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Using traffic routing on Windows

Learn how to handle Meshnet's traffic routing feature on Windows.

Before you begin

To start using traffic routing, make sure that the device you want to route traffic through meets the following criteria:
  • The NordVPN app is running, and the Meshnet feature is enabled in the app.
  • The device is connected to your Meshnet.
  • The Traffic routing through your device permission is granted for your client device. To learn more, see Traffic routing permissions.
Note
You can add devices to your Meshnet in two ways, depending on device ownership:

Start routing traffic

To start routing traffic on Windows, follow these steps:
  1. 1.
    Open NordVPN and select the Meshnet
    tab.
  2. 2.
    Click the Route traffic card.
  3. 3.
    Find the host device that you want to use and click Route all traffic.
    Peer traffic routing host
Note
When routing traffic for the first time, you will receive a prompt detailing the caveats of traffic routing. Read this information and click Continue to proceed with the connection.
Upon connecting, the peer device’s section in the traffic routing menu will change the background color from white to blue.
Traffic routing is active through a peer device
Alternatively, you can do the following:
  1. 1.
    Open NordVPN and expand the connection menu.
  2. 2.
    Locate the Devices in Meshnet section.
    Meshnet peer devices in the connection menu.
  3. 3.
    Click the device that you want to route traffic through.
Once connected, you will see the host device’s Nord name on the main application page.
Nord name of Meshnet peer device in the connection menu.
Additionally, you can check your new IP address and the ISP by hovering your mouse cursor over the Meshnet peer device icon.
New IP address and ISP shown on the NordVPN application.
Tip
You can utilize your preferred DNS addresses for the traffic routing connection by using the app's Custom DNS feature. The DNS servers can be entered in NordVPN's Settings
> Connection > Use custom DNS dropdown menu.
An example of how to use the custom DNS functionality is available in the How to set up your network protection with Pi-hole article.

Stop routing traffic

To stop traffic routing, you can use the following methods:
  • Click the Disconnect
    button on the main application page.
    Disconnect button highlighted in the connection menu.
  • Click the Stop routing button on the Meshnet
    tab.
    Stop routing button highlighted next to a Meshnet peer device.
Note
Connection pause is currently not available while routing traffic through a Meshnet peer device.
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