How to Port Forward Without Access to Router? (Easy Steps!)

Do you want to know how to port forward without access to router? This guide has all the steps you’re looking for!

One of the main requirements, whenever you’re port forwarding, is access to your router. It allows you to set up port forwarding rules quickly.

To port forward without access to the router, you can set up rules on the firewall software. You’ll be able to open new ports for additional access. You can do this for both Windows and Mac devices. You can also set up port forwarding using UPnP by changing a few settings on your computer.

Now that you’re confident that you can do port forwarding even if you don’t have admin access to your router let’s look at some of the reasons why you want to do this in the first place.

Reasons to Forward Ports Without Router Access

There are several reasons why you need to perform port forwarding.

If you’re not doing any of the activities listed below, we recommend not to try it as this can compromise your computer’s security.

However, as long as you take the necessary precautions, you should be able to do this successfully without any issues.

Here are the reasons why you should port forward even if you don’t have access to the router:

1. Peer-to-Peer Sharing

You’re going to have a hard time sharing files if your peers can’t reach your computer and access the files.

Port forwarding comes in handy here as it opens your system for quick and easy file access.

2. Remotely Control your Computer

If there is a need for you to manage your computer remotely, port forwarding is one of the quickest ways to achieve it.

3. Access to File and Web Servers

Setting up a file or web server is made a lot easier with port forwarding rules. If you want continued access to files from a device at any time, you want to set up port forwarding.

4. Faster Downloads and Connections

Opening ports allow easy access to the internet. Even though the difference is just a few milliseconds, it can still add up.

Now that you know the different reasons, you can now start the port forwarding process.

How to Port Forward Without Router Access – Steps!

Ideally, you would want access to your router as it can make things a lot easier.

However, if you’re not at home and don’t have access to your router, you’ll still be able to open up ports by changing your computer settings.

How to port forward without access to router? Here are the steps that you need to do:

Step #1: Port Forwarding on Windows Network Connections

Even though you can’t access your router’s dashboard and configure your port forwarding rules, you can let your Windows computer do it.

This step does not require you to log in to your router. Instead, you’ll have to change your computer’s network options.

Here’s how to set up port forwarding using the Windows networking tool:

1. Go to Control Panel, then select View network computers and devices.
2. Under Network Infrastructure, you’ll be able to see your router.
3. Right-click on it, then click on Properties.
4. Select Settings, then Add to set up a service.
5. Enter your computer’s local IP address, then the ports you want to open.

Note: If you don’t know your computer’s local IP address, you can open Command Prompt and type ipconfig.

Step #2: Port Forwarding Using Windows Firewall Rules

Another way you can set up port forwarding on your Windows machine without accessing your router is via the Windows Defender Firewall app.

It essentially controls the traffic on who can access your computer and has a feature that allows you to open up ports.

Here’s how to port forward using Windows Defender Firewall:

1. Open Windows Defender Firewall on your computer.
2. Click on Advanced Settings.
3. On the right panel, select New Rule, then choose Port.
4. Select TCP or UDP, then type the port to forward in Specific local ports.
5. Choose Allow the connection, then click on Next.

After this, there are a few more options, but we recommend leaving them to their default values. Click on Next until you reach the Finish button.

Note: You can type in multiple ports separated by a comma or a range like 5000-6000.

Step #3: Port Forwarding on Mac

Port forwarding on a Mac is different from that of a Windows machine. But it’s pretty similar where you only need to change a few settings.

The good news is that they’re easy and intuitive enough that you’ll be able to follow them.

Here’s how to port forward on a Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences, then Security and Privacy.
2. Select Firewall, then Firewall Options.
3. Click on the Plus sign to add an application.
4. Check the box that says Allow incoming connections.
5. Click OK to confirm.

Note: Type in the port numbers and IP address in place of the brackets.

Step #4: Port Forwarding Using a UPnP Tool

These can seem a bit too technical, especially if you’re typing in commands on a terminal.

However, some options allow you to set up port forwarding by using external tools that can make your life a lot easier.

There are several port forwarding tools that we recommend. You can check out PFConfig and UPnP PortMapper as these are easy to use with a graphical interface.

Here’s how to use a port forwarding tool:

1. Download your tool of choice.
2. Open the tool and look for the option to Create a new rule.
3. From there, you can choose whether to use UDP or TCP.
4. Enter the external and internal ports you want to open.
5. Click on Save and test your new settings.

Tip: These tools run on UPnP, so you’ll need a router that runs the same protocol for compatibility.

Step #5: Port Forwarding Using a VPN

Not all VPNs allow you set up forwarding using their app. However, there are a few exceptions like Private Internet Access and PureVPN.

Their apps allow you to change the settings and even set up port forwarding.

The best part of all, you don’t need to go inside your router’s configuration page.

Here’s how to setup port forwarding with your VPN:

For Private Internet Access users:

1. Open the app, then select Settings.
2. Go to the Network tab and check the Request Port Forwarding box.
3. Connect to a server that allows port forwarding.

For PureVPN users:

1. Open the PureVPN app.
2. Select the Port Forwarding section.
3. Choose to Enable specific ports.
4. Type in the ports you want to open.
5. Click on Apply.

Note: The port forwarding rules also deactivate once you disconnect from the VPN servers.

That’s it! You can now set up port forwarding even if you don’t have access to the router.

If you’re still unable to enjoy the benefits of setting up port forwarding, you can contact the IT department or the person in charge of the router to help set you up.

Read Next: How to Stop DDoS Attacks on Netgear Router?

Bottom Line

Now that you know how to port forward without access to router, you can set it up so you can access devices, files, and servers that can improve your experience.

It can sound intimidating, but learning that you can do it right on your computer makes the process a lot easier.