# Using Meshnet on Android

## Before you begin <a href="#before-you-begin" id="before-you-begin"></a>

Verify that you have the following:

* Android 7.0 or later
* [NordVPN installed](https://support.nordvpn.com/1047409182)

## Enable Meshnet on Android <a href="#enable-meshnet-on-android" id="enable-meshnet-on-android"></a>

To turn on Meshnet on your device, complete these steps:

1. Open **NordVPN**. Log in if necessary.
2. Tap the Meshnet<img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FxvxRyVglOq64BS4ArUK6%2Fmeshnet.svg?alt=media&#x26;token=accf346d-0d36-420d-a965-52ff921bb889" alt="" data-size="line"> tab at the bottom of the screen:\
   \
   ![The Meshnet icon is highlighted at the bottom of the screen](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FN6ji03g44sPcMvEos4UA%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=bcdc056d-d057-421d-9330-469f429e687f)<br>
3. Tap **Turn on Meshnet**.
4. If a prompt asking you for permission to set up a VPN connection appears, accept it to continue. \
   \
   ![Enabling permission to set up a VPN connection](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FWEIZMbPRLRqrB0uwWspe%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=2a5cdbdc-de20-4690-9fcc-5f6b397942a2)

   \
   You should now see a message confirming that Meshnet is on. Your device is assigned a unique Nord name and a Meshnet IP address, both of which you can use to access the device from other linked devices.\
   \
   ![The "Meshnet is on" message is displayed, along with an assigned Nord name and Meshnet IP address](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2F4F89JvuueN7MNxmfuwgx%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=366e6fd1-f88c-44e4-bc0a-ef555d6420da)<br>

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**

Nord names are unique, automatically assigned host names for all devices in Meshnet. This feature allows more convenient device access since you don’t have to memorize each device’s Meshnet IP address.

Nord names are composed of three parts and follow this format — `<username>-<mountain>.nord`, where:

* `<username>` is the username of your Nord Account email address.
* `<mountain>` is a name of a mountain or mountain range.

For example, `secret.raccoon-himalayas.nord`.
{% endhint %}

## Add devices to Meshnet <a href="#add-your-devices-to-meshnet" id="add-your-devices-to-meshnet"></a>

As you start using Meshnet, you may want to connect multiple devices to your Meshnet to unlock its full potential. Expanding your network enhances device communication, enabling seamless [file sharing](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/5hiVtBuK6qwLGxb0SjCm/features/sharing-files-in-meshnet/sharing-files-android) across your network and [traffic routing ](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/5hiVtBuK6qwLGxb0SjCm/features/routing-traffic-in-meshnet)through a chosen connected device, among other benefits.

You can add devices to your Meshnet in two ways, depending on whether the device is your own or belongs to another NordVPN user.

### Add your own devices

To add more of your devices to your Meshnet:

1. [Install the NordVPN app](https://support.nordvpn.com/FAQ/NordVPN-setup-tutorials/) on the device you want to connect.
2. Log in to your NordVPN account.
3. Turn on Meshnet.

Once you enable Meshnet on your other devices, they should be connected automatically.

Meshnet allows you to add up to 10 devices that use the same NordVPN account.

### Add external devices

To add an external device, meaning a device owned by another NordVPN user, you need to send an invitation through the NordVPN app specifying their email address. They will receive the invitation on all their devices that have NordVPN installed and Meshnet activated. As soon as the other user accepts the invitation on each device individually, their devices will become part of your Meshnet.

For detailed guidance on adding external devices, refer to [Adding external Meshnet devices on Android](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/5hiVtBuK6qwLGxb0SjCm/features/linking-devices-in-meshnet/adding-external-meshnet-devices-on-android).

## View your Meshnet device list

To view your list of devices, select **Manage devices** > **Your devices**, as shown:

![Viewing your Meshnet devices](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2F4223uFvtd1jhMa41prMv%2Fandroid_using_1.png?alt=media\&token=0a0a3215-787f-431b-993e-0773041f278f)\
\
Alternatively, you can view a list of linked devices for each of your devices on the [Nord Account](https://my.ndaccount.com/) website. To access this feature:

1. Log in to your Nord account dashboard.
2. Scroll down to **NordVPN Meshnet free**.
3. Select **View details**.

You should now see a list of your linked devices.

![A list of linked devices is displayed at the Nord account dashboard ](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2F0grw789DgIk18lJeEpyO%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=9c53cbdc-0053-4014-a388-366e4b0b7891)

## Remove linked devices from Meshnet <a href="#remove-your-device-from-meshnet" id="remove-your-device-from-meshnet"></a>

If you need to unlink your device from Meshnet, you have the option to do so from:

* The NordVPN app
* Your Nord account dashboard

### Unlinking devices via the app

To unlink your device from Meshnet, follow these steps:

1. Open **NordVPN**.
2. Go to **Manage devices** > **Your devices**.
3. Touch and hold the device you want to disconnect.
4. Tap the bin button in the upper-right corner of the screen. \
   \
   ![Tapping the bin button](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FDdb9nha51O6ww1yI3UcU%2Fandroid_using_2.png?alt=media\&token=a48d6113-928f-4af6-9631-cb638466b6e7)<br>
5. Tap **Unlink** to confirm.

### Unlinking devices via the Nord Account dashboard

1. Go to the [Nord Account](https://my.ndaccount.com/) website and log in to your NordVPN account.
2. Scroll down to **NordVPN Meshnet free**.
3. Select **View details**.
4. Under the device that you want to remove another device from, select **See linked devices**.
5. Tap **Unlink device** under the name of the device you want to remove.\
   \
   ![The "Unlink device" button is highlighted](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FgqXyhQaU5xumIzsvVFDY%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=fe97d08b-d73d-44d2-b61e-68cc9e48a8c6)<br>
6. Confirm that you want to unlink the device by tapping **Unlink**.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Tip**

To link the device back, restart Meshnet on the unlinked device.
{% endhint %}

## See also <a href="#next-steps" id="next-steps"></a>

For insights on how you can manage device access within your network, see [Explaining Permissions](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/5hiVtBuK6qwLGxb0SjCm/features/explaining-permissions).

&#x20;
