Knowledgebase: Port Forwarding
Why aren't my ports open?
Posted by Max Biggavelli on 20 August 2011 06:37

For security reasons, ports are closed until they are actually in use (often referred to as "listened on"). Make sure that you activate the ports in your tool/software first - just always remember that ports need to be listened on to be open - and then check on again!

Port issues are solely client sided setup faults and can not be simply "fixed" from us. Potential Issues are always and without any exceptions a client-sided setup fault, therefore it is even more important to follow and understand the required steps in the described order.

Also, we have a tool that could help you during the testing/listening process.

(Important note: Only use either the listener tool, OR your software you want forwarded, at one time, never try to use both at the same time! The listener tool is for testing purposes only, close it once you are done.)

We also have a video showing how to port forward on our YouTube Channel here

Important: Follow
the steps in exactly this particular order...

1. First of all: Disable (or adjust, if you know what you are doing) all possible blocking softwares, or firewalls and most importantly here the famous -> *Windows Firewall* <- (one that's always missed) Anti MalwareBytes, Comodo Firewall, ZoneAlarm, Norton, AVG, Avast, Kaspersky basically put any type of potential blocking software.

2. Log into the Members Area and add your desired port(s).

3. Now connect to the VPN and verify your IP change to be successful

4. Start your desired Software (or for testing purposes our listener tool as previously mentioned) and activate/listen on your chosen port(s).

5. After you did all of that, go to and test your ports, if you followed the steps in 99.9% of cases you will see the desired Success message on

6. Additionally: If you're using a VM (Virtual Machine) in order to forward your ports it is important to understand that OpenVPN must be installed and run from inside the Virtual Machine environment, otherwise you won't be able to portforward. So again, when using a VM install and run OpenVPN inside the VM environment and follow all the steps above. In that given case, the listener tool - or any other software which is supposed to be listening to the port(s) - must also be run from inside the VM environment as well.


*7.* In hard cases and only if all the previous steps didnt bring the desired result already. Go to Windows "Control Panel" -> "Network and Sharing Center" -> "Change adapter settings" -> right click on your WIFI/Ethernet adapters -> in the adapters disable everything except "TCP/IPv4" and "TCP/IPv6". Only TCP/IPv4 + TCP/IPv6 is required, this approach is for hard & rare cases only. Every so often softwares like Norton, AVG, Comodo, AVAST, Hotspotshield like to nest themselves into the Adapters and interrupt the portforwarding functionality.

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