Traffic routing permissions

Learn the functionality of the traffic routing permission and how to manage it in the Meshnet permission menu.

Introduction

This article covers Meshnet’s traffic routing permission, how the feature works, and its limitations. Additionally, the article describes how to configure the traffic routing permission for each individual peer device in your Meshnet.

Permission basics

The traffic routing feature allows you to route internet traffic through compatible devices on your Meshnet. Traffic routing is only possible through Meshnet devices running on:

• Windows

• Linux

• macOS (if you're using the direct download version of NordVPN)

For guidance on using traffic routing, see Routing traffic in Meshnet.

What happens when traffic routing is enabled?

When the traffic routing permission is enabled, your Meshnet peers are allowed to route their internet traffic through your device. In essence, your device can act as a VPN server for your fellow users.

Figure 1. Traffic routing flow

As illustrated in Figure 1, a mobile device routes traffic via a home computer and accesses the internet using the PC's public IP.

Caution

Use traffic routing only with trusted devices to avoid potential misuse, as your browsing activity can be monitored on the device you are routing through.

What happens when traffic routing is disabled?

With the traffic routing permission disabled, the peer cannot route their internet traffic through your device. Also, your device does not appear in the list of available host devices for traffic routing, even if it is capable of acting as a host.

Icon reference table

If you want to change the status of the traffic routing permission, you can do so for each device individually. You can also check whether your peer has enabled or disabled the permission for your device.

Icon	State	Impact
	Traffic routing is enabled for your device and the linked device.	Your device can route traffic through the peer device. The peer device can route traffic through your device.
	Traffic routing is enabled for your device.	Your device cannot route traffic through the peer device. The peer device can route traffic through your device.
	Traffic routing is enabled for the linked device.	Your device can route traffic through the peer device. The peer device cannot route traffic through your device.
	Traffic routing is disabled.	Your device cannot route traffic through the peer device. The peer device cannot route traffic through your device.

Changing permissions

If you want to change the status of the traffic routing permission, you can do so for each device individually. You can also check whether your peer has enabled or disabled the permission for your device.

To manage the traffic routing permission, proceed with the following instructions:

Windows

1. Open the NordVPN app. Log in if necessary.

2. From the left-side menu, select Devices in Meshnet .
3. Next to the device that you want to alter the permissions for, click the three-dot menu and select Manage device.

   

4. Under Traffic routing permissions, turn on or off the Traffic routing through your device toggle.

   

macOS

1. Open the NordVPN app. Log in if necessary.

2. From the left-side menu, select Meshnet .
3. Click the More button next to the device that you want to alter the permissions for.
4. Select the Don't allow traffic routing through your device or the Allow traffic routing through your device option.

   

Note

If you're using the App Store version of the app, the traffic routing permission will not be visible because this version does not support traffic routing.

Linux

1. Open the terminal.

2. Run the following command to list all of your Meshnet peers:

   nordvpn meshnet peer list

3. Note the Nord name of the peer you want to alter permissions for.

   

4. To either allow or disable the permission, use one of the following commands, replacing <device> with the peer’s Nord name or Meshnet IP:

   nordvpn meshnet peer routing allow <device>
   nordvpn meshnet peer routing deny <device>

Tip

To find your peer's Nord name faster, start typing the name and press Tab. The system will auto-complete the name based on matching peers.

See also

• Local network permissions