How Does Port Forwarding Fixes Ping and Lag?
Issues like High Ping, Ping Spikes, and Packet Loss are common in VALORANT primarily due to network congestion or your router blocking access to game servers.
Step 1. Find Your Default Gateway and IPv4 Address
To set up Port Forwarding, you’ll need your IPv4 address and Default Gateway. Note these values for later steps in port forwarding.
Step 2. Access Your Router’s Configuration Page
Once you have the information, you can access your router’s settings. Since router configuration pages vary, you might need to look around for the correct option. Look for pages labeled Port Forwarding, Virtual Servers, NAT, or Applications. You may find them under Advanced Settings or the Internet Security Tab.
Your page might look something like this:
Profile Types:
For routers that allow multiple ports under a single service: You can create one service and enter all the necessary ports for VALORANT at once.For routers with separate profiles for each port: You’ll need to create a new service for each port or group of ports individually and configure them separately. This can take more time but ensures each port is correctly forwarded.WAN Host IP Address: Leave this as it is, since we’re configuring it on a home network.
Once you’ve found the correct section, click Add Custom Service (if this option is available on your router). After clicking, you’ll be able to enter the following details for VALORANT. Below are the port and service details for manual entry:
Step 2.1. Port Forwarding for VALORANT
Step 3. Allow DMZ for IPv4 on Your Router (Optional)
A DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is a network configuration that places a device outside your local network’s firewall, giving it direct internet access while keeping your internal network protected. This is often used for gaming consoles, game servers, or services requiring an open internet connection. If your router supports this feature, enabling DMZ will let your devices connect with gaming ports without interruption.
3.1 Choose Device via MAC or IP Address:
In most cases, you have two options.
3.2 Assign a Static IP Address:
Why Assign a Static IP Address? Assigning a static IP address ensures your device always has the same IP on your network, which is particularly useful when setting up DMZ or port forwarding to ensure consistent accessibility, even after a router restart.
4. Allowing Ports on Windows Firewall
If you’re experiencing connection issues with VALORANT or facing lag, it might be due to blocked ports required by the game on your Windows Firewall. VALORANT uses specific UDP ports (7000-8000 and 8180-8181) to communicate with its servers. When these ports are closed, your connection might be interrupted or unstable. By opening the necessary ports, you can enhance your connection quality and reduce connection-related problems during gameplay. Once completed, the necessary ports for VALORANT will be open on your system, improving your connection to the game and enhancing the overall experience!
