Port forwarded, but friends can't join

I have completely port forwarded my rust server. plugins work and I can join it (I assume these would work if I hadn't port forwarded it). I know that I have done the setup of the forwarding correctly, but whenever my friends type "connect myprivateIP:28015" it just tells them the attempt failed. I don't think that I have any firewalls that are blocking it, but I don't know how to check. I have an Unturned server that works perfectly fine so I don't think its a firewall problem. I use a netgear router. Any help is appreciated.

 

If you are using a windows OS, create exceptions in your windows firewall for the ports that you are using. Also, make sure that you have set the correct ports in the .bat file used to start your server.

 

You might need to check if you've choosen the right type, TCP and/or UDP...You should enable both types to be on the safe side.

 

i have it set to tcp/udp
[DOUBLEPOST=1480370603][/DOUBLEPOST]

I'm using windows 10, not sure what windows os is. the ports in the .bat file are definitely correct though.
[DOUBLEPOST=1480370624][/DOUBLEPOST]would I be better off using Hamachi? I once tried using that for a minecraft server, but I hated it.

 

OS stands for operating system. Windows comes with its own "firewall" in which you may need to configure to allow certain ports to be used

 

Alright, do I do this inside of the netgear genie? or somewhere else
[DOUBLEPOST=1480473768][/DOUBLEPOST]I just now opened ports for it on my firewall, still not working.

 

Assuming the forwarding is working fine.
And you are using your external public IP address to connect to?
Have you tried turning off the firewall?
What about antivirus? does it have a firewall as well?
just a few more questions.. may not fix anything, but a place to look.

 

I'm 99.99% sure port forwarding is working,
I am telling my friends to type "connect (my public ip):28015"
I havnt tried turning off the firewall, would that be the windows firewall in the control panel? and would that pose security risks?
I have avast antivirus, but I never use it, how could I cut off its firewalls?
[DOUBLEPOST=1480479292][/DOUBLEPOST]free version avast that is

 

Just for testing, I would turn the windows firewall and Avast protection/firewall off, then have your friends test it. Just to make sure.
If it works, then turn one of them back on. try it again. See which on may be the issue. but if nothing changes, just turn them back on again.