Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this tutorial, we will transform your Raspberry Pi into a personal VPN using Tailscale. The goal is to route your internet traffic through your home network from anywhere in the world, ensuring you have the same secure and familiar internet experience you enjoy at home. By using your Raspberry Pi as an Exit Node, you can browse from your iPad or laptop as if you were sitting on your own couch, even while traveling internationally.
This is NOT a sponsored video.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to choose the right Raspberry Pi and OS version for a stable VPN.
- Installing Tailscale and optimizing performance with UDP GRO.
- Enabling IP forwarding to allow your Pi to act as a network gateway.
- Configuring your Pi as an Exit Node in the Tailscale Admin Console.
- Troubleshooting DNS issues and connecting mobile devices like iPhones or iPads.
What You Need:
Raspberry Pi 4 - amzn.to/4tkKn82 or Raspberry Pi 5 - amzn.to/4toXcP2 (Recommended for 64-bit support).
Raspberry Pi 3 - (Use 32-bit OS to avoid port issues).
MicroSD Card - amzn.to/49XlPuo.
Ethernet Cable - (Recommended for a reliable, faster connection to your router).
The links provided are affiliate links in which I may make a small commission but doesn't affect the price that you pay. This helps to keep my channel going to produce content for you.
Prerequisite:
How to Set Up Raspberry Pi 4 & 5 without a Monitor: Laptop as Monitor & Keyboard (Headless Tutorial) - youtu.be/rvCaN1PSKY0
Raspberry Pi Zero W Set up without a Monitor or Keyboard/Mouse - youtu.be/gTqhIItQHSk
Resources:
Tailscale: tailscale.com
Tailscale Admin Console: login.tailscale.com/admin/machines
IP Forwarding Guide: tailscale.com/s/ip-forwarding
Linux optimizations for subnet routers and exit nodes - tailscale.com/docs/reference/best-practices/performance#linux-optimizations-for-subnet-routers-and-exit-nodes
Troubleshooting Help: If you are unable to get this project to work, rewatching the video more closely usually clears up 99% of errors. If you've gone through it and would like direct 1-1 help, you can book a live session with me here: fiverr.com/s/bd1kl6m
Timestamps
0:00 – VPN Tailscale Demo - Mexico
0:18 – The goal of a personal VPN
1:46 – Hardware Recommendations: Pi 3, 4, 5, and Zero W
2:19 – Generating and Running the Install Script
3:54 – Optimization: Fixing the UDP GRO Performance Warning
4:11 – Enabling IP Forwarding on your Pi
4:45 – Bring your Tailscale UP
5:36 – Troubleshooting: Fixing DNS Resolution Issues
6:14 – Admin Console: Approving the Exit Node
7:22 – Connecting your Phone or iPad
8:05 – Raspberry Pi Imager Tips: Choosing 32-bit vs. 64-bit OS
10:23 – Personal Story: Dinner with Diplomats in Santiago, Chile
📘 A Woman’s Guide to Winning in Tech
If you’ve ever been underestimated, talked over, or given “feedback” that wasn’t actually helpful, this book is for you. A Woman’s Guide to Winning in Tech blends sharp humor with practical career strategies to help women navigate tech on their own terms—without changing who they are.
Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark
Learn more: winningintech.com
Follow the book:
Facebook: facebook.com/winningintech
Instagram: instagram.com/winning.tech
In this tutorial, we will transform your Raspberry Pi into a personal VPN using Tailscale. The goal is to route your internet traffic through your home network from anywhere in the world, ensuring you have the same secure and familiar internet experience you enjoy at home. By using your Raspberry Pi as an Exit Node, you can browse from your iPad or laptop as if you were sitting on your own couch, even while traveling internationally.
This is NOT a sponsored video.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to choose the right Raspberry Pi and OS version for a stable VPN.
- Installing Tailscale and optimizing performance with UDP GRO.
- Enabling IP forwarding to allow your Pi to act as a network gateway.
- Configuring your Pi as an Exit Node in the Tailscale Admin Console.
- Troubleshooting DNS issues and connecting mobile devices like iPhones or iPads.
What You Need:
Raspberry Pi 4 - amzn.to/4tkKn82 or Raspberry Pi 5 - amzn.to/4toXcP2 (Recommended for 64-bit support).
Raspberry Pi 3 - (Use 32-bit OS to avoid port issues).
MicroSD Card - amzn.to/49XlPuo.
Ethernet Cable - (Recommended for a reliable, faster connection to your router).
The links provided are affiliate links in which I may make a small commission but doesn't affect the price that you pay. This helps to keep my channel going to produce content for you.
Prerequisite:
How to Set Up Raspberry Pi 4 & 5 without a Monitor: Laptop as Monitor & Keyboard (Headless Tutorial) - youtu.be/rvCaN1PSKY0
Raspberry Pi Zero W Set up without a Monitor or Keyboard/Mouse - youtu.be/gTqhIItQHSk
Resources:
Tailscale: tailscale.com
Tailscale Admin Console: login.tailscale.com/admin/machines
IP Forwarding Guide: tailscale.com/s/ip-forwarding
Linux optimizations for subnet routers and exit nodes - tailscale.com/docs/reference/best-practices/performance#linux-optimizations-for-subnet-routers-and-exit-nodes
Troubleshooting Help: If you are unable to get this project to work, rewatching the video more closely usually clears up 99% of errors. If you've gone through it and would like direct 1-1 help, you can book a live session with me here: fiverr.com/s/bd1kl6m
Timestamps
0:00 – VPN Tailscale Demo - Mexico
0:18 – The goal of a personal VPN
1:46 – Hardware Recommendations: Pi 3, 4, 5, and Zero W
2:19 – Generating and Running the Install Script
3:54 – Optimization: Fixing the UDP GRO Performance Warning
4:11 – Enabling IP Forwarding on your Pi
4:45 – Bring your Tailscale UP
5:36 – Troubleshooting: Fixing DNS Resolution Issues
6:14 – Admin Console: Approving the Exit Node
7:22 – Connecting your Phone or iPad
8:05 – Raspberry Pi Imager Tips: Choosing 32-bit vs. 64-bit OS
10:23 – Personal Story: Dinner with Diplomats in Santiago, Chile
📘 A Woman’s Guide to Winning in Tech
If you’ve ever been underestimated, talked over, or given “feedback” that wasn’t actually helpful, this book is for you. A Woman’s Guide to Winning in Tech blends sharp humor with practical career strategies to help women navigate tech on their own terms—without changing who they are.
Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark
Learn more: winningintech.com
Follow the book:
Facebook: facebook.com/winningintech
Instagram: instagram.com/winning.tech
