Q&A for How to Open Ports

Yes, opening the wrong port may compromise your computer's security and render it vulnerable to viruses and other malicious activity, like hacking.

By using ipconfig command at the command prompt or using Windows log key and type run and then cmd.

Go to command prompt and enable telnet services, syntax, telnet (ipadress) (port number).

If you have configured your router for "remote configuration" (or similar term, depending on router manufacturer), you can log in to your router from elsewhere on the Internet using your WAN IP address (or domain name, if you have procured and configured DNS for it). Once you are logged in, it is just as if you have logged in from your LAN and you can set up port forwarding.

It depends what version the server is (bedrock or java), if it is java then follow the instructions in this wikiHow, except do them for port 25565 (default Minecraft java server port). If it is a bedrock server, do port 19132, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) may block the port you open though. To check this, start your server, then go to "portchecktool.com" on the device you are hosting the server on, and type in the port you opened, your public ip is automatically filled in when you visit. on a command line only linux device, use the command "dig +short myip.opendns.com @resolver1.opendns.com" to find your public ip, then type "telnet (your public IP here) (your server port here)".

Yes, if you want the port to be available to the internet. After you forward the port, check if it is working by going to portchecktool.com and typing in the port you opened, while the service you want to forward is running. green message means it successfully worked, red message can mean a few things. Connection refused means that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) may be blocking that port, connection timed out means you didn't open/type it the right port, or possibly a firewall issue.