{"slug":"use-exit-nodes","title":"Use exit nodes","tags":["tailscale","exit-nodes","setup"],"agent_summary":"Last validated: Sep 19, 2025","trigger_phrases":[],"runnable":false,"markdown":"\r\n# Use exit nodes\r\n\r\nLast validated: Sep 19, 2025\r\n\r\nThis topic is a quick guide for configuring exit nodes in a tailnet. For more detailed information, see [Exit nodes](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes).\r\n\r\nExit Nodes \\| Tailscale Explained - YouTube\r\n\r\nTap to unmute\r\n\r\n[Exit Nodes \\| Tailscale Explained](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad7D2pkFNdA) [Tailscale](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcdv38QxPjSMqbt5ffLhJLA)\r\n\r\n![thumbnail-image](https://yt3.ggpht.com/K3B5Hdi7j4zy2y53nlQCQb9J0qHNuSXhD2hWysrwaiDvv19tPr5RY04QuQfFOvb9rDq9cugGjZU=s68-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)\r\n\r\nTailscale68.5K subscribers\r\n\r\n## [Advertise a device as an exit node](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup\\#advertise-a-device-as-an-exit-node)\r\n\r\nTo use a tailnet device as an exit node, select an OS and complete the steps.\r\n\r\n[Linux](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=linux) [macOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=macos) [Windows](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=windows) [tvOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=tvos) [Android](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=android)\r\n\r\n1. [Download and install](https://tailscale.com/docs/install/linux) the Tailscale client.\r\n\r\n2. Open a terminal session on the device and enable IP forwarding.\r\n\r\nIf your Linux system has a `/etc/sysctl.d` directory, use:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n```shell\r\necho 'net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf\r\necho 'net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf\r\nsudo sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf\r\n```\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOtherwise, use:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n```shell\r\necho 'net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf\r\necho 'net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf\r\nsudo sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.conf\r\n```\r\n\r\n3. In the terminal session, advertise the device as an exit node.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n```shell\r\nsudo tailscale set --advertise-exit-node\r\n```\r\n\r\n4. Go to the [Machines](https://login.tailscale.com/admin/machines) page of the admin console.\r\n\r\n5. Locate the device in the list. It should display the **Exit Node** badge.\r\n\r\n6. Select the ![ellipsis icon](https://tailscale.com/files/images/icons/fa-ellipsis-h.svg) menu, then select **Edit route settings**.\r\n\r\n7. Check the **Use as exit node** box, then select **Save**.\r\n\r\n\r\n## [Use an exit node](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup\\#use-an-exit-node)\r\n\r\nEach device must enable the exit node separately. The instructions for enabling an exit node vary depending on the device's operating system.\r\n\r\n[Android](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=android) [iOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=ios) [Linux](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=linux) [macOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=macos) [tvOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=tvos) [Windows](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=windows)\r\n\r\n1. Open the Tailscale app on the Android device and go to the **Exit Node** section.\r\n2. Select the exit node that you want to use. If you want to allow direct access to your local network when routing traffic through an exit node, toggle **Allow LAN access** on.\r\n3. On the app home screen, confirm that the selected device displays in the **Exit Node** section. When an exit node is being used for the device, the section will turn blue.\r\n\r\nTo stop a device from using an exit node, go to the **Exit Node** section and select **None**.\r\n\r\nYou can turn off routing through an exit node by selecting **None** from the **Exit Node** drop-down.\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":"<h1>Use exit nodes</h1>\n<p>Last validated: Sep 19, 2025</p>\n<p>This topic is a quick guide for configuring exit nodes in a tailnet. For more detailed information, see <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes\">Exit nodes</a>.</p>\n<p>Exit Nodes | Tailscale Explained - YouTube</p>\n<p>Tap to unmute</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad7D2pkFNdA\">Exit Nodes | Tailscale Explained</a> <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcdv38QxPjSMqbt5ffLhJLA\">Tailscale</a></p>\n<p><img src=\"https://yt3.ggpht.com/K3B5Hdi7j4zy2y53nlQCQb9J0qHNuSXhD2hWysrwaiDvv19tPr5RY04QuQfFOvb9rDq9cugGjZU=s68-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj\" alt=\"thumbnail-image\"></p>\n<p>Tailscale68.5K subscribers</p>\n<h2><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup#advertise-a-device-as-an-exit-node\">Advertise a device as an exit node</a></h2>\n<p>To use a tailnet device as an exit node, select an OS and complete the steps.</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=linux\">Linux</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=macos\">macOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=windows\">Windows</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=tvos\">tvOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=android\">Android</a></p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/install/linux\">Download and install</a> the Tailscale client.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p>Open a terminal session on the device and enable IP forwarding.</p>\n</li>\n</ol>\n<p>If your Linux system has a <code>/etc/sysctl.d</code> directory, use:</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">echo 'net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf\r\necho 'net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf\r\nsudo sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf\n</code></pre>\n<p>Otherwise, use:</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">echo 'net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf\r\necho 'net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf\r\nsudo sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.conf\n</code></pre>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>In the terminal session, advertise the device as an exit node.</li>\n</ol>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">sudo tailscale set --advertise-exit-node\n</code></pre>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li>\n<p>Go to the <a href=\"https://login.tailscale.com/admin/machines\">Machines</a> page of the admin console.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p>Locate the device in the list. It should display the <strong>Exit Node</strong> badge.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p>Select the <img src=\"https://tailscale.com/files/images/icons/fa-ellipsis-h.svg\" alt=\"ellipsis icon\"> menu, then select <strong>Edit route settings</strong>.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p>Check the <strong>Use as exit node</strong> box, then select <strong>Save</strong>.</p>\n</li>\n</ol>\n<h2><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup#use-an-exit-node\">Use an exit node</a></h2>\n<p>Each device must enable the exit node separately. The instructions for enabling an exit node vary depending on the device's operating system.</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=android\">Android</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=ios\">iOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=linux\">Linux</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=macos\">macOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=tvos\">tvOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/exit-nodes/how-to/setup?tab=windows\">Windows</a></p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the Tailscale app on the Android device and go to the <strong>Exit Node</strong> section.</li>\n<li>Select the exit node that you want to use. If you want to allow direct access to your local network when routing traffic through an exit node, toggle <strong>Allow LAN access</strong> on.</li>\n<li>On the app home screen, confirm that the selected device displays in the <strong>Exit Node</strong> section. When an exit node is being used for the device, the section will turn blue.</li>\n</ol>\n<p>To stop a device from using an exit node, go to the <strong>Exit Node</strong> section and select <strong>None</strong>.</p>\n<p>You can turn off routing through an exit node by selecting <strong>None</strong> from the <strong>Exit Node</strong> drop-down.</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://cdn.brandfetch.io/tailscale.com/fallback/lettermark/theme/dark/h/256/w/256/icon?c=1bfwsmEH20zzEfSNTed\" alt=\"Project Logo\"></p>\n<p>Ask AI</p>\n<p>reCAPTCHA</p>\n<p>Recaptcha requires verification.</p>\n<p>protected by <strong>reCAPTCHA</strong></p>\n"}