TP-Link Archer C1200 Router Port Forwarding

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Port Forward Staff
January 06, 2017 (Last Updated: ) | Reading Time: 4 minutes

This guide will show you how to port forward on the TP-Link Archer C1200 router. If you are new to port forwarding please read this first.

If you have ever experienced lag while playing a game or using an application. If you keep getting dropped while playing online, you may benefit from port forwarding.

A port forward is literally forwarding a port through your router's firewall to a device you designate on your home network.

In this guide we will walk you through each of the following steps:

  1. How to setup a static IP address on the device you want these ports forwarded to.
  2. How to login to the TP-Link Archer C1200 router.
  3. How to find the port forwarding section of the router.
  4. What information to enter in your router to make a port forward.

We think that forwarding a port should be easy. That's why we created Network Utilities. Our software does everything that you need to forward a port.

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Step 1

It is important to setup a static ip address in the device that you are forwarding a port to. This ensures that your ports will remain open even after your device reboots.

This step is important because you want a permanent IP address in your device. If you do not set up a permanent IP address in your device, then when you device reboots it may get a new IP address.

Use a VPN Instead

Have you considered using a VPN instead of forwarding a port? For most users, a VPN is a much simpler and more secure choice than forwarding a port.

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We use and recommend NordVPN because not only is it the fastest VPN, it includes a new feature called Meshnet that makes forwarding a port no longer necessary for most applications. With NordVPN Meshnet, you can connect to your devices from anywhere in the world, completely secure, over a highly encrypted VPN tunnel.

Every time you click on one of our affiliate links, such as NordVPN, we get a little kickback for introducing you to the service. Think of us as your VPN wingman.

Step 2

In order to login to the TP-Link Archer C1200 router you need to open up it's web interface. To do this:

It doesn't matter which one, simply pick your favorite. Common options are: Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.

It looks like this:

Image of a browser address bar
Browser address bar

Above is an example of what a web browser address bar looks like. Find the address bar in your router and type in your router's IP address.

The default TP-Link Archer C1200 IP Address is: 192.168.0.1

If all went as it should have, you see a page asking for a username and password. It looks like this:

TP-Link Archer C1200 login
Screenshot of TP-Link Archer C1200 login.

This is the login page. Enter the router's username and password in the appropriate boxes. This username and password is not your WiFi username and password.

Having Trouble?

This is an extremely common place to get stuck when trying to login to the TP-Link Archer C1200 router. Here are a few things you can try:

  • First, it is a good idea to try other common TP-Link passwords. Sometimes if you have a slightly different firmware version you have a different username and/or password. Here is our list of Default TP-Link Router Passwords.
  • If you are still locked out of your router then it is because you changed the username and/or password in the past and have forgotten what you changed them to. Why not try to crack the password. We recommend using our Find Password App. It will help you find your password and username. This application will try thousands of different combinations for you. Learn more about how this works on our Router Password Cracker page.
  • Finally if you are still stuck it might be time to start thinking about resetting the TP-Link Archer C1200 router. A factory reset like this erases all settings you have changed in the past. We strongly recommend exhausting other troubleshooting methods before you continue. Learn how to reset the router on this How to Reset a Router page.

Step 3

Time to find the port forwarding section of the router. To help you find that section, you need to start on the Basic Network Map:

TP-Link Archer C1200 Basic Network Map
Screenshot of TP-Link Archer C1200 Basic Network Map.

First, click the tab at the top labeled Advanced.

TP-Link Archer C1200 Advanced Status
Screenshot of TP-Link Archer C1200 Advanced Status.

Now looking in the left sidebar, click the option of NAT Forwarding.

Under that choose the new option of Virtual Servers

TP-Link Archer C1200 Virtual Servers
Screenshot of TP-Link Archer C1200 Virtual Servers.

You should now see a page like the one seen above. Looking in the center section of the page click the green link labeled +Add

TP-Link Archer C1200 Virtual Servers Add
Screenshot of TP-Link Archer C1200 Virtual Servers Add.

Step 4

Here are the ports to forward for Xbox Live:

  • TCP Ports: 3074
  • UDP Ports: 3074

If you are looking for the ports for a different application you can find it by either:

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You need to name this entry in the Service Type box. The name does not make any difference in the forward; it's just there so that you can remember later why you setup this forward.

Enter the port to forward into the External Port and the Internal Port boxes.

You need to enter the IP address that you are forwarding ports to in the Internal IP box. It's possible for this to be either the IP address of your computer or any other IP address on your network that you want ports forwarded to.

In the Protocol box select the protocol that you want to forward these ports over.

Enable the Enable This Entry checkbox by putting a check in it.

Click the OK button when you are done.

Make sure to click the green OK button after each entry.

Test Your Ports

It is always a good idea to check your work. We recommend using our FREE Open Port Checker. This checker uses a local application to see if your ports are open. This guarantees a correct result. You can find our Open Port Checker in the free trial version of our Network Utilities.

Additional Information

If you are looking for more router specific guides check out setuprouter.com.

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