### Documentation

# Add a device

Last validated: Jan 5, 2026  
Devices that you want to make available in your Tailscale network (known as a tailnet) such as personal computers, mobile devices, and servers must be added to the tailnet. Tailscale network administrators can control and monitor the status of devices from the [Machines](https://console.tailscale.com/admin/machines) page of the admin console.

## [Prerequisites](/content/docs/features/access-control/device-management/how-to/set-up#prerequisites/index.html)

- An existing tailnet to add the device to.
- A user account that can authenticate to the tailnet.

## [Install Tailscale on a device](/content/docs/features/access-control/device-management/how-to/set-up#install-tailscale-on-a-device/index.html)

1. From your browser, go to the [Download Tailscale](/content/download/index.html) page.
2. Download the Tailscale client for the OS version on your device.
3. Follow the installation steps for your OS version, in the [Install Tailscale](/content/docs/install/index.html) topic.

Alternatively, you can go to the [Machines](https://console.tailscale.com/admin/machines) page of the admin console, select the **Add device** button, select your OS, then select the **Download Tailscale** button. This will redirect you to the download page for your chosen OS.

## [Add a device to a tailnet](/content/docs/features/access-control/device-management/how-to/set-up#add-a-device-to-a-tailnet/index.html)

Open the Tailscale client on the device and log in to your tailnet. When you authenticate from a new device, it is automatically added to the tailnet, unless [device approval](/content/docs/features/access-control/device-management/device-approval/index.html) is enabled. If device approval is enabled, the device will display in the [Machines](https://console.tailscale.com/admin/machines) page of the admin console with a status of [Needs approval](https://console.tailscale.com/admin/machines?q=disabled%3Aneeds-approval).

If you are adding a server to a tailnet, it is recommended that you use a [tag](/content/docs/features/tags/index.html) as the identity of the server, and provision the server using an [auth key](/content/docs/features/access-control/auth-keys/index.html). For more information, refer to [Setting up a server on your Tailscale network](/content/docs/how-to/set-up-servers/index.html).

## [Add a device using a QR code](/content/docs/features/access-control/device-management/how-to/set-up#add-a-device-using-a-qr-code/index.html)

You can add devices to your Tailscale network (known as a tailnet) using a QR code instead of logging in with your [identity provider](/content/docs/integrations/identity/index.html) credentials. For details, refer to [Add a device using a QR code](/content/docs/features/access-control/device-management/how-to/set-up-qr-code/index.html).

## [Permissions](/content/docs/features/access-control/device-management/how-to/set-up#permissions/index.html)

- If [device approval](/content/docs/features/access-control/device-management/device-approval/index.html) is not enabled, any user that has login access to the tailnet can add devices.
- If device approval is enabled, users with the [Owner, Admin, or IT admin](/content/docs/reference/user-roles/index.html) role can approve devices from the [Machines](https://console.tailscale.com/admin/machines) page of the admin console.
- To review existing [tags](/content/docs/features/tags/index.html) in the [Access controls](https://console.tailscale.com/admin/acls) page of the admin console, users must have admin console access.
- To add new tags in the **Access Controls** page of the admin console, users must be assigned the [Owner, Admin, or IT admin](/content/docs/reference/user-roles/index.html) role.
- To generate [auth keys](/content/docs/features/access-control/auth-keys/index.html), users must be assigned the [Owner, Admin, Network Admin, or IT Admin](/content/docs/reference/user-roles/index.html) role.