There is no universal list of ports to open for online gaming. The right settings depend on the specific game, platform or launcher, and feature involved. Check the game publisher’s current instructions for your exact setup; change router rules only when those instructions or a specific connection problem point to them.
How to find the right ports for your game
Before changing router settings, identify four details: the exact game, the platform or PC launcher, the connection problem, and whether you mean ordinary multiplayer or a separate feature such as Remote Play. A port list for one game or platform is not a safe substitute for another.
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- Look up the game’s official support instructions. Match the title and platform, then follow the publisher’s current port table. For example, Activision’s Call of Duty port list separates entries by game and platform.
- Check what the instruction actually asks you to do. “Open” and “forward” are not always interchangeable. Bungie’s Destiny 2 guide has separate tables for ports that should be open and ports that should be forwarded, with platform-specific entries.
- Cross-check the platform or feature guidance. A platform’s network advice may help diagnose NAT or connection trouble, but it does not replace the game’s own instructions. Treat Remote Play requirements separately from multiplayer requirements.
- Confirm that your router and internet connection can use forwarding. Router menus differ by model, and some network setups may not allow inbound forwarding. If the instructions do not match your router or the rule has no effect, consult the router maker or internet provider rather than guessing at settings.
Example: Call of Duty ports vary by platform
Activision Support’s table, dated February 3, 2026, shows why a universal gaming-port list would be misleading. The entries below are examples for the named Call of Duty games and platforms, not recommendations for other games. Check Activision’s full current table before entering any rule.
| Games covered in the cited table | Platform | TCP | UDP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6, Warzone, Modern Warfare III, Modern Warfare II | PlayStation | 3478–3480 | 3074, 3478–3479 |
| Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6, Warzone, Modern Warfare III, Modern Warfare II | Xbox | 3074 | 88, 500, 3074, 3544, 4500 |
Activision lists different entries for PC and Steam. The table above deliberately does not substitute one platform’s values for those versions; use the full Activision table and select the matching game and platform.
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What port forwarding does—and what it does not do
Port forwarding creates a router rule that directs specified incoming traffic to a device on your local network. Activision describes it as a way to make a console or PC more accessible to other devices over the internet. That can be relevant when restrictive NAT limits which peers your device can connect to, but it does not mean every player needs manual forwarding.
UPnP is a different router option: supported devices or applications can request that the router open the corresponding ports automatically. Port triggering instead opens corresponding external ports after a local host initiates a connection. These options and their labels vary by router; the TP-Link Archer A6 V2 guide describes how they work on that model.
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Do not use a router’s DMZ setting as a routine gaming fix. TP-Link warns that a DMZ host is totally exposed to the internet and advises disabling DMZ when it is not in use.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →PS Remote Play has a separate port requirement
Sony says PS Remote Play uses UDP port 8572 to connect to a PS5, PS4, or mobile device, and that forwarding may help if a router blocks that port. This is guidance for Remote Play—not a general port list for PlayStation multiplayer. See Sony’s Remote Play troubleshooting steps for the relevant setup.
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Sony’s troubleshooting also recommends checking internet access and sign-in, updating the console and app, verifying NAT, and assessing connection stability. For unstable Remote Play connections, Sony recommends wired networking. Its stated minimum of 5 Mbps upload and 5 Mbps download applies to Remote Play, not online gaming in general.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If opening ports does not fix the problem
Do not keep adding rules at random. A port change is useful only when the relevant service or connection problem is actually related to those ports. Work through the symptom and the official instructions first:
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- Check the game or platform’s service status, sign-in, and software updates.
- Use the game publisher’s current guidance for the exact platform, and verify whether it calls for open ports or forwarding.
- Check the console or PC’s reported NAT status if the issue involves matchmaking or connecting to other players. Activision explains that restrictive NAT can limit peer connections.
- If a correctly configured rule has no effect, ask your router maker or ISP whether your particular router and connection support inbound forwarding. Available steps are model- and network-dependent.
- For a feature such as Remote Play, follow that feature’s own troubleshooting rather than applying a multiplayer port list.
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