🛡️ Using Tailscale with Parsec for Secure Remote Desktop Access

📌 Overview

This guide shows how to use Tailscale (a mesh VPN) together with Parsec (a high-performance remote desktop tool) to:

Securely access your machine from anywhere
Avoid port forwarding or exposing public IPs
Improve peer-to-peer connection reliability

🔧 Requirements

Tool	Version/Notes
Tailscale	Free or paid plan, installed on both client and host
Parsec	Installed and configured on both client and host
OS	Windows, Linux, or macOS supported by both tools

📥 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Install Tailscale on Both Machines

🖥 Host (e.g., Gaming PC or Workstation)

Go to https://tailscale.com/download
Install Tailscale for your OS
Log in using your preferred identity provider (e.g., Google, GitHub)

💻 Client (e.g., Laptop or Tablet)

Repeat the same steps to install and log in to Tailscale

✅ After login, both devices should appear in your Tailscale admin panel

2. Confirm Tailscale Connection

Open a terminal or command prompt
Run:

tailscale status

You should see your host and client listed with 100.x.x.x IP addresses (Tailscale's private network).

Try pinging the host from the client:

ping 100.x.x.x

🟢 If ping works, you have a successful Tailscale connection.

3. Install and Configure Parsec

On the Host

Download Parsec: https://parsec.app/downloads
Sign in or create an account
Enable Host Mode in settings
Add your PC to your Approved Devices list

On the Client

Install and log in using the same Parsec account
You should see the host listed if Parsec detects it via LAN

4. Force Parsec to Use Tailscale IP (Optional)

If Parsec fails to establish a direct connection (due to NAT/firewall), you can:

Get the Host’s Tailscale IP from the tailscale status output
On the client, manually connect by running (Parsec CLI, advanced):

parsecd --peer 100.x.x.x

Or in the Parsec UI (when supported), edit the host config to use the Tailscale IP.

5. Optimize and Secure

✔ Use Tailscale ACLs

Restrict access to the host device from certain clients via ACL rules:

{
  "ACLs": [
    {
      "Action": "accept",
      "Users": ["[email protected]"],
      "Ports": ["100.x.x.x:443", "100.x.x.x:3389"]
    }
  ]
}

✔ Enable Tailscale SSH (Optional)

This allows you to SSH into your host via Tailscale:

ssh [email protected]

Enable it from the admin panel and in your Tailscale config.

6. Test Your Setup

Start Parsec on the host
On the client, connect to the host
Confirm smooth, low-latency remote desktop session

You should now have Parsec running over Tailscale, with no need for public IPs or port forwarding 🎉

🧠 Additional Notes

Feature	Supported
NAT Traversal	✅
Cross-platform support	✅
Works behind CGNAT/NAT	✅
Secure (end-to-end)	✅ via WireGuard
Gamepad input + low-latency	✅ via Parsec

✅ Summary

Tool	Purpose
Tailscale	Creates a secure private network for your devices
Parsec	Provides low-latency remote desktop access
Combined	Gives you fast, secure, and private access to your workstation from anywhere

muhammadardie/tailscale-parsec-guide.md