Advanced Troubleshooting: UPnP, Port Forwarding, and NAT Types

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This is a sub-page of the Network Troubleshooting Guide. To return to the start of the Guide, please click the above image or click here.

PLEASE NOTE!

This portion of the Network Troubleshooting Guide is for players who are encountering connectivity issues while playing Destiny and who have worked through the other basic troubleshooting steps included in the rest of the guide. The below troubleshooting suggestions are more advanced and can help resolve more complicated connection issues.

View Networking Troubleshooting Guide


UPnP Settings

UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) allows devices on a player's network to automatically connect to each other and is the simplest way to make sure a player can connect to Destiny.
    • When possible, Bungie recommends players use UPnP.
    • If players cannot use UPnP and are having issues playing Destiny, they should use Port Forwarding instead.
    • It is not recommended to enable both UPnP and Port Forwarding at the same time.
    • UPnP is REQUIRED if players use more than one device to play Destiny on the same network simultaneously.

 

SECURITY RISKS OF USING UPNP

UPnP opens access to a router or modem to allow an internet connection to connect with others, which is how Destiny connects players together inside the game. Due to this open access, however, people with bad intentions can use malicious software to cause harm to a network if the UPnP setup is poorly designed within a router or modem. Players may want to research how well their router's or modem's UPnP is designed and then decide if UPnP is worth using or not.

Players can also use Port Forwarding instead of UPnP, which is more difficult to set up due to manually adding information into a router or modem but is generally safer for a network.


Setting up UPnP

WARNING

Changing the wrong settings on a router or modem can lead to losing access to the internet. Be careful when modifying a router's/modem's settings. Consult the device's manual or documentation before beginning this process.

    1. Log in to the router’s/modem's Control Panel in your computer's internet browser
      1. This is usually done through an internet browser by navigating to the router’s internal IP address (for example, http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.254.254)
      2. Consult the router/modem’s user manual for help accessing the control panel
    2. Find the “UPnP” setting, usually located under the “LAN” or “Firewall” category
      1. Consult the router/modem’s user manual for help locating the UPnP setting
    3. Enable UPnP and "Save" the changes
    4. Disconnect and reconnect all devices on the network

NAT Types

NAT (Network Address Translation) works based on a player’s UPnP or Port Forwarding setup and can open or restrict internet connections to devices.

 

Common Issues

Changing the NAT Type by setting up UPnP or Port Forwarding can help resolve the following issues:
    • Frequent BEAVER/FLATWORM/LEOPARD error codes
    • Players unable to hear voice chat from other players in their Fireteam
    • Frequent empty social spaces, like in the Tower
    • Matchmade activities failing to find a game, resulting in ‘unable to find a match in time’, or MONGOOSE error codes
    • For information on the "Double NAT" issue, please see the Common Hardware Issues portion of this guide

 

Choosing a NAT Type

Some platforms use slightly different terminology when describing NAT Types with slightly different meanings on how restrictive a Type can be on their platform.
Please see the below table for an explanation of the different NAT Types for these platforms. 

 

PlayStation NATs Other NATs Description
Type 1 Open
      1. The device is connected to the internet without a router or combination modem+router.
      2. All network connections are allowed between the platform and other players.
      3. Players will be able to play and chat with any other player.
Type 2 Moderate
      1. Most network connections are allowed between the platform and other players, but some connections may be blocked.
      2. Players can play and chat with players who have a NAT Type of OPEN or MODERATE, but cannot connect to players with a STRICT NAT Type.
Type 3 Strict/Closed
      1. The platform is connected to a router that is blocking connections to other players and services.
      2. Only the bare minimum network connections are allowed between the console and other players.
      3. Players can only play with players who have an OPEN NAT Type.
        1. For example, players can't see each other in the Tower or connect to players in matchmade activities.

Port Forwarding

All internet connection requests include a “port,” which is a number that tells a router or modem how to connect to another internet service or device. Players can “forward” (or route) a port number, or a range of numbers, to allow access to their router or modem, which will give them access to Destiny or other internet services. Port Forwarding is a way to manually limit connections, allowing only approved connection requests to gain access.

Players who do not use UPnP will likely need to use Port Forwarding to allow all the connections Destiny needs.

WARNING

This is a technical process that can be slightly different for each type of router/modem. Changing the wrong settings on the router or modem can lead to losing access to the internet or even losing access to the router’s or modem's control panel! Consult the manufacturer’s manual that came with the device before beginning this process. A full reset of the router or modem may be necessary if a loss of internet occurs!


Opening and Forwarding Ports

Some ports are blocked from outside internet connections inside routers for security purposes. Opening a port on a router allows outside internet connections to connect to a specific port inside a router so that a connection can be made, such as playing Destiny.

Forwarding a port routes an outside internet connection inside the router to use a specific port that has been opened.
    • Ports that Destiny uses for incoming internet connections may need to be port-forwarded.
    • Forwarding only affects incoming internet connections.
    • Any ports that a player may want to forward must also be open.

 

Opening Ports

    • Opening ports may help solve some issues with a player's network connection.
    • If the router is blocking or slowing internet speed on some ports, they will need to be opened.
    • If the router/modem’s firewall settings (a router's security system) are set to ALLOW incoming internet connections by default, opening ports is as simple as making sure there are no firewall rules that specifically block the connections on the required port(s).
    • If the router/modem’s firewall settings are set to DENY connections by default, a new firewall rule has to be created that specifically allows traffic on the required port(s).

 

Port Forwarding won't work with two instances of Destiny connecting to the same internet connection

    • Each router/modem is different. Players should consult their router/modem’s user manual for detailed instructions on how to set up port forwarding.
    • It is recommended that players also assign a Static IP address (a non-changing internet address) to their console to make port forwarding easier.
    • Players who plan to use more than one console to play Destiny on the same network simultaneously will encounter connection issues when using Port Forwarding. Players are REQUIRED to use UPnP to play Destiny on more than one console on the same network simultaneously.

 

SECURITY RISKS OF USING PORT FORWARDING

Ports are usually closed in a router/modem to help prevent unauthorized access to a home internet network. Opening ports on the router/modem may decrease the overall security of the home network.


Ports that should be OPEN

Platform TCP Destination Ports UDP Destination Ports
Xbox Series X|S 53, 80, 3074 53, 88, 500, 3544, 3074, 27015-27200
PlayStation 5 80, 443, 1935, 3478-3480 3478, 3479, 49152-65535, 27015-27200
PlayStation 4 80, 443, 1935, 3478-3480
7500-7509
30000-30009
2001, 3074-3173, 3478-3479, 27015-27200
Xbox ONE 53, 80, 443, 3074
7500-7509
30000-30009
53, 88, 500, 3074, 3544, 4500, 1200-1299, 1001, 27015-27200
PC 80, 443, 1119-1120, 3074, 3724, 4000, 6112-6114
7500-7509
30000-30009
80, 443, 1119-1120, 3074, 3097-3196, 3724, 4000, 6112-6114,
27015-27200
PlayStation 3 80, 443, 5223, 3478-3480, 8080
7500-7509
30000-30009
3478-3479, 3658
3074, 1001
Xbox 360 53, 80, 443, 3074
7500-7509
30000-30009
53, 88, 3074, 1001



Ports that should be FORWARDED

Platform TCP Destination Ports UDP Destination Ports
Xbox Series X|S 3074 88, 500, 3074, 3544, 4500
PlayStation 5
      • If your router supports Protocol Both, use 1935,3074,3478-3480
      • If not, use 1935, 3478-3480
3074, 3478-3479
PlayStation 4 1935, 3478-3480 3074, 3478-3479
Xbox ONE 3074 88, 500, 1200, 3074, 3544, 4500
PC N/A 3074, 3097
PlayStation 3 3478-3480, 5223, 8080 3074, 3478-3479, 3658
Xbox 360 3074 88, 3074

 


 

Network Troubleshooting Guide Directory

This is a sub-page of the Network Troubleshooting Guide which is designed to help players through the recommended steps for troubleshooting network connectivity issues that may be impacting their ability to play Destiny. Please click the appropriate button below to return to the start of the guide or to read through the other pages.

Error Codes Network Setup Common Hardware Issues
Optimizing Connections Advanced Troubleshooting Return to Start