topic Re: NAT TYPE Strict in Internet

NAT TYPE Strict

AJ3 — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 20:20:44 GMT

HI,

I've been running into issues while gaming and traced it back to the NAT TYPE being the issue. Technical support doesnt seem to know how to help. I need to change the NAT type from strict(type 3) to moderate(type 2). Does anyone know how to do that?

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

Cptknives — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:45:57 GMT

Hi,

ahh B02?. Unfortunately, I've run into the same problem. you have to access your router and create a port forward to you console's ip address. My issue is, one of the text boxes is not available, just not able to type in it, restricting me from adding half of the the udp or tcp

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

AJ3 — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:05:46 GMT

Yes, BO2 exactly. I think ive figured out the issue. Virgin uses a CGNAT which gives you a private ip address. You would need a public ip address. Virgin does not offer a public ip address from what ive seen online. This is why we get a NAT TYPE STRICT. Public ip address helps alot with finding lobbies and port forwarding would probably not help in this case.

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

Tom3 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:16:37 GMT

I have exactly the same problem; I called customer service. No solution yet, and it's impossible to get a public IP address. Unfortunately, the next step might be to switch internet service providers. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

AJ3 — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:04:21 GMT

Bell, according to tech support, also has the same private ip address stuff. Telus, runs on bell so i would assume its the same issue. Rogers has latency issues for gaming. Videotron might be the only option, but youd be paying more for less.

NAT TYPE Strict

BTFan — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:14:26 GMT

Hello, I recently saw a post on here by @VirginPlusAlexander, which states the following:

Virgin Plus Internet services now operate behind CGNAT (Carrier Grade NAT). This means Virgin Plus Internet subscriptions receive a private IPv4 address on the WAN, which is translated to a shared public IPv4 address for outbound internet traffic.

With this transition, IPv4 features that require inbound connections—such as port forwarding, DMZ and hosting services like Plex servers—will no longer function.

We understand this change may impact some Members’ existing network setups. We want to reassure all Virgin Plus Internet Members that standard internet connectivity and typical home usage will continue to work as expected with the default configuration.

I spent countless hours trying to figure this out until I found that message, so I wish Virgin communicated this to customers, but I digress. The issue now is that my NAT is Strict/Type 3 on both Xbox and PS5 since this change was made. What's the solution to this?

Alexander's message claims that typical home usage will continue to work as expected - however online gaming is pretty typical these days and it's not working correctly. What's Virgin's solution to this?

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

BTFan — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:33:23 GMT

A week later and still no response. Why? Your comment said "typical usage" would not be affected. How is online gaming not typical usage? We deserve answers.

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

BTFan — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 21:22:59 GMT

So Virgin still can't be bothered to even respond...? Pathetic. Switching providers.

@VirginPlusAntonie @VirginPlusAlexander

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

VirginPlusAlexander — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:17:55 GMT

Hello @BTFan , as @AJ3 shared above "Virgin uses a CGNAT which gives you a private IP address. You would need a public IP address."

With this transition, IPv4 features that require inbound connections—such as port forwarding, DMZ and hosting services like Plex servers—will no longer function.

"Typical Home Usage" generally includes actions under the default Virgin Plus configuration - standard outbound-reliant internet connectivity.

This includes:

Standard web browsing and social media.
Standard video and audio streaming (such as Netflix, YouTube, or music services).
Standard smart home operations (such as smart thermostats or home assistants).
General file downloads and online activities that do not depend on direct inbound connections from the public internet.

"Non-Typical or Advanced Usage" generally includes actions that require inbound connections. Actions that require a private IP rather than a shared/public IP for outbound or inbound connections:

This includes:

Port forwarding
DMZ settings
Hosting local servers (such as a Plex media server)
Inbound VoIP setups or legacy home-phone ATA adapters that lack IPv6 support
Certain multiplayer gaming configurations which require both outbound and inbound connections - which can result in a "Strict/Type 3" NAT status.

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

BTFan — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:06:24 GMT

Thanks for finally responding, but can you please tell us what the solution is, instead of simply repeating that same message we already saw a few times?

It's not "certain multiplayer games" - it's literally the PS5 and Xbox system settings that indicate the NAT type is Strict/Type 3. Can you please provide a fix? This is what we've been asking for months...

@VirginPlusAlexander @VirginPlusAntonie

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

VirginPlusAlexander — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:43:42 GMT

As detailed above; Virgin Plus Internet services now operate behind CGNAT (Carrier Grade NAT). The CGNAT is operating as it is intended to. This functionality can result in a "Strict/Type 3" NAT status for certain multiplayer gaming configurations which require both outbound and inbound connections.

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

BTFan — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:33:40 GMT

So despite asking 3 times for a solution, you prefer to just copy paste the same message over and over? I think we all get that this is “intended” now - we only had to dig through Google till we landed on a Virgin forum to find out (would’ve been nice if we found out earlier). The question that we are all asking is how we can fix the type 3/strict NAT issue. If you don’t have a solution, you can just say so - no need to politic. We just need a fix. Thanks

@VirginPlusAntonie @VirginPlusAlexander

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

VirginPlusAlexander — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:55:41 GMT

@BTFan Please understand that there isn't a "fix" for your specific NAT question, as there is nothing to be fixed when in comes to the application and function of CGNAT on Virgin Plus Internet services. CGNAT is operating as it is intended to, and in this situation it results in a "Strict/Type 3" NAT status for the respective game and/or game system you are attempting to play and use.

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

BTFan — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:58:25 GMT

@VirginPlusAlexander so we won’t be able to play online video games with Virgin internet anymore…? Imagine removing a basic feature that millions of people use daily worldwide - without ever explaining why or providing a workaround. Horrible service. Will be switching ISPs.

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

BT — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 22:26:31 GMT

To be clear.. what you're stating here is that preventing their customers from enjoying online gaming is the intended result that Virgin Plus wanted to achieve?

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

BTFan — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 22:30:06 GMT

They literally do not care. Get ready for the same generic response that doesn't address the fact they broke online gaming for any console/game.

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

daveAHstator — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:32:33 GMT

Yeah, this is a wild situation - multiple problems not being resolved. They are no longer activating new people on DSL connections and none on Virgin at all so now I have 2 problems not resolved.....

1 - this CGNAT - Strict that causes me issues on Xbox where people joining my party disconnects my audio

2 - the router rebooting all settings after a power failure......

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

DMTRL — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:46:52 GMT

“The CGNAT is operating as intended” is clearly not an acceptable explanation in this case.

“Typical Home Usage,” which, according to your own terms, includes “standard web browsing,” is being negatively affected. I am now frequently required to complete CAPTCHAs when accessing websites, and in some instances, as shown in the screenshot below, I am simply unable to access a website because of the volume of traffic originating from the shared public IP address.

I understand and accept the principle of sharing a public IP through CGNAT, but this goes too far. The current implementation is materially affecting normal web browsing and therefore cannot reasonably be considered acceptable for “Typical Home Usage.”

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

rnolan — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 03:56:53 GMT

Just leaving this reply to add to the stack of unhappy customers, and to make it clear that this change is the reason I am in the process of switching my provider. When I chose to sign up with Virgin, I implicitly knew at the time that I would have access to port forwarding abilities. Though it's a shame that Virgin implemented CGNAT, I can understand it as a business decision or whatever.

What I can't understand is how they found it appropriate not to notify me of this fundamental change in the service I was paying for. I have dug through my emails and found no trace of Virgin reaching out to inform me of the change - but perhaps I missed it, buried in the hundreds of marketing communications I receive from them trying to upsell me on services I don't want or need.

Worse than that, they seemingly have no ability or desire to update the interfaces in their machines to reflect the withdrawal of these features. Meaning Virgin's modems continue to advertise a feature-set they no longer possess, thereby misleading their customers about a product they are currently paying for.

This might lead to someone like myself - having limited but demonstrable self-hosting experience on that very same router - coming home from work intending to spend the precious few hours of free time they have on a leisure activity which involves server hosting, only to spend 3 hours troubleshooting all to hit a brick wall at the ISP level. Three hours of my router's admin controls telling me my ports were forwarded. Three hours checking and rechecking settings I knew were correct - because they had worked on this very same router mere months ago. Three hours digging through threads of other confused people also in the unfortunate position of having to learn more about network troubleshooting than they ever wanted to. This month's Virgin bill cost me $100.00 + 3 hours of my personal time I can never get back, investigating a mystery whose explanation is "my service provider lied to me about the service they provide".

To be clear, I don't begrudge this particular community manager's reply here. In fact, it's the only communication I have found from Virgin relating these new restrictions to their customer base. It's clear and concise in its explanation of the features which have been disabled - though this forum's design does its contents a disservice by labelling it a "solution".

What it is is a notice of change in service. It's the kind of notice that I would expect to see in place of the button once labelled "port forwarding" in my modem's settings. It's the kind of notice I should have had plastered in my inbox in place of marketing emails. It's the kind of notice we all should have received weeks in advance ahead of the change - so that we, as consumers, could make informed decisions about the purchases we make.

So no, not a solution. A solution would look more along the lines of "we don't do that anymore, try somewhere else".

Re: NAT TYPE Strict

Kitka — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 03:27:02 GMT

What do you mean there is nothing to fix?? So I m just gonna pay for an wifi that I can’t play with my friends on? And I got no real explanation?? This is really a disrespect to customers. How is a wifi i m paying for every month is intended to ristrict me playing game?Please when i change my providers by Monday DO NOT CALL ME.