How to Set Up Port Forwarding on PS5

Are you getting a moderate or worse a strict NAT type on your Sony PlayStation 5 Console? Unfortunately NAT is a necessary evil that often impedes online gaming performance. NAT is an acronym for network address translation. NAT is a normal function used on home network routers. It is essential for connecting multiple devices to a single internet connection. When properly configured NAT should not get in your way of multiplayer online gaming on PS5. Double NAT is an entirely different situation that you want to avoid at all costs. If you have double NAT issues you must fix that first for port forwarding to work properly.

Port forwarding is a relatively straightforward process to enable your PS5 to navigate through NAT more easily. There are multiple steps that need to be followed in order to properly set up port forwarding.

Step 1) Log in to your Router

The first step to setting up a static IP address is to locate the IP address of your router. On a PS5 console this can be found by opening up your network settings. You will then look for the IP address listed under gateway. It will generally begin with either 192, 172, or 10 and will likely end in 1. When you find your gateway IP address you will want to write it down or snap a picture of it for the next step. 

You will need to complete these steps on your computer and not on the PS5 itself. You can use either a PC or Mac. It will work the same either way. If you do not have access to a computer, you could also use a tablet or smartphone. Using a computer is the best option given the small text on your router configuration settings page.

First open command prompt if you are on windows or terminal if you are on Mac. Type ipconfig into command prompt or ifconfig into terminal, then press enter.

Look for the result that says default gateway. Write this down as we will use this in the next steps. Your default gateway is the IP address of your router.

Open your favorite web browser. I am using Chrome, but this process will also work in any modern web browser including Safari, Edge, Firefox, etc. In the address bar enter the gateway IP address you wrote down from the previous step and press enter. Make sure you enter this into your address bar and not into a search toolbar.

This will open your router’s login page. You may get a security warning because many routers use a self signed SSL certificate. This is completely normal and not a cause for concern. Simply choose to proceed anyways. You may need to click advanced to expose this option if you are using Chrome.

Now you should reach the login page of your router. If you changed your login credentials when you configured your router you will use them here. If you did not change your login credentials you will enter the default credentials for your router. In some cases, they are printed on a sticker attached to your router. If not, simply Google the brand and model of your router and look up the default login credentials. Once you enter your login credentials successfully, you should reach the admin dashboard of your router.

Step 2) Assign a Static IP Address to your PS5

If you have not already configured your PS5 to have a static IP address please complete this first. You must have a static IP address assigned to your PS5 console for port forwarding to work properly. This can easily be done with most routers by setting up a DHCP reservation. This is generally the easiest method of setting up a static IP address on your PS5. It will also avoid IP conflicts that can occur when a static IP address is incorrectly set up.

From within your routers dashboard will want to find your DHCP settings. On some routers this will be listed under LAN settings, on others it will be directly on the main dashboard. Your router will likely look a little different than mine, but most routers will have a DHCP settings page or menu. Once you find your DHCP settings page you will want to open it up.

Now from within your DHCP settings, you will want to find your PS5 in the list of connected devices. Depending on how many devices are connected to your router this list may be short or long. If you are unsure which device is your PS5 console you can look for the IPv4 address or MAC address that matches your console. It is very important that we correctly identify the device during this step.

Once you locate your PS5 on the list you will need to set the IP address as static. This will be called different things depend on the brand of your router. It is usually either set IP as static, reserve this IP address, create DHCP reservation, or something similar. Doing this will ensure that your PS5 is always assigned the same IP address. This is essential for port forwarding to work properly.

At this point your PS5 has been set with a static IP address. There are no settings to change on the console when using this method, as the router handing the static IP automatically.

View Complete PS5 Static IP Address Tutorial Here

Step 3) Configure Port Forwarding

The PS5 uses the following ports.

• TCP 1935, 3478-3480
• UDP: 3074, 3478-3479

The process for setting up port forwarding will look a little different depending on the router you are using. In most routers there will be a port forwarding section that you will use to do the configuration. On some routers including most Netgear routers the port forwarding section is listed under LAN settings.

Please check out this link for exact instructions based on the make and model of your router.

Remember to also forward any ports required by the specific games you are playing. Some games use additional ports beyond the ports listed above.

Step 4) Restart your PS5 and Check the NAT Type

Open up your network settings on your console and check your NAT type. It should now show as open. If it does not show as open you may need to restart your router and then check your NAT type again. Generally a router restart is not required but in some cases it might be, especially on older routers . Once your NAT type is showing as open you are finished. Enjoy your improved online multiplayer gaming experience.

Remember to check in your game and not using the PS5 network test utility. The PS5 will report a NAT type 2 even if port forwarding is setup properly. The only way to get a NAT type 1 is to connect your PS5 to the internet without using a router. NAT Type 1 means your PS5 has a pubic IP address. A NAT type 1 is a security risk and not necessary to get an open NAT type in games. A NAT type 2 with an open NAT in games is what you are looking for.

FAQ