Smart home & IoT · Device + broadband provider
Does the Virgin Media router cause problems with a Xbox Series X|S?
The answer
A Virgin hub left in router mode behind another router is the most common cause of strict NAT we see.
What we see on this combination
A Virgin hub left in router mode behind another router is the most common cause of strict NAT we see.
Source: Verified WiFiXpert case data
What fixes it
Put the Virgin hub into modem mode so only one device is doing address translation.
Source: Verified WiFiXpert case data
How the Xbox Series X|S behaves on any network
Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 client where steadiness matters far more than raw speed.
- • Both bands. Use 5 GHz if you can reach it.
- • Low, but online play depends on how your router handles incoming connections (what gamers call NAT type).
Source: Manufacturer documentation
What your router needs to be doing
- • UPnP left on, or ports opened manually, for an open NAT
- • 5 GHz within reach of the console
If it still isn't right
- • Check the signal where the gadget actually lives, not where you're standing.
- • Move the router off the floor and out of any cupboard before buying anything.
- • Put the gadget and your phone on the same Wi-Fi name.
- • Restart the gadget before the router — it is quicker and it fixes more.
- • If a plug-in extender is involved, unplug it and retest.
With your exact router
If the free fixes don't do it
Only worth reading after you've tried everything above. Nobody pays to be listed and we don't rank kit by commission.
- Deco X50 (3 pack) — The most forgiving mesh for a normal brick house. One Wi-Fi name, and it takes a network cable if you can run one. (around £180–£220)
See prices - eero 6+ (3 pack) — Easiest set-up of the lot and very stable, but you manage it entirely through the phone app. (around £170–£230)
See prices
How we keep this honest
Checked September 2026. Evidence used on this page: Verified WiFiXpert case data, Manufacturer documentation.
- • We have seen this ourselves in cases people brought to us.
- • The maker says so in their own published documentation.
We re-check this page when: firmware update changes behaviour; new model or generation launches.