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Connecting an Android client

This documentation has the goal of showing how a user can use the official Android Tailscale client with headscale.

Installation

Install the official Tailscale Android client from the Google Play Store or F-Droid.

Connect via normal, interactive login

  • Open the app and select the settings menu in the upper-right corner
  • Tap on Accounts
  • In the kebab menu icon (three dots) in the upper-right corner select Use an alternate server
  • Enter your server URL (e.g https://headscale.example.com) and follow the instructions
  • The client connects automatically as soon as the node registration is complete on headscale. Until then, nothing is visible in the server logs.

Connect using a preauthkey

  • Open the app and select the settings menu in the upper-right corner
  • Tap on Accounts
  • In the kebab menu icon (three dots) in the upper-right corner select Use an alternate server
  • Enter your server URL (e.g https://headscale.example.com). If login prompts open, close it and continue
  • Open the settings menu in the upper-right corner
  • Tap on Accounts
  • In the kebab menu icon (three dots) in the upper-right corner select Use an auth key
  • Enter your preauthkey generated from headscale
  • If needed, tap Log in on the main screen. You should now be connected to your headscale.