Help: XBox 360 no longer connects to XBL via Apple Airport Extreme

March 18, 2014 4:02 PM

I know there is a ton of links about this online, I checked many, many of them and I have exhausted everything I can think of. Most info is old or based on older Airport Utility software, or using a Windows machine with the Airport, etc. The crazy part is that until a few days ago, I was able to connect easily. In fact, the Airport connected to Xbox and XB Live right out of the box.

Now I keep getting either connection errors, or at very best, a connection to Xbox Live with the caveat that my NAT settings are set to Strict. Once I get this message I am no longer connected. I have tried several online "solutions" but like I said, I never found any that matched my configuration. It connects, but when I try to download my profile, it hangs up for over two minutes then comes back saying it cannot connect... and then I am completely disconnected. I've emptied the cache and even tried a couple different profiles.

According to what I've read, I need to set the NAT settings on the Airport Express to Open, or port forward various ports, or both. I have seen some places saying to port forward one port, and some say as many as five. I have tried all these things to no avail.

OSX 10.9.2
Airport Utility v 6.3.2

Does anyone know of a way to make this work, or am I out of luck? Again, it was working fine before -- even five days ago. My internet connection is good, and I even swapped out a different Airport Express (same model) to see if that fixed things. Exactly the same.

Ideally if someone has a step-by step method, using the latest software, please let me know. Thanks.

posted by jeff-o-matic to Computers & Internet (1 answer total)

delete all network settings on the xbox, 30 second pin-in-hole reset of the airport. Just completely nuke the settings on both and start from scratch. Re-set up your wireless network name, WPA key, etc. Don't import anything if given the option(i forget if airport utility lets you save a settings snapshot? jeeze i haven't played with it for more than 30 seconds in at least a year)

I swear out of every device i own the xbox was the most obstinate when it came to playing nice with wifi networks, at least out of things that aren't horribly outdated now.

Is running a cable not an option? because that was like, an instant solution to every single problem for me. Never had to mess with the damn thing again.

Because yea, that would be my two step recommendation. Go to goodwill and buy an ethernet cable for $0.99 if you don't have one laying around, plug it into the airport and xbox.
posted by emptythought at 5:21 PM on March 18, 2014