If you are a Nintendo stan, you would understand the allure of the Nintendo Switch. To put it simply, it is a pretty strong one. Founded in 1889 – in Japan, Nintendo has since been dominating the game. As of May 2022, Nintendo has sold over 107 million units. However, with great numbers come even greater problems.
A hardcore gamer knows the pain and suffering a lag inflicts. The Nintendo Switch is no exception. To solve this issue once and for all, Port forwarding has come to save the day. Nintendo Switch port forwarding can allow you to open routes for faster data transfer. Port forwarding for Nintendo Switch is a tried and tested technique that results in a reduced lag. Before diving into the specifics, let’s understand more about port forwarding.
What exactly is Port Forwarding?
Port forwarding is a widely accepted method that allows you to eradicate lag with other benefits. It manages so by opening up specific pathways. These pathways or ports allow for faster data transfer. Be it from a server on the internet to your local switch or vice versa, port forwarding makes accessibility over the internet faster and easier.
Why do you need Nintendo Switch Port forwarding?
Looking for a way to reduce gaming lag? Port forwarding might be the solution to your problems. If you are experiencing difficulty connecting or keeping up the connection during a gaming session, something must be done. Some games even specifically require Port forwarding to resolve such connectivity issues.
Nintendo Switch port forwarding allows your console to be accessible by the internet and assists in a direct connection. This direct connection, in turn, assists in a lag-free gaming experience. Further, port forwarding also helps you to host peer-to-peer games.
Can I Port forward a Nintendo Switch?
Yes, of course. From PC to switches, port forwarding is a widely accepted solution across all gaming mediums. Port forwarding doesn’t differentiate between devices. The configuration here doesn’t apply either. So, if you have a switch, it can be port forwarded.
What do you need for Nintendo Switch Local Port Forwarding?
Port forwarding is a really simple procedure with absolutely no complexity involved. You can manually forward the port for the Nintendo Switch following this guide. Make sure you have the following before you start the procedure:
- The IP address of your device.
- The IP address of your router.
- A list of UDP and TCP ports that are to be forwarded.
Ports needed for Nintendo Switch Port Forwarding
Certain specific ports are allowed to be used for port forwarding. The following are generally used for the port forwarding procedure:
- UDP: 1-655359 or 45000-65535*
- TCP: 6667, 12400, 28910, 29900, 29901, .29920
*Note: The Nintendo Switch website states to open up ports 1-655359. Opening up all the ports could potentially pose a security threat.
Steps to Port Forward a Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch local port forwarding has two sets of fairly easy steps. The first step involves configuring the Nintendo Switch, while the other deals with the router’s settings.
Phase 1: Settings for Nintendo Switch
- Go to the Network Connection Settings in your Nintendo Switch.
- Locate Network Connection Settings > Advanced Settings.
- In the advanced settings, select Manual in the IP address settings.
- Select the IP address and press B to erase the existing IP address.
- The IP address found on the network device is to be entered here. Add a 20 in the last digit i.e., 8🡪 28.
- Select OK.
- Select the Subnet Mask and press B to erase the current Subnet Mask.
- The Subnet Mask found on the network device is to be entered here. Select Ok.
- Select Gateway and press B to erase the current Gateway.
- The default gateway is to be entered here. Select Ok.
Phase 2: Settings for Router
- Browse to your router’s dashboard on your PC/Laptop
- Access the Port Forwarding settings.
- For the application name, you may enter Nintendo Switch.
- Now in the Port Range, enter the UDP ports i.e., UDP: 1-655359 or 45000-65535.
- Select the protocol to be UDP.
- Now enter the IP address assigned to your Nintendo Switch.
- Select Enable/Apply for activation.
- Save changes.
And voila! you have successfully forwarded ports for the Nintendo Switch. For more on port forwarding, check out our detailed gaming category. We have got it all covered!
If you’re still unable to Port Forward and get desired results then most likely your ISP has implemented CGNAT on your internet services.
What is CGNAT?
CGNAT stands for Carrier Grade Network Address Translation. Most ISPs, including Starlink, use CGNAT to conserve their IPv4 pool. The IPv4 protocol only supports 4 billion IP addresses. ISPs perform CGNAT to assign a single IP address to multiple users, saving their already depleted IP pool.
CGNAT is a solution for ISPs who want to preserve their IPv4 infrastructure while offering IPV6 services to their consumers. Thanks to NAT, multiple users on an IPv4 network can share a single public IP address. When users connect to the internet, their private IP address is translated to a public IP address.
