If you are an Xbox or PS5 user or a parent of a gaming child we have all come across issues with connecting out online.
These issues are usually related to the broadband connection or the firewall built into your home router. The best place to start is always to contact your broadband provider if you are experiencing problems with connectivity, but if this has been confirmed as working the next step is to take a look at your firewall settings.
Below are the steps we recommend to get that connection open and working properly:
Log into your Xbox / PS5, go into settings, into the network settings and confirm what your current IP address is and the Gateway address (make a note of these as you will need them for the next steps)
Now jump onto your laptop/pc/macbook (anything that can access the internet via a browser) and type in the Gateway address you recorded earlier e.g 192.168.0.1 and press enter. This gateway address is the address of your router and will bring you to a log in page.
Once you are at the log in page you will need to enter the username and password on the back of your router. For the majority of broadband routers this will be written on the label on the router, if it isnt check with your provider for the details e.g Sky's Routers username is admin and the password is sky. If in doubt call your provider to confirm.
Once logged into the router you will need to navigate to the ip configuration settings for DHCP and set the IP Address for your Xbox/PS5 and reserve this ip address (this ensures that every time your device is turned on it collects the same address). Steps may vary depending on the router you are logging into, refer to the router documentation details or contact the provider for the exact steps.
Now the address is reserved we can visit the services page and configure the service name and associated ports. Here is an example of this for XBOX https://support.xbox.com/en-GB/help/hardware-network/connect-network/network-ports-used-xbox-live and Playstation https://stealthoptional.com/how-to/how-to-refresh-or-change-nat-type-on-ps5-improve-your-connection-and-reduce-lag-spikes/
With the services created we can now head to the firewall configuration page, you will now be able to select each of the above created services and forward the traffic towards your XBOX/PS5's reserved IP Address
Restart the router once changes are made and check your XBOX/PS5. You should now find that the NAT level in the network status page is displayed as OPEN instead of a Moderate / Strict NAT
The above process ensures that all traffic related to XBOX Live or the PSN network is forwarded directly to your device and ensures that you have a more consistent experience.
If you would like any advice or have any questions drop us a message.
Kind Regards
POLA Technical Solutions.
