining matches hosted by other players.
• Strict – Strict NAT type is the worst. If you have this NAT type then you’ll only be able to connect to Open NAT users. Also, You will never be chosen as the host of a game.

You can find what your NAT type is by opening up the game. Nat Type 1, 2 and 3 is the same as Open, Moderate and Strict.

Changing NAT Type from Moderate/Strict to Open in MW3

Ports for PC Users:

• TCP: 3074, 27014-27050
• UDP: 3074, 3478, 4379-4380, 27000-27031, 27036

For PC users:

• Go to Windows Settings > Network & Internet > Status
• Click on Properties
• Switch between Private and Public, one-by-one.
• Now, look at your NAT type. If it is displayed as open, then your problem is fixed. If not, then proceed to the next solution.
• Log in to the router admin panel. The details for the same can be located on the router itself. There should be a sticker with these details.
• Head to Advanced Settings > Check if UPnP is enabled. If not, then enable it.

How to Change Your NAT Type to Open on PlayStation

NAT Types are termed Type 1, 2, and 3 in PlayStation. While the meaning remains the same, it is just displayed differently.

Ports For PS5 and PS4

TCP: 1935, 3478-3480

UDP: 3074, 3478-3479

• Go to 192.168.1.1 to access your modem settings
• Log in to the router admin panel. The details for the same can be located on the router itself. There should be a sticker with these details.
• Head to Advanced Settings > Check if UPnP is enabled. If not, then enable it.
• Because of closed ports, your NAT type might be getting affected. Just Google online and search for open ports for your modem. For example: “Tenda AC10 port forwarding.”
• Once you have the port numbers, add these as new ports using your modem admin panel.

How to Change Your NAT Type to Open on Xbox

Ports for Xbox

TCP: 3074

UDP: 88, 500, 3074-3075, 3544, 4500

• Go to 192.168.1.1 to access your modem settings
• Log in to the router admin panel. The details for the same can be located on the router itself. There should be a sticker with these details.
• Head to Advanced Settings > Check if UPnP is enabled. If not, then enable it.
• Because of closed ports, your NAT type might be getting affected. Just Google online and search for open ports for your modem. For example: “Tenda AC10 port forwarding.”
• Once you have the port numbers, add these as new ports using your modem admin panel’s advanced settings.

I won’t recommend you tweak with ports if you are not having trouble finding matches and games.

For PC – NAT issues generally don’t affect PC users a lot. I have Moderate NAT, but I can play games just fine.

Please read this guide on how to port forward for Call of Duty games; this will come in handy if the UPnP setting doesn’t work for you.

This was the simple guide to fixing NAT issues in MW3. NAT problems are an experience killer and I hope my guide helped you in fixing them.

You can find all of our MW3 guides here.