If you’ve tried hosting a world or inviting friends in Hytale and encountered NAT Type: Restricted, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common multiplayer-related issues players face, particularly when hosting peer-to-peer sessions from home networks.

While Hytale’s servers and official multiplayer modes often work fine, hosting your own world relies heavily on your network configuration. A restricted NAT can block incoming connections, making it difficult—or impossible—for friends to join you.

Let’s break everything down clearly.

What is NAT Type in Hytale

NAT (Network Address Translation) is how your router manages traffic between your local devices (PC, console, phone) and the internet. Because multiple devices share a single public IP address, the router decides how incoming and outgoing data is routed.

Games categorize NAT into types so players know how open or closed their network is:

  • Open NAT – Best case. Anyone can connect to you easily.
  • Moderate / Restricted NAT – Some connections work, others fail.
  • Strict NAT – Most incoming connections are blocked.

How NAT type restricted affects Hytale

A restricted NAT does not mean Hytale is broken. It mainly impacts peer-to-peer hosting, not centralized servers.

You may experience:
  • Friends failing to join your hosted world
  • Invite links or join codes not working
  • Long connection times or timeouts
  • You being unable to host, but able to join others
What still works:
  • Joining official or dedicated servers
  • Single-player gameplay
  • Some matchmaking features

In short: hosting your own world is the main casualty of restricted NAT.

Image credit: Hypixel Studios

Why does NAT type become restricted

There are several common causes:

1. UPnP Is Disabled

Hytale relies on UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) to automatically open the ports it needs. If UPnP is off—or unsupported—your NAT often stays restricted.

2. Router Blocking UDP Traffic

Hytale uses UDP-based networking (including modern protocols like QUIC). Routers or firewalls that block UDP traffic can cause NAT issues.

3. Double NAT Setup

If you’re using:

  • Modem + router, or
  • Router + extender/router

You might be behind two NAT layers, which breaks automatic port mapping.

4. Firewall Restrictions

Operating system firewalls (especially Windows Defender Firewall) may block inbound connections unless explicitly allowed.

5. ISP-Level CGNAT

Some ISPs use Carrier-Grade NAT, meaning you don’t get a true public IP. In these cases, traditional port forwarding may not work at all.

How to Fix NAT Type Restricted in Hytale

  1. Log into your router (usually 192.168.1.1)
  2. Find UPnP settings
  3. Enable it
  4. Restart router and PC

This alone fixes NAT issues for many players.

Fix 2: Manual Port Forwarding

If UPnP fails:

  • Forward UDP port 5520 (default Hytale port)
  • Assign it to your PC’s local IP
  • Ensure it’s UDP, not TCP

This creates a direct path for incoming Hytale connections.

Fix 3: Check for Double NAT

  • Put your modem into bridge mode, or
  • Enable UPnP on both devices

Only one device should handle NAT whenever possible.

Fix 4: Allow Hytale Through Firewall

On Windows:

  • Allow Hytale through Windows Defender Firewall
  • Ensure inbound UDP traffic isn’t blocked

Fix 5: ISP Workarounds

If your ISP uses CGNAT:

  • Request a public IP from your ISP, or
  • Host your world using a dedicated external server instead of your PC

This bypasses NAT issues entirely.

Image credit: Hypixel Studios

Should you worry about NAT type restricted

Not always.

A Restricted NAT in Hytale is a network issue, not a game flaw. While it can be frustrating, it’s usually solvable with UPnP, port forwarding, or minor router adjustments. In tougher cases, the issue lies with ISP-level limitations—but even then, workarounds exist.