A router/modem is necessary for port forwarding, also referred to as port mapping, which is a method of forwarding a network port from one network node to another. This technique allows an external user to reach a port on a private IP address (inside a LAN) from the outside, using a NAT-enabled router.
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Almost all routers that are available today are NAT-enabled, so there’s nothing much to worry about.
Note: You can also port-forward on mobile hotspots and USB tethering, but it’s never as good as a physical router. (and not recommended at all!)
What is port forwarding?
Port forwarding, as you have heard before, is actually very essential for a LAN/VLAN over an internet network; it actually allows the other client computers to access data and traffic with fewer restrictions, as well as in a faster manner.
Anyway, keeping aside the technical stuff, if you are just a casual user like the author of this article and are willing to play or host online games with your friends, then you are reading the right article. Port forwarding is very essential for lag-free online gaming, especially for the client PCs (the ones that are connected to your game/server). It simply helps to achieve better ping for other computers.
So before we actually start the steps, do keep in mind that port forwarding nowadays is absolutely safe until you mess with it. It’s also quite simple and easy, once you’ve understood the pattern.
How to Port Forward?
1.) Search for Cmd in the Windows search bar and open the command prompt. Then search for “ipconfig” as shown in the picture below.
Press enter; you will find all your necessary technical stuff here. Here is what we need: the IPv4 address and the default gateway. (which in most cases is 192.168.1.1)
2.) Open your browser (any internet browser will do) , type your default gateway in the search bar, and hit enter. Your router login page will redirect you.
NOTE: The router login page will be different for different routers (different brands/models).
3.) Log in to the router page; typically, the username and password are “admin”, “ADMIN”, or “Admin”. If these combos don’t work, you can always check under your router, as shown in the picture, or contact your ISP.
4.) Things get a bit random after logging in; different routers have different webpages with different interfaces. You need to search for “Advanced NAT”; you can locate mine by clicking on “APP” and then “Advanced NAT”.
5.) After you get the Advanced NAT, search for “Virtual Server Configuration.”. Your router webpage determines the data and the order you need to enter. So a quick Google search like “ ports forward” should help you with it.
6.) Select the interface to the internet; now search for “what is my IP” in a different tab, copy your public IP, and paste it in the source IP address. (Interface may vary, depending on the router.)
(In many routers, a webpage is not required.)
Now the protocol and the starting and ending ports will solely depend on the game for which you are going to port forward. In order to get this information, search “ ports.”.
Alternatively, you can just visit https://portforward.com/ports and search for your game. Make sure to look for the PC version, as the console versions will have an Xbox/PlayStation_4/Switch/bla-bla suffix.
*If you are playing games through steam, make sure to forward the steam game traffic ports (protocol=UDP,start=27000,end=27100).
We highly recommend forwarding the ports shown below for any Steam game, along with the game’s ports.
Here, we are forwarding ports for Arma 3 due to its exceptional quality.
Once you have filled in the details, enter your IPv4 address from the command prompt into the internal host and enter the mapping name as the game’s name, or any other name you choose.
MapThe ping name is just cosmetic; it has no effect other than reminding you what applications this port is forwarded for.
Click on “Add” to forward the ports.
NOTE: Some games (like SWAT 4) will mention that it needs only a specific protocol like “UDP.”. In such cases, you can try with only UDP, but if it doesn’t work, then revert the protocol back to “UDP/TCP” (this works for most games).
