How to forward ports with PIA VPN (and fix it if it doesn't work) (2023)

Private Internet Access is one of the few VPN services thatinclude a port forwarding feature on all devices🇧🇷 Port forwarding is allowed on almost all of its 17,087 servers (excluding US servers), all secured with AES-256 encryption.

You can enable this feature and find the correct port number directly in the PIA app settings menu.

However, this feature is not without restrictions. For security reasons,PIA only allows one open port per server🇧🇷 To help maintain your anonymity, the port number is randomly selected and changes each time you connect to the service.

This meansunable to manually select a port number to forward🇧🇷 However, if you want to forward torrents, PIA still includes everything you need.

PIA also offers aport forwarding script set🇧🇷 For the tech savvy, they can be used to help automate your connection and port forwarding setup.

However, these scripts are not very accessible for those who are not experienced in coding and there are no tutorials available either. For this reason, this option is not particularly useful for most PIA users.

Which PIA servers support port forwarding?

Most PIA servers support forwarding. However, there is one big exception:none of their 20 US server locations allow port forwarding.

Servers that do not allow port forwarding are marked with a crossed back arrow and are also grayed out in the server selection menu when port forwarding is enabled.

Users in the United States can still use PIA's port forwarding feature, but only when connected to countries that allow port forwarding (for example, Canada or Mexico).

Configuring port forwarding with PIA is very simple, it can even beactivated or deactivated with a button🇧🇷 The process is also the same for most devices and operating systems.

The following instructions will work with Windows, Android, iOS and MacOS devices.

Here's a video showing how to set up port forwarding with PIA:

Here's how to set up port forwarding with PIA:

1. subscribe toprivate internet accessand download the VPN client.
2. Open the PIA client on your device.
3. Go to Settings > Network and enable "Require port forwarding".
   
4. From the server menu, select a server that supports port forwarding and connect to it. Servers that do not allow port forwarding are marked with a crossed back arrow.
5. Write down the open port number - it will be displayed in the VPN client under the VPN IP.
   
6. Use this port number to configure the application you want to forward, such as your torrent client.

Port forwarding can be intimidating and complicated. PIA's interface is easy to use, but things can still go wrong.

Here are some common issues with PIA port forwarding and how to fix them:

"PIA port forwarding is not available in this region"

Port forwarding is not possible on PIA's US servers. If you want to forward from the US, you'll need to connect to a country outside the US near your physical location, most likely Canada or Mexico.

“The front door is closed. Check your firewall settings."

When port forwarding is enabled, PIA opens a randomly assigned port. This port will be shown in the VPN client when connecting to a server.

You needuse this port number in the application you are forwarding🇧🇷 If you use any other port number you will see this error message.

Firewall blocks connection

Firewall programs can cause conflicts with VPN connections. If you have this problem, you shouldcreate an exemption rule for PIA application in your firewall🇧🇷 However, this only applies to your computer's firewall, as your VPN will bypass your router's firewall.

Unable to connect to VPN server

If you are unable to connect to the VPN server, port forwarding is unlikely to be the problem. Try connecting to a different PIA server first, and if that doesn't work, reinstall the PIA client and try again.

Script issues or port forwarding API not working

If you are using the PIA scripts for port forwarding, it is important to upgrade tolatest version of these scripts🇧🇷 Older versions of scripts are not compatible with current generation PIA servers.

PIA isideal for port forwardingabout OpenVPN or WireGuardVPN protocols, but it comes with some limitations. More importantly, it only allows one random open port per connection.

You also cannot manually select or maintain a specific port number in the service, which can cause some compatibility issues.

Simple and intuitive setup

OurPIA reviewI found it easy to use overall, and it'sremarkably simpleto configure port forwarding in PIA as well. Once enabled in the settings menu, port forwarding will automatically be enabled whenever you connect to a supported server.

It's also easy to use once turned on. You just need to copy the port number for the app you want to forward.

the servers areport forwarding enabled by default🇧🇷 The few that are not supported (mostly in the US) are clearly marked and grayed out when you ask for port forwarding.

Registration, anonymity and security policy

PIA allows port forwarding in its two available protocols,OpenVPNywire guard🇧🇷 These are industry-standard protocols with the highest levels of security, functionality, and reliability available. Its applications are alsoopen codeso anyone can inspect the source code for vulnerabilities.

He also keeps ano records policy, which ensures that neither your activity nor information such as IP addresses and connection timestamps will be stored on PIA's servers. Security is especially important when doing port forwarding.

PIA comes with aoff button, and we haven't seen any IP or DNS information leak either. These factors combine to makePIA an excellent option to download torrentsgenerally.

random port numbers

By randomizing port numbers, PIA helpsreducethe security and anonymity risks associated with port forwarding. This makes it significantly more difficult for bad actors to identify you or take advantage of the hole that port forwarding creates in your VPN firewall.

The downside to this approach is that it means the port forwarding settings on your device can break when you go offline. Each time you connect to the VPN you are given a different port number, which may not be the same as the last time you connected.

If your port number has changed, you will need to find the new PIA client number and enter it into the software you want to forward.

EXPERT TIP:If you are not using the PIA port forwarding feature, you should disable it in your VPN client settings to avoid potential security risks.

Port forwarding can affect your ability tosafe torrent🇧🇷 A risk associated with the feature may be loss of anonymity.

If you have the same port location every time you connect to the VPN it becomesindividually identifiable🇧🇷 PIA overcomes this problem by allowing you to access onlya random door, whatit changes every time you connect.

This has some drawbacks: you can't manually choose a port number or have more than one port forward active at a time. However, it helps to prevent your assigned port from being individually identifiable.

Of course, port forwarding always comes withsome security risks🇧🇷 By doing port forwarding with PIA (and any VPN) you are bypassing your VPN provider's firewall. This means that any active port forwarding exposes your computer to general Internet security risks. The risk is small but very real.

If a bad guy discovers your server's IP and opens the port, he can use it totake control of your computerosteal important personal datasuch as bank details. Therefore, it is very important that you never publish your port forwarding information and only use it with trusted applications.

EXPERT TIP:For port forwarding torrents, theThe safest torrent client is qBittorrent, which also comes with advanced port forwarding configuration options. We recommend only using apps you trust when forwarding ports.

There are some good VPNs that offer port forwarding on their services. Here they arethree alternativesfor PIAs that offer good port forwarding features:

1. AirVPN

AirVPN offers thethe wider reachof port forwarding and customization options for any VPN we reviewed. Compared with PIAnot very easy to use or configure, although.

The VPN allows up to10 simultaneous port forwards, which can be configured on any of your servers. AirVPN also allows users to set up adynamic port forwardingthrough your service.

Unlike PIA, AirVPN also allows users toselect which portwant to open (any port above 2048).

There are advantages and disadvantages to this approach. If you don't change your port regularly, you could undermine your anonymity or, even worse, expose yourself to security threats. AirVPN leaves that in your hands.

In general, AirVPN offers amore flexible port forwarding function than PIA, but also asks for more. Theirharder to useand comes withmore risks, especially if you are new to port forwarding.

2. Topo

Like PIA, Mullvad's port forwarding configuration isdirect and intuitive🇧🇷 In fact, it offersMore options🇧🇷 without sacrificing ease of use. According to our tests,Mullvad is also a good VPN for torrentinggenerally.

vpn dealsfive doors aheadon WireGuard and OpenVPN connections, either for IPv4 or IPv6. That's four more than Private Internet Access offers.

Port forwarding is only available for accounts that make one-time payments, not subscriptions. This is a measure that helps to avoid security problems when using the service, but it is also an inconvenience.

Mullvad's port forwarding offering is better than PIA's, but it lags behind in other areas.Mullvad is not recommended for Netflix streamingor other streaming services, and there is no Smart DNS service either.

3. Windscribe VPN

Besides PIA, Windscribe is the highest rated VPN that also allows port forwarding. However, to make use of it, users will have topay an additional cost for a static IP address.

Windscribe only offers port forwarding on static IP addresses. This means that free users and even most paid subscribers cannot access it. Users who pay more for onestatic VPN IP addressaccessiblea harbor ahead, and they can only use it on their static connection.

Since Windscribe's port forwarding settings can only be used on a static IP, it is alsoless secure than other VPNs that offer port forwarding🇧🇷 The combination of a fixed IP address and a fixed open port means that you can be individually identified when using the service.

On the other hand, Windscribe's static configuration isless likely to breakwhen disconnecting or reconnecting. If you change your open port number regularly, Windscribe can be a good choice for port forwarding.