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Remote access permissions

Learn the functionality of the remote access permission and how to manage it in the Meshnet permission menu.

Introduction

This article covers Meshnet’s remote access permission, its functionality while enabled or disabled, and the impact it has on your Meshnet. The article also provides instructions on how to grant or deny the remote access permission for each of your Meshnet peer devices.

Permission overview

Once you enable Meshnet, the devices treat each other as members of a shared private network. The purpose of the remote access permission is to control whether a Meshnet peer can reach your device. The devices can communicate with each other via the Meshnet IP address or the Nord name. By default, remote access is enabled for all of your Meshnet devices, but you can modify this setting in the Meshnet permission menu.

What happens when remote access is enabled?

Your device accepts incoming connections from a Meshnet peer. The connections can be initiated from the same local network or from the outside.
Remote access enabled
Figure 1. Remote access enabled
As illustrated in the model above, data can be exchanged in both directions. This two-way communication between the devices enables a wide range of use cases, including but not limited to:

What happens when remote access is disabled?

Your device does not accept connections from a Meshnet peer. If a connection is attempted (for example, using the ping command), it will fail because the recipient will not receive it.
Remote access disabled
Figure 2. Remote access disabled
Having the remote access permission disabled will prevent the peer from accessing any shared folders or services on your device.

Changing permissions

If you want to change the status of the remote access permission, you can do so for each device individually. The Meshnet permission view also indicates whether your peer has enabled or disabled the permission for your device:
​
The section "Remote access permissions to the linked device" is highlighted
​

Manage remote access

To manage the remote access permission, proceed with the following instructions:
Windows
iOS and Android
macOS
Linux
  1. 1.
    Open the NordVPN app. Log in if necessary.
  2. 2.
    On the left-side menu, select the Meshnet
     tab.
  3. 3.
    Click the device that you want to alter the permissions for.
  4. 4.
    Under Remote access permissions, turn on or off the Remote access to your device toggle.
    Turning on Remote access to your device
  1. 1.
    Open the NordVPN app. Log in if necessary.
  2. 2.
    Tap Meshnet
     at the bottom of the screen.
  3. 3.
    Select Manage devices.
  4. 4.
    Tap the Permissions area under the device that you want to alter the permissions for.
    Selecting Permissions
  5. 5.
    Under Remote access permissions, turn on or off Remote access to your device.
    Turning on Remote access to your device
  1. 1.
    Open the NordVPN app. Log in if necessary.
  2. 2.
    On the left-side menu, select Meshnet
    .
  3. 3.
    Click the More
     button next to the device that you want to alter the permissions for.
  4. 4.
    Select the Don't allow remote access to your device or the Allow remote access to your device option.
    Turning off Remote access to your device
  1. 1.
    Open the terminal.
  2. 2.
    Run the following command to list your Meshnet peers:
    nordvpn meshnet peer list
    ​
  3. 3.
    Note the Nord name of the peer you want to alter permissions for.
    An example of entering a device's Nord name
    ​
  4. 4.
    To either allow or disable the permission, use one of the following commands, replacing <NordName> with the peer’s Nord name or Meshnet IP:
    nordvpn meshnet peer incoming allow <NordName>
    nordvpn meshnet peer incoming deny <NordName>
    ​
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Explaining Permissions
Next
File sharing permissions
Last modified 14d ago
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