iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
If Black Ops 1 or Black Ops 2 cannot find a match, will not join a friend, or reports a strict or moderate NAT on a PS4 or PS5, start by proving whether the failure is your network or the game service. Sign in to PlayStation Network, check PlayStation Network and Activision status, test with wired Ethernet, and then follow Activision’s router sequence: UPnP first, manual port forwarding second, and a temporary DMZ test only as a last diagnostic. Do not assume that changing NAT can repair a publisher-side outage, exploit, or lobby problem.
The procedure below separates low-risk checks from settings that affect your whole home network. It also covers launch and installation failures, which require PlayStation recovery steps rather than router changes.
Identify the symptom before changing anything
“Connection problem” can describe several different failures. The correct fix depends on where the process stops:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →- No sign-in or online-service message: verify the PlayStation account session and service status before touching the router.
- Match search runs indefinitely: test the local connection, NAT behavior, and competing traffic, then consider a service-side or port-side problem if those checks pass.
- You can play alone but cannot join a friend: peer connectivity and NAT restrictions are more likely than a general internet outage.
- The game crashes, will not launch, or reports damaged data: use PlayStation recovery procedures; port forwarding cannot repair an installation fault.
- Several players report the same lobby or exploit behavior: treat it as a possible issue with the PS4/PS5 port or publisher service, not proof that your router is misconfigured.
Write down the exact on-screen error, whether it occurs in Black Ops 1, Black Ops 2, or both, and whether another online game works at the same time. Those details make the later support request more useful and prevent random setting changes.
#1 Best Overall
- Gigabit Ethernet Cable: UGREEN Cat6 Ethernet cable supports up to 1000Mbps data transfer (10x compared to Cat5e with 100Mbps) and 250MHz bandwidth (2.5x compared to Cat5e with 100MHz). It's a perfect choice for playing games, online video streaming, downloading, uploading, etc.
- Universal Compatibility: With the RJ45 Connector, UGREEN Cat6 Ethernet cable can compatible with computers, laptops, modems, routers, PS5, PS4, PS3, X-Box 360, X-Box One, Switch, networking switches, ADSL, network adapters, hubs, and other networking devices. And it can also be fully backward compatible with Cat5e, Cat5.
- Durable Braided Design: UGREEN Cat 6 ethernet cable wrapped with quality cotton braided cord, which makes the LAN cable stronger and more durable. The test proves that this internet cable can be bent at least 10000 times without broken, very suitable for long-term use.
- Anti-interference: UGREEN Cat 6 internet cables are designed with 4 shielded twisted pairs. This design can greatly reduce interference and crosstalk from adjacent pairs and other cables, making network speed faster and more stable.
- More Reliable with High Quality: UGREEN Ethernet Cable is made with pure copper wire and gold-plated copper, which can be very effective to reduce the loss during data transmission, keep the network cable high performance at all times.
Check PlayStation Network and Activision status first
Confirm the console account session
On the PS4 or PS5, confirm that the console is signed in to PlayStation Network with the account that owns or is permitted to use the game. A console can appear connected to Wi-Fi while the PlayStation account session has expired. Sign out and sign back in if the account indicator is not normal, then retry the game before changing network settings.
Check both service dashboards
Check PlayStation Network status and Activision service status before restarting the router or opening ports. Activision’s connection guidance, updated June 16, 2026, warns that server maintenance and connectivity alerts can prevent a game from connecting even when the player is successfully signed in. If either dashboard reports maintenance or an incident, router changes are unlikely to help; wait for the service notice to clear and test again.
A normal status page does not prove that every lobby is healthy. It only removes a known, broad service incident from the top of the list. Continue with the local tests below, and retain the time and wording of any error if the problem remains.
Establish a clean wired baseline
Connect the console directly to the router
For diagnosis, connect the PS4 or PS5 to the router with a Cat6 Ethernet cable rather than Wi-Fi. Activision strongly recommends wired Ethernet for online play because wireless reliability, interference, and available bandwidth vary. A cable is useful here because it removes one major source of packet loss and fluctuating latency; it is not a guarantee that matchmaking will succeed.
Rank #2
- Cat 6 performance at a Cat5e price but with higher bandwidth
- High Performance Cat6, 30 AWG, RJ45 Ethernet Patch Cable provides universal connectivity for LAN network components such as PCs,computer servers,printers,routers,switch boxes,network media players,NAS,VoIP phones
- Jadaol cat6 standard cable support Cat8 and Cat7 network and provides performance of up to 250 MHz 10Gbps and is suitable for 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX (Fast Ethernet), 1000BASE-T/1000BASE-TX (Gigabit Ethernet) and 10GBASE-T (10-Gigabit Ethernet)
- UTP(Unshielded Twisted Pair) patch cable with RJ45 gold-plated Connectors and are made of 100% bare copper wire, ensure minimal noise and interference
- The unique flat cable shape allows for a cleaner and safer installation. You can easily and seamlessly make the cable run along walls, follow edges & corners or even make it completely invisible by sliding it under a carpet.
- Turn off the console or put it in Rest Mode.
- Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the console’s LAN port and the other into a LAN port on the router. Do not use the router’s Internet/WAN port for the console.
- Start the console and open its network settings to confirm that the wired connection is selected.
- Run the console’s connection test, then launch Black Ops and attempt the same action that previously failed.
If the game works over Ethernet but not over Wi-Fi, the immediate fault is on the wireless path. Improve the Wi-Fi position, reduce interference, or keep the console wired for multiplayer. Do not proceed to DMZ simply because Wi-Fi is unreliable.
Pause other traffic while testing
Reboot the router, then pause downloads, system updates, video streaming, music streaming, cloud backups, and other bandwidth-heavy activity on the network. Ask other users to stop large transfers for the duration of the test. This creates a repeatable baseline and prevents a saturated upstream connection from looking like a NAT failure.
After the reboot, test one Black Ops session with only the console using the connection. If the result changes, add other traffic back one activity at a time. That identifies congestion without permanently changing router security settings.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Use Activision’s router troubleshooting order
Changing several router features at once makes the result impossible to interpret. Activision’s recommended sequence starts with the simplest reversible configuration and moves toward manual rules only if necessary.
Rank #3
- 40 Gbps 2000 Mhz High Speed: The Cat 8 ethernet cable support max. 40 Gbps data transfer and 2000 MHz Brandwith, ideal for gaming and streaming, greatly improving upload and download speed, sound, image and resolution quality
- Excellent Anti-interference: The ethernet cable comes with 4 shielded foiled twisted pairs (F/FTP), pure copper core and gold-plated RJ45 connector, reducing interference, noise and crosstalk, making network speed faster and more stable
- Marvelous Durability: Internet cable wrapped with quality cotton braided cord, which makes the LAN cable stronger and more durable. The test proves that this internet cable can be bent at least 10000 times without broken, very suitable for long-term use
- PoE Supported: All lengths of ethernet cord can support the PoE power supply function except 65ft. You don't need additional power supply when installing a PoE camera, which is very convenient and safe
- Wide Compatibility: With the RJ45 Connector, network cable can be perfectly compatible with computers, laptops, modems, routers, PS5, X-Box and other networking devices. It can also be fully backward compatible with Cat7, Cat6e, Cat6, Cat5e, Cat5
Step 1: Test UPnP with manual forwarding disabled
- Open the router’s administration interface from a device on your home network. The exact address and menu names differ by router.
- Find the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) setting and enable it.
- Remove or disable any manual port-forwarding rules for the console while running this first test. UPnP and manually duplicated rules can conflict.
- Save the router configuration and restart the router if it requests a reboot.
- Restart the PS4 or PS5, run the console connection test, and try the same multiplayer action again.
UPnP lets the console request the temporary mappings it needs without you entering individual rules. It is normally the lower-effort option and is easier to undo than a collection of manual entries. If the game connects reliably after this test, leave the configuration alone rather than adding forwarding rules “for extra openness.”
Step 2: If UPnP fails, use manual forwarding with a fixed console address
- Turn UPnP off in the router.
- Assign the PS4 or PS5 a static local IP address, or create a permanent DHCP reservation for the console’s hardware address. A reservation is preferable when the router offers it because the router continues managing the address while keeping it consistent.
- Enable the router’s port-forwarding feature and enter the exact ports required by the game and platform according to Activision’s current support instructions. Do not guess port numbers or copy rules intended for a different platform.
- Point every rule to the console’s fixed local IP address, not to a computer or another console.
- Save the configuration, restart the router and console, and repeat the connection test.
The important diagnostic change is that UPnP is now off and the console address is stable. If a rule is pointed at a changing address, it can appear to work one day and fail after the router leases a different address. If you have more than one console, each device needs an address and rules that the router can support without conflicting mappings.
Step 3: Treat DMZ as a temporary console-only diagnostic
Activision lists DMZ as a console-only diagnostic, not a permanent performance setting. If the UPnP and manual-forwarding tests fail, place only the PS4 or PS5 in the router’s DMZ long enough to run a controlled test. Do not place a computer, phone, or the entire home network in the DMZ.
- Record the console’s current fixed local IP address.
- Remove conflicting forwarding rules if the router requires that before enabling DMZ.
- Enter the console’s address in the router’s DMZ host field.
- Run one or two repeatable multiplayer tests.
- Disable DMZ immediately after testing and remove the console’s static IP assignment from the DMZ configuration.
A change in behavior while the console is in DMZ indicates that inbound filtering or mapping may be involved; it does not identify the exact missing rule. No change means the fault may be elsewhere, including the game service or the port itself. Leaving DMZ enabled exposes the console more broadly than normal routing, so it should not be the final configuration.
Rank #4
- High-Performance Connectivity: This Cat 6 ethernet cable is designed for superior performance, with a 24 AWG copper wire core. It provides universal connectivity as an ethernet cord for LAN network components such as PCs, servers, printers, routers, and more, ensuring reliable and fast network connections
- Advanced Cat6 Technology: Experience Cat6 performance with higher bandwidth at a Cat5e price. This network cable is future-proof, ready for 10-Gigabit Ethernet and backwards compatible with any existing Cat 5 cable network. It meets or exceeds Category 6 performance according to the TIA/EIA 568-C.2 standard
- Reliable Wired Network Solution: Known variously as a Cat6 network cable, ethernet cable Cat 6, or Cat 6 data/LAN cable, this RJ45 cable offers a more secure and reliable connection than wireless networks. It's ideal for internet connections that demand consistency and security
- Durable and Secure Design: The connectors of this ethernet cable feature gold-plated contacts and strain-relief boots for enhanced durability. Bare copper conductors not only improve cable performance but also comply with communication cable specifications
- High-Speed Data Transfer: With up to 550 MHz bandwidth, this ethernet cord is ideal for server applications, cloud computing, video surveillance, and streaming high-definition video. It also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE, PoE+, PoE++) for powering devices like IP cameras, VoIP phones, and wireless access points, ensuring fast and reliable network performance.
Understand what the NAT type tells you
Activision’s NAT FAQ, dated November 21, 2019, uses Sony’s Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 labels. They describe how freely the console can establish peer connections; they do not certify that a particular matchmaking service is operating.
| NAT type | Meaning in Activision’s guidance | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | The most open connection path and the best connection quality in the Sony classification. | Generally the fewest peer restrictions, but it is not a promise that every lobby or publisher service will work. |
| Type 2 | The console connects through a router with some restrictions. | Often usable for online play, although particular peers or party members may be unreachable. |
| Type 3 | The most restrictive of the three listed types. | More likely to prevent joining certain peers, hosting, or entering a friend’s party. |
Do not chase Type 1 as a universal target. The objective is a stable connection that lets the required peers communicate. A Type 2 result can be perfectly serviceable, while a Type 1-looking result cannot repair a publisher outage, an exploit, or a broken lobby on the game’s port.
Fix launch, installation, and data symptoms separately
If Black Ops fails before multiplayer starts, use PlayStation recovery steps instead of editing NAT rules. Sony Interactive Entertainment’s current support guidance, accessed October 19, 2026, recommends a progression that begins with the least disruptive action.
Recommended Free Tools
Restart and restore licenses
- Restart the PS4 or PS5 completely, then launch the game again.
- Use the console’s account settings to restore licenses for the account that owns the game. This can correct an entitlement check that prevents a title or add-on from starting.
The menu wording can differ between PS4 and PS5 software revisions, so use the console’s current account or users-and-accounts settings rather than relying on an old screenshot.
Best Value
- High-Performance Connectivity: This Cat 6 ethernet cable is designed for superior performance, with a 24 AWG copper wire core. It provides universal connectivity as an ethernet cord for LAN network components such as PCs, servers, printers, routers, and more, ensuring reliable and fast network connections
- Advanced Cat6 Technology: Experience Cat6 performance with higher bandwidth at a Cat5e price. This network cable is future-proof, ready for 10-Gigabit Ethernet and backwards compatible with any existing Cat 5 cable network. It meets or exceeds Category 6 performance according to the TIA/EIA 568-C.2 standard
- Reliable Wired Network Solution: Known variously as a Cat6 network cable, ethernet cable Cat 6, or Cat 6 data/LAN cable, this RJ45 cable offers a more secure and reliable connection than wireless networks. It's ideal for internet connections that demand consistency and security
- Durable and Secure Design: The connectors of this ethernet cable feature gold-plated contacts and strain-relief boots for enhanced durability. Bare copper conductors not only improve cable performance but also comply with communication cable specifications
- High-Speed Data Transfer: With up to 550 MHz bandwidth, this ethernet cord is ideal for server applications, cloud computing, video surveillance, and streaming high-definition video. It also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE, PoE+, PoE++) for powering devices like IP cameras, VoIP phones, and wireless access points, ensuring fast and reliable network performance.
Update system software and reinstall when necessary
- Install any available PS4 or PS5 system-software update.
- If the game still will not launch or reports damaged data, delete the game installation and reinstall it from the library or disc source.
- After installation, apply the game’s available updates before testing multiplayer.
Reinstallation removes local game data, so confirm that important saved data is synchronized or backed up before deleting an installation. This path addresses missing or corrupt files; it does not change the router’s NAT behavior.
Rebuild the database
Use the console’s Safe Mode database-rebuild option when Sony’s guidance indicates it is appropriate for launch, storage, or menu problems. Follow the on-screen Safe Mode instructions exactly and do not interrupt the process. Database rebuilding is a console-maintenance step, not a substitute for checking service status or testing the network.
Move a PS5 installation to internal storage
When a PS5 game on USB extended storage will not launch correctly, Sony recommends moving it to the console’s internal storage and testing again. This isolates an extended-storage access issue from a network issue. If the title launches from internal storage but not from USB, investigate the storage device or installation location rather than opening ports.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
When joining a friend fails but other online games work
Use a controlled comparison instead of assuming that a different game proves Black Ops is configured incorrectly.
- Have both players sign in to PlayStation Network and check service status.
- Ask both players to pause heavy traffic and, if possible, test over wired Ethernet.
- Record each player’s NAT type and whether either can join a third player or a public match.
- Apply the UPnP-first sequence on the console that cannot join, then retest.
- If needed, move only that console to the manual-forwarding test with a fixed local address.
If one player has Type 3 while the other has Type 1 or Type 2, the restrictive console is the first local-network candidate. If both players have stable wired connections and permissive enough NAT but cannot enter the same lobby, changing ports repeatedly is unlikely to help. Preserve the account names or non-sensitive identifiers, timestamps, error text, game version, console model, NAT result, and the steps already attempted for support.
Separate a home-network fault from a port-side problem
Current reporting describes exploit and lobby problems affecting the newer PS4/PS5 ports of these older games. Such a problem can coexist with a perfectly healthy home network. A normal PlayStation Network status page and a normal Activision status page also cannot guarantee that every individual lobby is functioning.
Use the following decision points:
- Failure disappears on Ethernet: focus on Wi-Fi interference, placement, or wireless congestion.
- Failure changes after pausing traffic or rebooting the router: investigate local saturation, router state, or address assignment.
- Failure changes after UPnP or a correctly targeted forwarding test: inspect NAT and inbound mapping, then keep the safer working configuration.
- Failure remains with wired Ethernet, no competing traffic, successful account sign-in, normal service dashboards, and completed recovery/router tests: stop making random changes. Treat the PS4/PS5 port or publisher service as a plausible source and contact Activision with the preserved evidence.
NAT changes can improve peer reachability; they cannot repair an exploit, a server-side matchmaking defect, or a lobby system that is unavailable to everyone.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchQuick Recap
Which fix should you try first?
| Fix | Diagnostic value | Risk and reversibility | Effort | What it can address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check account and service status | High for separating sign-in or broad service incidents from local faults. | Very low risk; no network settings change. | Low. | Account-session failures, maintenance, and known service alerts. |
| Wired Ethernet test | High for separating Wi-Fi instability from the rest of the path. | Very low risk; unplug the cable to revert. | Low. | Wireless interference, fluctuating signal, and some congestion symptoms. |
| Router restart and traffic pause | Moderate; isolates transient router state and saturation. | Low risk, although other household connections briefly drop. | Low. | Stale router state and bandwidth contention. |
| UPnP with manual rules off | High for testing automatic peer mapping. | Reversible; simpler than manual rules. | Low to moderate. | Some inbound peer-connection and NAT-mapping problems. |
| Static address plus manual forwarding | High when UPnP does not produce a usable result. | Reversible but easier to misconfigure; rules affect the router. | Moderate to high. | Specific inbound mappings when the router’s automatic method fails. |
| Temporary console-only DMZ | Moderate; shows whether broad inbound filtering is involved. | Highest risk of the listed tests; remove it immediately after testing. | Moderate. | Short diagnostic for filtering, not a permanent solution. |
| Restore licenses, reinstall, database rebuild, or internal-storage move | High for launch and installation symptoms, low for NAT symptoms. | Generally reversible, but reinstalling can remove local installation data. | Moderate to high. | Entitlement, corrupted files, storage, and console database faults. |
A concise troubleshooting checklist
- Record the exact error and whether the problem affects Black Ops 1, Black Ops 2, or both.
- Sign in to PlayStation Network and check PlayStation Network status.
- Check Activision service status for maintenance or connectivity alerts.
- Connect the console by wired Ethernet and pause downloads and streaming.
- Restart the router and console, then repeat the same multiplayer test.
- Enable UPnP and disable manual forwarding; test again.
- If that fails, disable UPnP, reserve a static console address, configure only the documented forwarding rules, and test.
- Use DMZ only as a brief, console-only diagnostic; remove the console from DMZ afterward.
- For launch or installation failures, restart, restore licenses, update system software, reinstall, rebuild the database when appropriate, and move a PS5 installation from USB extended storage to internal storage if Sony’s guidance fits the symptom.
- If wired tests and documented router and console steps fail while services appear normal, preserve the evidence and contact Activision instead of repeatedly changing settings.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
