How do I install Tailscale?

Copy the stdio config for Cursor, Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or VS Code on this page. It uses the publisher's install, not a PlugMCP proxy.

Does Tailscale need an API key?

The publisher lists these environment variables: TAILSCALE_API_KEY, TAILSCALE_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID, TAILSCALE_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET, TAILSCALE_TAILNET, TAILSCALE_MCP_PRESET, TAILSCALE_MCP_ALLOW_WRITE, TAILSCALE_MCP_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE.

What transport does Tailscale use?

Tailscale runs locally over stdio.

When was Tailscale last checked?

Last checked 2026-11-10. Drive a Tailscale node and its tailnet through the CLI and the control-plane API

Tailscale MCP server

Power your agent

Add this server

The publisher's own command. Not a PlugMCP endpoint.

Add to Cursor Add to VS Code Run on PlugMCP

Host a copy with our keys and logs.

Local command

npx -y @tailscale-mcp/[email protected]

Credentials from the publisher

TAILSCALE_API_KEY — A control-plane API access token. One of this, the OAuth client pair, or the OAuth JWT file is needed for the tailnet tools; without any of them only the local tools are offered.
TAILSCALE_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID — An OAuth client id, used with TAILSCALE_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET when there is no API access token.
TAILSCALE_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET — The OAuth client secret that goes with TAILSCALE_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID.
TAILSCALE_TAILNET — The tailnet the control-plane tools act on. Without it they act on the one the credential belongs to.
TAILSCALE_MCP_PRESET — Which tools are offered: minimal, core or full.
TAILSCALE_MCP_ALLOW_WRITE — Offer the tools that change something. Read-only without it.
TAILSCALE_MCP_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE — Offer the tools that remove or sever something. Implies the write tier.

Claude Code has no install link for a local command. Copy the command below and run it in a terminal.

shClaude Code

1TAILSCALE_API_KEY=<secret> TAILSCALE_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID=<value> TAILSCALE_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET=<secret> TAILSCALE_TAILNET=<value> TAILSCALE_MCP_PRESET=<value> TAILSCALE_MCP_ALLOW_WRITE=<value> TAILSCALE_MCP_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE=<value> claude mcp add io.github.tailscale-mcp-tailscale-mcp -- npx -y @tailscale-mcp/tailscale-mcp@2.0.5

Run in a terminal.

jsonClaude Desktop

1{2  "mcpServers": {3    "io.github.tailscale-mcp-tailscale-mcp": {4      "command": "npx",5      "args": [6        "-y",7        "@tailscale-mcp/[email protected]"8      ],9      "env": {10        "TAILSCALE_API_KEY": "<secret>",11        "TAILSCALE_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID": "<value>",12        "TAILSCALE_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET": "<secret>",13        "TAILSCALE_TAILNET": "<value>",14        "TAILSCALE_MCP_PRESET": "<value>",15        "TAILSCALE_MCP_ALLOW_WRITE": "<value>",16        "TAILSCALE_MCP_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE": "<value>"17      }18    }19  }20}

claude_desktop_config.json

Local · npmPublisher installStep-by-step: add this in Claude

Remote URL or a command on your machine? How the two installs differ

Run on PlugMCP

Host a copy with our keys and logs.

A new server you create. It is not this listing's official endpoint. Use the publisher install when you want their URL and their credentials.

Launch

Server facts

Local

Tools

No tool list yet. Remote servers get one after the first health check.

FAQ

Tailscale

Add this server

Host a copy with our keys and logs.

Server facts

Tools

Questions

How do I install Tailscale?

Does Tailscale need an API key?

What transport does Tailscale use?

When was Tailscale last checked?

Documentation