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
.
- Tap Favorites
Wifi
- Tap Port management
.
- 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
.
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.