Port Forwarding Software for PC: 5 Best to use
An encompassing list of free and professional port mapping tools
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Key notes
- Port forwarding can help you drastically improve your gaming experience and fix connection issues.
- The best port forwarding software should allow you to easily view, add, and remove port mappings.
- Some of the top choices in this list have large databases that make the setup easy.
Port forwarding software has become essential for many Internet users because most opt to use routers instead of modems for safety and security concerns.
One of the common issues with routers that you may encounter is that some applications or games may stop working.
Since your computer on a home or business network is hidden behind the router, it will lead to connection issues.
In this article, we look at the best port forwarding software for both Windows and Mac that will help you get past this barrier.
What is port forwarding software?
Port forwarding software allows you to redirect communication requests from one address and port number combination to another while the packets traverse a network gateway, like your router or firewall.
With this software, your remote servers and devices on the internet can access other devices that are connected to your private LAN.
What are the best port forwarding tools for PC?
- Simple Port Forwarding – Easy to use
- UPnP PortMapper – Automatic IP address retrieval
- PortMapper – TCP and UDP support
- Port Forward Network Utilities – Fast and accurate
- Port Forwarding Wizard for Mac – Simple software
Simple Port Forwarding
- Price – Free
- Support – Windows
UPnP PortMapper is an easy-to-use program that manages the port forwarding (port mapping) of a UPnP-enabled Internet gateway device like your router in the local network.
UPnP PortMapper allows you to view, add, and remove port mappings easily. Using this tool, you can access servers (SSH, Web, Game server, and more) running in a private network from the Internet.
You can configure port forwarding by accessing the web administration interface of your router.
However, UPnP PortMapper removes the hassle of the traditional forwarding technique and makes the process much more convenient.
UPnP PortMapper allows you to create a new or select an existing preset and then add a port mapping for your computer in one click.
The IP address is retrieved automatically, so you don’t have to add it manually.
UPnP PortMapper
- Price – Free
- Support – Linux/Windows/macOS
UPnP PortMapper is an easy-to-use program that manages the port forwarding (port mapping) of a UPnP-enabled Internet gateway device like your router in the local network.
UPnP PortMapper allows you to view, add, and remove port mappings easily. Using the tool, you can access servers (SSH, Web, Game server, and more) running in a private network from the Internet.
You can configure port forwarding by accessing the web administration interface of your router.
However, UPnP PortMapper removes the hassle of the traditional forwarding technique and makes the process much more convenient.
UPnP PortMapper allows you to create a new or select an existing preset and then add a port mapping for your computer in one click.
The IP address is retrieved automatically, so you don’t have to add it manually.
PortMapper
- Price – Free
- Support – Windows
PortMapper is yet another free port mapping software that allows you to forward any port to any IP address.
It supports both TCP and UDP connections making it effortless to monitor any port that you want.
To use the tool, select the port that you want to map and enter the destination, that is, the IP address or full URL to your FTP server or web server.
The tool allows blocking access from a specific IP address if you have a public FTP server. This is useful if you block some users from accessing the webserver.
PortMapper works on all versions of Windows, from 95 to Windows 10.
Port Forward Network Utilities
- Price – Free trial
- Support – Windows
Setting up a port forward is quick and easy with Port Forward Network Utilities. Thanks to the large database, you don’t have to work on the router yourself – the tool carries out all the changes independently.
The so-called port forwarding, i.e., the forwarding of a connection to a specific PC port, is often required when a PC acts as a server and has to be reached from the Internet.
This is often the case with online games, for example.
Setting up such forwarding can be complicated. Port Forward Network Utilities aims to simplify the process and forward ports to both Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
The software finds your router on your network, and it also optimizes it. It can recover lost router passwords too.
Port Forwarding Wizard for Mac
- Price – Free trial
- Support – macOS
If you’re a Mac user, we’ve also got you covered. As the name suggests, Port Forwarding Wizard for Mac is a port forwarding tool for macOS. It is a simple software that supports Snow Leopard, Lion, and the above version of macOS.
Port Forwarding Wizard communicates with your router by using the UPnP standard after enabling the UPnP option in your router.
To configure your router, launch Port Forwarding Wizard and wait till it detects the router. Once detected, the tool will fetch current port forwarding entries from your router and display them for you.
To add ports, click the add button and fill in the required details, including the port you want to forward and the internal IP address.
⇒ Port Forwarding Wizard for Mac
All the port forwarding software listed in this article can help get your ports forwarded.
These tools include everything you need to diagnose, troubleshoot, and fix port forwarding issues, including forwarding ports to both Xbox and PlayStation consoles, testing ports on your network, and optimizing your router.
If your router still does not forward ports, try these steps instead.
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