Exit nodes (route all traffic)

The exit node feature lets you route all non-Tailscale internet traffic through a specific device on your Tailscale network (known as a tailnet). The device routing your traffic is called an exit node.

By default, Tailscale acts as an overlay network: it only routes traffic between devices running Tailscale, but doesn't touch your public internet traffic, such as when you visit Google or Twitter. The overlay network configuration is ideal for most people who need secure communication between sensitive devices (such as company servers or home computers), but don't need extra layers of encryption or latency for their public internet connection.

However, there might be times when you want Tailscale to route your public internet traffic. For example, you might want to route all your public internet traffic if:

• You're in a cafe with untrusted Wi-Fi.
• You're traveling overseas and need access to an online service (such as banking) only available in your home country.

You can route all your public internet traffic by setting a device on your network as an exit node. When you route all traffic through an exit node, you're effectively using default routes (0.0.0.0/0, ::/0), similar to how you would if you were using a typical VPN.

Configure an exit node

For security purposes, you must opt-in to exit node functionality. For example:

• Every device must explicitly opt-in to using an exit node.
• A device must advertise that it's willing to be an exit node.
• An Owner, Admin, or Network admin must allow a device to be an exit node for the network.

Prerequisites

Before you can configure an exit node, you must:

• Set up a Tailscale network, called a tailnet.
• Ensure both the exit node and devices using the exit node run Tailscale v1.20 or later.
• Ensure the exit node is a Linux, macOS, Windows, or Android device.
• Ensure you allow (intended) users to use the exit node.

// All users can use exit nodes
// If you are using the default ACL, this rule is not needed because the
// default ACL allows all users access to the internet through an exit node
{ "action": "accept", "src": ["autogroup:member"], "dst": ["autogroup:internet:*"] },

Install the Tailscale client

Advertise a device as an exit node

Allow the exit node from the admin console

You must be an Admin to allow a device to be an exit node.

Open the Machines page of the admin console and locate the exit node device. You can identify the Exit Node badge in the machines list or use the property:exit-node filter to list all devices advertised as exit nodes.

From the menu of the exit node, open the Edit route settings panel, and enable Use as exit node.

Use the exit node

Each device must enable the exit node separately. The instructions for enabling an exit node vary depending on the device's operating system.

You can verify that your traffic is routed by another device by checking your public IP address using online tools. You should see the exit node's public IP rather than your local device's IP.

You can turn off routing through the exit node by selecting None from the exit node list.

Caveats