Port Forward World of Warcraft: How to Open Ports on Routers Behind CGNAT

  • By Farrukh Mushtaq

    Farrukh Mushtaq

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    Farrukh Mushtaq, a digital marketer at PureSquare, possesses a keen interest in cybersecurity and enjoys writing about it. With several years of experience in the digital marketing industry, he brings expertise and passion to his work.

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  • 24 January 2025
  • 5 mins read

Table of Content

Table of Contents

World of Warcraft is a legendary MMORPG that immerses players in a vast, dynamic fantasy world filled with epic quests and thrilling battles. To keep your connection steady and gameplay smooth, you need to know how to open ports for World of Warcraft behind CGNAT with this easy guide.

What is Port Forwarding? 

Port forwarding is a networking technique that directly links incoming traffic and your in-home device or application on your private network. Most users open ports on their routers to maintain consistent, stable connections with other services and applications on the same server to which they are connected. 

Before You Forward a Port 

You need to know the following before opening ports for any game and application: 

  • The IP address of your router 
  • The IP address of your device (computer or console)
  • Port numbers (UDP and TCP)

Default Ports for World of Warcraft

To optimize the performance of World of Warcraft, you need to open specific ports on your router. These ports are:

  • TCP 3724, 1119, and 6112–6114
  • UDP port 3724 
  • The default port for Apache servers is 80
  • The default port for MySQL servers is 3306
  • The default port for Remote Access is 3443 
  • Mandatory World server port 8085 

How to Port Forward World of Warcraft

You can follow these steps to port forward World of Warcraft on your router:

  1. Select any browser (Google Chrome) and insert your router's default gateway IP in the address bar.
  2. Insert the username and password to log in to your router page (the username is "admin," and the password is "password" if you haven't changed it).
  3. Click on Advanced and navigate to the Port Forwarding option.
  4. Select the "Add Service" or "Add Rule" button.
  5. Enter a name for the new port forwarding rule (World of Warcraft).
  6. Select the protocol (TCP or UDP).
  7. Insert the port number you want to forward. 
  8. Use the same port number for Internal and External Port Numbers.
  9. Insert the static IP address of the device to which you wish to forward the port.
  10. Click "Apply" or "Save."
  11. Restart your router.

Why is opening ports behind CGNAT an issue? 

Most ISPs (internet service providers) perform CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT) to let multiple users share the same public IP address. While it helps preserve IPv4 addresses and prevent network congestion, it also prevents you from accessing ports on your router for port forwarding.

How to Open Ports on Routers Behind CGNAT

With a Port Forwarding add-on and a dedicated IP, you can bypass CGNAT and port forward multiple routers (Netgear, TP-Link, ASUS, Starlink) for MMO and RPG games. Just follow the below-mentioned simple steps and go for it:

  1. Login to the PureVPN member area.
  2. Click the subscription tab.
  3. Click Configure.
  4. Apply your desired port settings.
  5. Click Apply settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What is UPnP, and can it help behind CGNAT?

    Plus

    Universal Plug and Play automates port forwarding but won't work behind CGNAT. You must request that your ISP allow you to open ports or use a dedicated IP with a port forwarding add-on to port forward a router.

  • Is it safe to port forward for World of Warcraft?

    Plus

    No, but it can be as long as you forward only the required ports and secure your router with a VPN service. Opening ports exposes you to other malicious actors who might try to penetrate your devices or applications.

  • Do I need a static IP address for port forwarding?

    Plus

    Yes, a static IP ensures the configuration remains stable and functional.

  • How do I check if I am behind CGNAT?

    Plus

    Compare your public IP through WhatIsmyIP with your router's WAN IP; if they differ, you're behind CGNAT.

In Summary

Level up your MMORPG experience in World of Warcraft with a port forwarding add-on and a dedicated IP. Now you can bypass CGNAT effortlessly and enjoy seamless gameplay with friends without interruptions.