# Setting up GitHub to work with Tailscale

Last validated Feb 4, 2026

You can create a Tailscale network (known as a tailnet) using either a GitHub organization account or a GitHub personal account. For more information about GitHub accounts, refer to [Types of GitHub accounts][xt-gh-accounts].

## Create a GitHub personal tailnet

1. Go to the Tailscale [Sign up](https://login.tailscale.com/start) page and select **Sign up with GitHub**. You will be redirected to the GitHub **Authorize Tailscale** page.

2. Select **Authorize tailscale**. You will be redirected to the Tailscale **Select a tailnet** page.

3. Select the GitHub personal account that you want to use for your tailnet. You will be redirected to the Tailscale [admin console](https://login.tailscale.com/admin), where you can manage your tailnet.

After your tailnet is created, you can [invite any user][kb-invite-any-user] to join your GitHub personal tailnet, including other GitHub users. Invited users will not have access to the GitHub repository unless you deliberately share it.

## Create a GitHub organization tailnet

You must be the owner of the GitHub organization that you want to use for creating a tailnet.

1. Go to the Tailscale [Sign up](https://login.tailscale.com/start) page and select **Sign up with GitHub**. You will be redirected to the GitHub **Authorize Tailscale** page.

2. Select **Authorize tailscale**. You will be redirected to the Tailscale **Select a tailnet** page.

3. Select the GitHub organization that you want to use for your tailnet. You will be redirected to the Tailscale [admin console](https://login.tailscale.com/admin), where you can manage your tailnet.

After your tailnet is created, any user in your GitHub organization can join your tailnet. You can also [invite any user][kb-invite-any-user] outside of your GitHub organization. Invite links can only be sent to non-members of a GitHub organization and will not work for GitHub organization members. Invited users will not have access to the GitHub repository unless you deliberately share it.

## Join a GitHub personal tailnet

Any user wanting to join a GitHub personal tailnet must use the [invite][kb-invite-any-user] link provided by the tailnet administrator.

1. Go to the URL in the provided invite link.

2. Select **Sign up with GitHub**. You will be redirected to the GitHub **Authorize Tailscale** page.

3. Select **Authorize tailscale**. You will be redirected to the Tailscale **Select a tailnet** page.

4. Select the tailnet that you want to join. A confirmation message will display along with a link to download and [install][kb-install] the Tailscale client on your device.

## Join a GitHub organization tailnet

If you belong to the GitHub organization, you can automatically join the tailnet from the Tailscale [Sign up](https://login.tailscale.com/start) page. If you are not a member of the GitHub organization, a tailnet administrator must send you an [invite][kb-invite-any-user] link to join.

### GitHub organization members

1. Go to the Tailscale [Login](https://login.tailscale.com/login) page.

2. Select **Sign up with GitHub**. You will be redirected to the GitHub **Authorize Tailscale** page.

3. Select **Authorize tailscale**. You will be redirected to the Tailscale **Select a tailnet** page.

4. Select the tailnet that you own or a tailnet that you want to join. A confirmation message will display along with a link to download and [install][kb-install] the Tailscale client on your device.

### Non-GitHub organization members

1. Go to the URL in the provided invite link.

2. Select your preferred identity provider to use for authentication. Once you are authenticated, a confirmation message will display along with a link to download and [install][kb-install] the Tailscale client on your device.

## Migration to and from a GitHub tailnet

Currently, we cannot migrate your tailnet from/to GitHub as an identity provider.

## Multiple tailnets

Currently, we cannot enable or create [multiple tailnets][kb-multiple-tailnets] for GitHub organizations.

[kb-install]: /docs/how-to/quickstart

[kb-invite-any-user]: /docs/features/sharing/how-to/invite-any-user

[kb-multiple-tailnets]: /docs/features/multiple-tailnets

[xt-gh-accounts]: https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/learning-about-github/types-of-github-accounts