Port forwarding or port opening
When enabled, port forwarding (IPv4) and port opening (IPv6) allow traffic from the internet to pass through the Google Nest Wifi firewall or Google Wifi firewall to a specific device on your home network.
Learn more about when you need port forwarding or port opening and NAT loopback.
Set up port forwarding or port opening
- Open the Google Home app 👁 Google Home Application Icon
. - Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Wifi 👁 Wi-Fi
👁 and then
Settings 👁 Image
👁 and then
Advanced Networking. - Tap Port management 👁 and then
Add 👁 Image
. - Select the tab for the type of IP address you're forwarding.
- Select a device.
- Add your internal and external ports.
- For IPv4: Choose an internal port used by the device on the local network and an external port on the WAN. You can enter a single port number (#) or a port range (####-####).
- Note: When entering a port range internal and external ranges need to be the same. This is not the case for single port forwarding.
- For IPv6: Enter the port range.
- Note: Some devices will suggest what ports to use, while others let you choose. If you don’t know which ports to forward, contact the device manufacturer or check the device's manual.
- For IPv4: Choose an internal port used by the device on the local network and an external port on the WAN. You can enter a single port number (#) or a port range (####-####).
- Choose either Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), or TCP/UDP. These are different protocols used to send data over the internet.
- Tap Save 👁 Image
.
Typically, a router protects your network from the outside world by limiting external access to your internal network. But some devices and programs like IP cameras and online games need a connection from the internet that’s not blocked by a firewall. In most cases, port forwarding (for IPv4) and port opening (for IPv6) are configured automatically between your Wifi devices and your connected devices using UPnP.
Port forwarding tells a router that when a connection request comes through a specific port (that you specify), send that connection to a specific device (of your choosing). Your other devices will remain unaffected by this rule.
NAT loopback lets devices on your private Wi-Fi communicate with a public network (WAN). This lets them “share” a connection with each other so you’ll be able to check your port forwarded devices from inside your home Wi-Fi.
To use NAT loopback, set port forwarding rules for a device.