Access NAS, media servers, or file shares remotely
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Connect to network attached storage (NAS)
Install the Tailscale client on supported network-attached storage (NAS) devices.
Accessing your home NAS, media library, or file share from outside your network normally means opening firewall ports or running a traditional VPN. Tailscale creates an encrypted, peer-to-peer connection between your devices so you can reach those services from anywhere, without exposing them to the internet.
Install the Tailscale client on your server
Install the Tailscale client on the device that hosts your files or media to connect it to your Tailscale network (known as a tailnet). If you don't already have a tailnet, one will be created automatically when you authenticate.
Install the Tailscale client on your devices
Download and install the Tailscale client on every device you'll be connecting from, then sign in with the same account.
Download and install the Tailscale client, then sign in. All apps on your device can reach tailnet services once connected.
Access your files and services
The device you're connecting from must have Tailscale installed and signed in to the same tailnet as your server. Use the server's Tailscale hostname if MagicDNS is enabled, or find its Tailscale IP address on the Machines page of the admin console.
For file access, use Files by Google or another SMB-capable file manager such as Solid Explorer or MiXplorer. Add a network connection using smb://hostname or smb://100.x.y.z.
For Jellyfin or Emby, add your server using http://hostname:8096 or http://100.x.y.z:8096. For Plex, add your server using http://hostname:32400 or http://100.x.y.z:32400.
Further exploration
- Enable MagicDNS to use friendly hostnames instead of IP addresses across your tailnet.
- Use Taildrive to access shared folders directly across your tailnet without configuring SMB.
- Try Taildrop to send files peer-to-peer between any tailnet devices.
- Use Tailscale Serve to expose a local service to other devices on your tailnet.
- Invite users to join your tailnet and access your shared files and media.
- Use the tailnet policy file to restrict which tailnet devices and users can reach your server.