Configure a subnet router

Last validated: Jan 5, 2026

This topic is a quick guide for configuring subnet routers in a tailnet. For more detailed information, see Subnet routers.

To use a tailnet device as a subnet router, select your platform and complete the steps.

Linux macOS Windows tvOS Android

1. Download and install the Tailscale client.

2. Open a terminal session on the device and enable IP forwarding.

If your Linux system has a /etc/sysctl.d directory, use:

echo 'net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf
echo 'net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf
sudo sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf

Otherwise, use:

echo 'net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
echo 'net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
sudo sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.conf

3. In the terminal session, advertise subnet routes for the device. Replace the subnets in the example below with the subnets for your network.

sudo tailscale set --advertise-routes=192.0.2.0/24,198.51.100.0/24

4. Go to the Machines page of the admin console and locate the device in the list. It should display the Subnets badge.

5. Select the menu, then select Edit route settings.

6. Check the IP range boxes that correspond to the subnet routes you want to advertise, then select Save.

For more information about subnet router configuration with Tailscale, review Subnet routers.

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