The worst thing that can happen to a gamer online is to die from lag. But did you know that slow network speeds aren’t always to blame? Contrary to what most people think, it’s usually a problem with your NAT type that can’t be fixed by just calling your ISP.
But before you change your NAT type all over the purpose, it’s important to understand what NAT is for, what its different types are, and how to check out which type you’re using on Windows 11. Here’s all the information you need to know. The contents list
How Does NAT work? What is it?
NAT, which stands for “Networking Address Translation,” is a networking system that lets you change your local IP address to a wider internet address. This is how many devices on the same local network can use the same IP address. With NAT, which is built into the router, your router works as a middleman between your local network and the rest of the internet.
There isn’t just one NAT, though. In fact, there are three that are different from each other in terms of speed and security. You choose one of the three, depending on what you like. But what are these, and why would you pick one over the other? Here’s more.
There are different types of NAT, and you should choose one of them.
There are 3 types of NAT: moderate, open, and strict. You might be able to tell what they have to offer just by looking at their names. Here’s what you should know about all of them.
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Open
This NAT type is the most open-minded. There are no limits on the amount of data you can send or receive, and all ports are open so that data packages can be sent to your device. This ensures speed. Open NAT type also makes it easy to connect to other NAT types. But there is also no firewall, which means you open to malware, hacking, and other types of online danger. But if you want a buttery-smooth online experience with no buffering or lag, the open NAT type is the best.
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Moderate
The second type of NAT is a little more secure. There are a few open ports, but a firewall and those ports go a long way toward keeping your network secure. But speed is lost in exchange for security. Compared to open NAT, moderate NAT may cause you to have some buffering and lag.
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Strict
Last, but not least, is the strict NAT, except in terms of speeds. Because this type of NAT puts security first, speed is usually the first thing to go. With this NAT type, you will experience a lot of lag and buffering, as well as some network problems. It will also only connect to open NATs, which can cause more types on the network. But because NAT types are the best at stopping online attacks, most routers have them set as the default.
Knowing the purpose of the three types of NAT will help you make a decision based on your preferences and the risk-to-reward ratio of each. As you can see, the open NAT is the least secure, but it’s also the fastest.While the strict NAT is the most secure but the slowest. The moderate-of-the-road NAT is the best of both worlds.
How to Check NAT Type in Windows PC
After all that, how can you check out what type of NAT you have? Here are some ideas.
The First Way is to Use the Xbox Console Companion App.
The easiest way to check out what your NAT type is is to use the Xbox Console Companion app.
Press the Start button, type Xbox, and then choose Xbox Console Companion.
Open the Microsoft store from the Start menu if you don’t have the Xbox console companion app.
Then look for and choose the Xbox console companion app.
Click Get.
When it’s done, click Open.
Click on Settings (the gear icon) in the sidebar of the console companion app.
Then click on the tab called “Network.”
Wait for the app to connect and get the information it needs.
Now you can see what your NAT type is.
Step 2: In the Router’s Settings
You can also check your NAT type on the settings page of your router.
Here are the steps:
First, press Start, type CMD, then right-click on the best match and choose Run as administrator.
Type the command below:
ipconfig
Hit Enter. Find the number next to “Default Gateway” and write it down.
Then, open your browser, type this number into the address bar, and hit Enter.
This will open the settings page for your router.
Enter the username and password for the router that your ISP gave you, and then click “Login.”
Now, look in the router’s settings for NAT type. Depending on how your router is set up, you might or might not see a “NAT” settings option.
If you don’t see a specific NAT setting, you may still be able to check it if you see a “Firewall” setting.
If it’s set to “High” here, that means your NAT type is “Strict.”
Again, If it’s set to “Medium,” that’s Moderate NAT, and if it’s set to “Low,” your NAT type is Open.
FAQs
If you don’t know where to look or what the different settings mean, it can be hard to figure out your network‘s NAT type.
In this part, we answer a few questions that are often asked about the same.
Which type of NAT is best?
Choosing the best NAT type is a matter of opinion.
What works for you might not work for the guy who comes after you.
If you’re a gamer who doesn’t want any lag or buffering time while you play, the open NAT type would be best for you.
But if you value security more than anything else, the Strict NAT type would be best for you.
The Moderate NAT should be just right for those in the middle.
Can your NAT Type change?
Even though Strict is the default NAT type for most routers today, NAT types can be changed depending on what you want.
Just make sure you know the pros and cons of the NAT type you want to change to.
Does open NAT make lag go down?
Open NAT means that all ports are open and that all data packets sent to your device can come in.
Because of this, the open NAT type is the best choice if you want to play games online because it reduces lag. We hope you now understand how to check out what type of NAT you have and how to tell the difference between the three types.
