If you’re trying to squad up but keep running into connection issues or long matchmaking times, you might need to change your NAT type in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.
It’s one of those techy-sounding things that actually has a huge impact on your online experience, especially in a fast-paced multiplayer game like this.
But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a network engineer to sort this out. In this article, we’ll break down what NAT types are, why they matter, and how you can tweak yours to get the best performance while gaming.
What Are NAT Types? How Do They Influence Online Gaming?
Let’s start with the basics.
NAT stands for Network Address Translation, and it’s a process your router uses to manage how devices on your local network (like your console or gaming PC) talk to the internet.
Think of it like a receptionist: it decides who gets through, who waits in the lobby, and who gets sent straight to voicemail.
In online gaming, your NAT type controls how freely your system can communicate with others. That directly affects your matchmaking speed, stability, and ability to connect with friends.
There are three main types of NAT:
- Open NAT (Type 1 or Type A):
- Best-case scenario.
- You can connect to anyone, and anyone can connect to you.
- Fastest matchmaking, lowest chance of connection issues.
- Moderate NAT (Type 2 or Type B):
- You can connect to most players, but not all.
- You might run into hiccups when joining certain lobbies or parties.
- Strict NAT (Type 3 or Type C):
- Most restrictive.
- You can only connect to players with Open NAT.
- You might experience long matchmaking times, disconnections, or fail to join lobbies.
If you’ve ever been stuck on a loading screen or constantly disconnected from your friends’ party, a strict NAT might be the reason.
Screenshot of the page with information about NAT type in BO3. Source: Reddit
How to Change Your NAT Type in Black Ops 3?
Alright, now let’s talk solutions. There’s more than one way to open up your NAT, and what works best will depend on your setup. Here are the most common (and effective) methods:
1. Enable UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)
This is usually the easiest fix.
- Log into your router by typing its IP address into your browser (usually something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
- Find the UPnP setting in the menu. It’s often under sections like “Advanced,” “Network Settings,” or “NAT Forwarding.”
- Enable UPnP and save the changes.
- Reboot your router and your gaming device.
UPnP basically lets your console or PC automatically open the ports it needs to connect to game servers and other players. It’s safe for most home networks and solves NAT issues in many cases.
2. Port Forwarding (Manual Method)
If UPnP doesn’t work, you can try manually forwarding the ports used by Black Ops 3 and your platform.
Here are the typical ports you’ll want to open:
Black Ops 3 Ports:
- UDP: 3075
- TCP/UDP: 27014–27050 (Steam)
- TCP: 3074 (PlayStation/Xbox)
- UDP: 3478, 4379–4380, 27000–27031, 27036
Steps:
- Assign a static IP address to your console or PC (you can usually set this in the device’s network settings or reserve an IP via your router).
- Log in to your router and go to the Port Forwarding section.
- Add each of the above ports, pointing them to your device’s static IP.
- Save everything and reboot your router and device.
Yes, it’s a bit tedious, but it gives you direct control over your connection and almost always opens up your NAT.
3. DMZ (Demilitarized Zone)
This one’s like removing all the walls between your gaming device and the internet.
- Find the DMZ settings in your router menu.
- Add your console or PC’s IP address to the DMZ list.
- Save and reboot.
Important: Only use this if you trust your home network and you’re not doing anything sensitive on that device. DMZ removes your firewall protections, so your device will be more exposed to the internet.
4. Check for Double NAT
This is a sneaky one.
If you have two routers, like a modem/router combo from your ISP plus your own gaming router, you might be dealing with Double NAT. That means both devices are trying to manage network traffic, and that can seriously mess with your NAT type.
To fix it:
- Put your ISP’s modem/router into bridge mode, turning it into a simple modem.
- Or configure port forwarding on both routers (not recommended unless you’re comfortable with network settings).
If in doubt, call your ISP and ask if they can help disable double NAT.
5. Contact Your ISP (Especially for CGNAT)
Some ISPs use something called Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT), which puts multiple customers behind the same public IP. That makes port forwarding basically impossible.
If you’re in this situation:
- Call your ISP and ask for a public (non-CGNAT) IP address.
- Some will switch you for free; others may require a business plan or small fee.
It might sound over the top, but for serious gamers, it can be worth it.
Which NAT Type is Ideal for Black Ops 3?
In short: Open NAT is what you want.
Here’s why:
- You can connect with players of any NAT type.
- Your matchmaking is faster and more stable.
- You reduce the chance of lag, disconnections, and lobby errors.
- You’ll have a much easier time joining friends and hosting games.
Moderate NAT is acceptable, but it’s still a step down. Strict NAT should be avoided whenever possible. It’ll make your multiplayer experience a lot more frustrating than it needs to be.
Source: Steam Community
Why Does Black Ops 3 Automatically Set My NAT Type to Strict?
This is a super common question, especially among Xbox and PC players.
Even if your console or system tells you your NAT is Open, Black Ops 3 might still display a Strict NAT. That’s because the game has its own port requirements that might not match what your platform checks.
Some common reasons:
- UPnP is off or not functioning properly.
- The required game ports are not open.
- Your router isn’t handling traffic correctly.
- You’re behind a Double NAT or CGNAT setup.
Black Ops 3 relies heavily on certain UDP ports, like 3075, and if those aren’t accessible, the game defaults to a stricter NAT classification. It’s not always consistent with what your console reports, which leads to confusion.
You can check which ports the game is trying to use with a tool like Wireshark (advanced), or just refer to the official Activision support page and port list. Opening the right ones usually fixes the issue.
How to Improve Your Connection Quality?
NoPing is a service designed to optimize your route to Call of Duty’s servers. Sometimes, the normal path your internet provider uses isn’t the fastest — NoPing reroutes your data through a better, more direct path.
Here’s how to use NoPing to stabilize your connection in Call of Duty:
- Sign-up through the website and download NoPing (you can try it for free)
- Open NoPing and search for Call of Duty inside the software
- Once you find Call of Duty, click on it and, on the next screen, select “Choose automatic” or “Choose manual” and click “Continue”. We recommend choosing automatic, as NoPing’s technology analyzes all routes on a global scale and automatically selects the best option for you.
- On the next screen, click on “Optimize Game”.
- And that’s it, you can start playing CoD with optimized ping!
You can test different servers within NoPing to see which gives you the lowest latency.
Final Tips
Here are a few last pointers to make sure your NAT stays in good shape:
- Reboot your router regularly. It helps keep connections stable.
- Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi when possible, for a more stable connection.
- Check if your firmware is up to date. Sometimes, a simple router update can resolve NAT problems.
Changing your NAT type in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 isn’t just a tech trick: it can genuinely transform your multiplayer experience. Whether you’re trying to team up with friends or just get through a night without being disconnected, having an Open NAT makes everything smoother.
And to play BO3 without worrying about high ping, use NoPing. Download now and test it for free!
