Automatically fixes ZeroTier network settings for seamless LAN gaming with zero coding knowledge!
When using ZeroTier for LAN gaming, some users experience issues where players cannot see each other in-game. This happens because Windows resets network settings(!) upon reconnecting, affecting:
✅ Network adapter metrics
✅ Firewall profile (public/private)
✅ Broadcast traffic for game discovery
This tool ensures that ZeroTier works flawlessly for LAN gaming, even after reconnections.
Many games rely on LAN discovery via broadcast packets. Windows often resets key network settings(!) when reconnecting to ZeroTier, which prevents proper LAN discovery.
This fix:
- Ensures LAN broadcast works, so game lobbies are always visible.
- Forces ZeroTier as the top-priority network adapter.
- Automatically corrects Windows firewall settings to allow LAN traffic.
- Prioritizes IPv4 over IPv6 (by default windows prioritizes ipv6). this prioritization ensures that LAN games (which often don’t support IPv6) will use IPv4 whenever possible.
✔ Auto-fix for ZeroTier adapter settings
✔ Runs automatically in the background
✔ No need to manually adjust settings
✔ Works on Windows 10 & 11
- Download the latest ZIP from the Releases page.
- Extract the ZIP file (
Zerotier_Gaming_Fix_vX.X_Win11.zip).
- Open the extracted folder
Zerotier_Gaming_Fix_vX.X_Win11. - Right-click
install_zerotier_gaming_fix.bat→ Run as Administrator. - The fix will:
- Copy necessary files to
C:\zerotier_fix - Install an automated scheduled task, triggered by a zerotier network (re-)connect
- Apply the correct network settings for those interfaces
- Set IPv6 prefix policies to prioritize IPv4 over IPv6 as a workaround, since IPv6 cannot be disabled via shell commands for ZeroTier adapters.
- activate the legacycomponent of windows "Directplay", since it's needed for some older games
- Copy necessary files to
- Click on your network
- Scroll down to advanced settings
- Managed Routes -> Add Routes
- add Destination "255.255.255.255/32" via "0.0.0.0" (Enables Broadcast Traffic)
- add Destination "224.0.0.0/4" via "0.0.0.0" (Enables Multicast Traffic)
- done.
If you want to remove the fix:
- Right-click
uninstall_zerotier_gaming_fix.bat→ Run as Administrator. - This will:
- Remove the scheduled task
- restore ipv6 prefix policies
- Delete
C:\zerotier_fix - deactivate direct play feature from windows components
Runs automatically whenever ZeroTier reconnects - for existing and all future zerotier networks.
| Category | Fix | Installation |
|---|---|---|
| Multicast & Broadcast | Enable LAN discovery for older games | Ensure routes for 255.255.255.255/32 and 224.0.0.0/4 exist |
| DirectPlay Fix | Required for older games | Enables Feature via dism command |
| Network Metric Priority | Ensure ZeroTier has priority for game traffic | Set Metric = 1 for ZeroTier adapters |
| IPv6 Issues | Prioritize ipv4 Traffic if causing issues | ::ffff:0:0/96 at top of the prefix table |
| Windows Network Profile | Set ZeroTier as Private network | Prevents Windows from blocking LAN traffic |
- You can always check your whole adapter settings with the script
Check_Network_interfaces.batin resources folder. (Run as administrator) with this, you can check if metrics, firewall and ipv6 prefix policies are correctly set to your zerotier interfaces. Expected outputs are written down, for every block.
- Run the installer as Administrator to apply settings correctly.
- Check if ping to the devices is working
ping <zerotier-client-ip>-> find out your ip with cmd.exe -> "ipconfig" enter - is a
DIRECTconnection to each peer working? Check withCheck_Network_interfaces.batin resources folder. (Run as administrator) - If your firewall is blocking LAN traffic, manually check the Windows Defender settings.
- If LAN discovery still doesn’t work, verify that Multicast & Broadcast are enabled in ZeroTier Central.
- If Discovery still doesnt work, you can have a look at Winipbroadcast-1.6
- If Discovery still doesnt work, you can install Npcap. Npcap enables raw packet capturing, allowing these games to detect LAN sessions over ZeroTier, Hamachi, or OpenVPN.
- Consider running a own Zerotier controller with ZTNET since you can adjust MTU Sizes (1400 eg.) for gaming optimization and unlimited Devices.
When playing with friends on Linux or macOS, there are additional steps required to ensure LAN discovery works properly over ZeroTier.
By default, broadcast traffic is not automatically routed over the ZeroTier adapter on macOS and Linux. To fix this, you need to manually add a broadcast route.
Like so
sudo route add -host 255.255.255.255 dev my_zerotier_interface
Replace my_zerotier_interface with the actual name of your ZeroTier adapter.
For this find your interface with on Linux:
ip addron mac (with Terminal)
ifconfigthen enter the command with the device ID printed in the output above
sudo route add -host 255.255.255.255 dev ztkseq3i6hZerotier is an advanced networking solution that provides several advantages over traditional VPNs for gaming:
- Layer 2 Networking: Unlike many VPN solutions that operate on Layer 3, Zerotier functions on OSI Layer 2, allowing full broadcast and multicast support. This ensures that players can discover each other more easily in multiplayer games.
- Low Latency: Zerotier is optimized for peer-to-peer communication, reducing latency compared to conventional VPN solutions.
- Seamless NAT Traversal: Many games struggle with NAT issues, but Zerotier efficiently handles NAT traversal, making connections more reliable.
- Cross-Platform Support: Works on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS, allowing seamless gaming across different devices.
Yes, the fix can still help improve connectivity and multiplayer visibility even if you're not using Zerotier. The main focus is on the network adapter configuration. By ensuring that the adapters are set up correctly and that the necessary network bridges are enabled, players can sometimes resolve connection issues without the need for Zerotier. However, without Zerotier, you may not benefit from the advanced Layer 2 networking capabilities and ease of multiplayer discovery that Zerotier provides. Check your LAN settings with the script provided in resources folder Check_Network_interfaces.bat (run as administrator)
Pull requests are welcome! If you have improvements, feel free to fork the repo and submit a PR.
This software is provided "as is" without any warranties or guarantees. By using this script, you agree that the author(s) are not responsible for any potential damages, data loss, or system instability that may result from its use.
- Modifying network settings, firewall rules, and system components may cause unintended side effects.
- Enabling or disabling legacy components (e.g., DirectPlay) may affect system performance or compatibility.
- Always create a backup of your system before applying any modifications.
The author(s) assume no liability for:
- System crashes, malfunctions, or misconfigurations.
- Loss of network connectivity or application failures.
- Any other unintended behavior resulting from the use of this script.
If you are unsure about using this tool, consult official documentation or seek professional support.
By running this script, you acknowledge and accept full responsibility for any changes made to your system.