{"slug":"tailscale-on-heroku","title":"Tailscale on Heroku","tags":["tailscale","setup"],"agent_summary":"Last validated: Dec 4, 2025","trigger_phrases":[],"runnable":false,"markdown":"\r\n# Tailscale on Heroku\r\n\r\nLast validated: Dec 4, 2025\r\n\r\nHeroku is a popular cloud-hosting platform for running applications without managing servers yourself. However, it can be difficult to use Tailscale on Heroku, since it doesn't provide a /dev/net/tun device that Tailscale needs.\r\n\r\nYou can use Tailscale's [userspace networking mode](https://tailscale.com/docs/concepts/userspace-networking) to connect your apps to your Tailscale network.\r\n\r\n## [Step 1: Generate an auth key to authenticate your Heroku apps](https://tailscale.com/docs/install/cloud/heroku\\#step-1-generate-an-auth-key-to-authenticate-your-heroku-apps)\r\n\r\nFirst, we'll generate an [auth key](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/access-control/auth-keys) to allow Heroku to authenticate our app to join our network.\r\n\r\nGo to [Keys](https://login.tailscale.com/admin/settings/keys) of the admin console and create an auth key. We recommend using an [ephemeral key](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/ephemeral-nodes) for this purpose, since it will automatically clean up devices after they shut down.\r\n\r\n![Tailscale's auth key generation page](https://tailscale.com/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fephemeral-keys.de85b7fd.png&w=750&q=75)\r\n\r\nThe **Pre-approved** option will only display in the dialog if [device approval](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/access-control/device-management/device-approval) is enabled in your Tailscale network.\r\n\r\nNext, go to your [Heroku app's settings](https://dashboard.heroku.com/apps) and then the configuration variables section. From here, add a new configuration variable named `TAILSCALE_AUTHKEY`, with the `tskey-` value you just created.\r\n\r\n![Heroku's config var interface](https://tailscale.com/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fheroku-config-vars.752b9615.png&w=3840&q=75)\r\n\r\n## [Step 2: Configure your Dockerfile to install Tailscale](https://tailscale.com/docs/install/cloud/heroku\\#step-2-configure-your-dockerfile-to-install-tailscale)\r\n\r\nWe recommend using a [multistage Dockerfile](https://docs.docker.com/develop/develop-images/multistage-build/#use-multi-stage-builds) where the first stage builds your application, and the second stage pulls application code and Tailscale into the final image to be uploaded to Heroku.\r\n\r\nCreate a `Dockerfile` at the root of your app. In that `Dockerfile` add something like:\r\n\r\n```docker\r\nFROM golang:1.16.2-alpine3.13 as builder\r\nWORKDIR /app\r\nCOPY . ./\r\n# This is where one could build the application code as well.\r\n\r\n# https://docs.docker.com/develop/develop-images/multistage-build/#use-multi-stage-builds\r\nFROM alpine:latest\r\nRUN apk update && apk add ca-certificates && rm -rf /var/cache/apk/*\r\n\r\n# Copy binary to production image.\r\nCOPY --from=builder /app/start.sh /app/start.sh\r\n\r\n# Copy Tailscale binaries from the tailscale image on Docker Hub.\r\nCOPY --from=docker.io/tailscale/tailscale:stable /usr/local/bin/tailscaled /app/tailscaled\r\nCOPY --from=docker.io/tailscale/tailscale:stable /usr/local/bin/tailscale /app/tailscale\r\nRUN mkdir -p /var/run/tailscale /var/cache/tailscale /var/lib/tailscale\r\n\r\n# Run on container startup.\r\nCMD [\"/app/start.sh\"]\r\n```\r\n\r\nThe Dockerfile specifies `/app/start.sh` as the initial process to run. This script needs to bring Tailscale up and then start the application binary. This is where we can use the `TAILSCALE_AUTHKEY` variable we defined earlier.\r\n\r\nThen, create a file named `start.sh` at the root of your app:\r\n\r\n```shell\r\n#!/bin/sh\r\n\r\n/app/tailscaled --tun=userspace-networking --socks5-server=localhost:1055 &\r\n/app/tailscale up --auth-key=${TAILSCALE_AUTHKEY} --hostname=heroku-app\r\necho Tailscale started\r\nALL_PROXY=socks5://localhost:1055/ /app/my-app\r\n```\r\n\r\nThe next time your Heroku app deploys, it will be able to connect to your private Tailscale network.\r\n\r\n## [Remove ephemeral nodes from a tailnet](https://tailscale.com/docs/install/cloud/heroku\\#remove-ephemeral-nodes-from-a-tailnet)\r\n\r\nWhen an ephemeral node goes offline, it is automatically removed from your tailnet. You can also control ephemeral node removal using the [`tailscale logout`](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#logout) command to either manually force the removal or incorporate the command into the [`tailscaled`](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscaled) Tailscale daemon. For more information, refer to [Ephemeral nodes](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/ephemeral-nodes#faq).\r\n\r\n![Project Logo](https://cdn.brandfetch.io/tailscale.com/fallback/lettermark/theme/dark/h/256/w/256/icon?c=1bfwsmEH20zzEfSNTed)\r\n\r\nAsk AI\r\n\r\nreCAPTCHA\r\n\r\nRecaptcha requires verification.\r\n\r\nprotected by **reCAPTCHA**\r\n","html":"

Tailscale on Heroku

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Last validated: Dec 4, 2025

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Heroku is a popular cloud-hosting platform for running applications without managing servers yourself. However, it can be difficult to use Tailscale on Heroku, since it doesn't provide a /dev/net/tun device that Tailscale needs.

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You can use Tailscale's userspace networking mode to connect your apps to your Tailscale network.

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Step 1: Generate an auth key to authenticate your Heroku apps

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First, we'll generate an auth key to allow Heroku to authenticate our app to join our network.

\n

Go to Keys of the admin console and create an auth key. We recommend using an ephemeral key for this purpose, since it will automatically clean up devices after they shut down.

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\"Tailscale's

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The Pre-approved option will only display in the dialog if device approval is enabled in your Tailscale network.

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Next, go to your Heroku app's settings and then the configuration variables section. From here, add a new configuration variable named TAILSCALE_AUTHKEY, with the tskey-<key> value you just created.

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\"Heroku's

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Step 2: Configure your Dockerfile to install Tailscale

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We recommend using a multistage Dockerfile where the first stage builds your application, and the second stage pulls application code and Tailscale into the final image to be uploaded to Heroku.

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Create a Dockerfile at the root of your app. In that Dockerfile add something like:

\n
FROM golang:1.16.2-alpine3.13 as builder\r\nWORKDIR /app\r\nCOPY . ./\r\n# This is where one could build the application code as well.\r\n\r\n# https://docs.docker.com/develop/develop-images/multistage-build/#use-multi-stage-builds\r\nFROM alpine:latest\r\nRUN apk update && apk add ca-certificates && rm -rf /var/cache/apk/*\r\n\r\n# Copy binary to production image.\r\nCOPY --from=builder /app/start.sh /app/start.sh\r\n\r\n# Copy Tailscale binaries from the tailscale image on Docker Hub.\r\nCOPY --from=docker.io/tailscale/tailscale:stable /usr/local/bin/tailscaled /app/tailscaled\r\nCOPY --from=docker.io/tailscale/tailscale:stable /usr/local/bin/tailscale /app/tailscale\r\nRUN mkdir -p /var/run/tailscale /var/cache/tailscale /var/lib/tailscale\r\n\r\n# Run on container startup.\r\nCMD [\"/app/start.sh\"]\n
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The Dockerfile specifies /app/start.sh as the initial process to run. This script needs to bring Tailscale up and then start the application binary. This is where we can use the TAILSCALE_AUTHKEY variable we defined earlier.

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Then, create a file named start.sh at the root of your app:

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#!/bin/sh\r\n\r\n/app/tailscaled --tun=userspace-networking --socks5-server=localhost:1055 &\r\n/app/tailscale up --auth-key=${TAILSCALE_AUTHKEY} --hostname=heroku-app\r\necho Tailscale started\r\nALL_PROXY=socks5://localhost:1055/ /app/my-app\n
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The next time your Heroku app deploys, it will be able to connect to your private Tailscale network.

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Remove ephemeral nodes from a tailnet

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When an ephemeral node goes offline, it is automatically removed from your tailnet. You can also control ephemeral node removal using the tailscale logout command to either manually force the removal or incorporate the command into the tailscaled Tailscale daemon. For more information, refer to Ephemeral nodes.

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