To ensure the best possible connection and performance for your Multiplayer/Warzone games, your Nat Type should be Open. If you see “Nat Type: Strict” or “Nat Type: Moderate” on your main menu, here’s how to fix that.
Step 1: Reset Your Firewall
- Press Windows+R
- Type Firewall.cpl into the run prompt, then press Enter
- Click Restore Defaults from the menu on the left
- Click the button to Restore Defaults
- Click Yes to confirm the prompt
Later, when you launch Modern Warfare, tell Windows to allow it on Public and Private networks.
Step 2: Find the PortForward.com Guide for Your Router
Go to this page, click your router’s brand, click close on the ad, and then click your router’s model.
Step 3: Set Up a Static IP
Your IP is most likely dynamic by default. Follow the guide from Step 2 to make it static. I highly recommend just downloading their software, and using the “Static IP Address” feature with the default recommended settings (this feature is available in the free trial version of the software). However, if you don’t trust the software, you can always follow their guide and do it yourself instead.
Your new IP will be
192.168.0.XXX
Make note of what the XXX number is; you will need that in Step 5.
Step 4: Login to Your Router
Follow the guide from Step 2.
Step 5: Forward Ports
Forward the following ports:
TCP: 3074, 27014-27050
UDP: 3074, 3478, 4379-4380, 27000-27031, 27036
These ports are from Activision’s official guide.
Again, follow the guide. (The “3074” probably needs to be written as the range “3074-3074” and probably needs to set up as “Both” TCP and UDP; all the ports should be forwarded to the Static IP you setup in Step 3, etc.)
[EDIT: Using the Port Finder feature in the software, I’ve also seen the ModernWarfare app open two seemingly random UDP ports each time I start the game, in the range from 53872-63345 (these are the lowest and highest I’ve seen, but not necessarily the minimum or maximum). However, it doesn’t seem like you need to actually open these to get “Nat Type: Open,” and it might not be a good idea to forward a range of ~10,000 ports, so I would probably ignore this fact.]
Step 6 (Optional): Test Your Ports
If you downloaded the software, you can use the Port Checker to test whether your ports are opened (this feature is also free). I wouldn’t bother with every single one, but you can test one or two for both TCP and UDP.
Step 7: READY PLAYER ONE
Now is the moment of truth. Boot up Modern Warfare. If you’re lucky, you should now see “Nat Type: Open” in the Multiplayer/Warzone menu, and you should have a relatively smooth and lag-free experience. GLHF!
