Blogs
02 Dec 2022
Tutorial
3 mins read

How To Use Localtonet

In this guide, you will learn how to start using Localtonet: what you need for the first setup, how to link your device with an AuthToken, and how to create your first tunnel.

1. Create your Localtonet account

If you do not already have an account, please register first, then sign in to the dashboard.

  1. Create an account if you have not registered yet.
  2. After registration, log in and open your Dashboard.

2. Generate and copy your AuthToken

Localtonet uses an AuthToken to securely associate each device with your account. You can create and manage tokens from the My Tokens page.

  1. Go to My Tokens in your dashboard.
  2. Create a new token (for example, name it after the device you are setting up).
  3. Copy the AuthToken value. You will paste this into the Localtonet app or CLI in the next steps.

3. Install Localtonet on your device

Next, install the Localtonet app on the device that will host your local or intranet services.

  • Open the Download page and choose your platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker, or Zero-install SSH).

4. Authenticate Localtonet with your AuthToken

After installation, you need to authenticate the Localtonet app so that it can connect to your account.

  • On desktop platforms(Windows, macOS, Linux) you can either:
    • Run the application and paste your AuthToken into the prompt on first launch, or
    • Open a terminal (or PowerShell) in the installation folder and run:
      localtonet --authtoken <YOUR_TOKEN>
  • On Android, install the app from Google Play or APK, open it, and paste your AuthToken into the authentication field. Save/confirm to link the device to your account.
  • If you are using Docker, pull the image and run it with your token as described in the Docker documentation.

Once the AuthToken is accepted, the device is securely linked to your Localtonet account and ready to use.

5. Create your first tunnel

After your device is authenticated, you can create tunnels from the web dashboard and route external traffic to your local services.

  1. Go to the Dashboard and open the tunnel page for the protocol you need (for example HTTP/s, TCP, UDP, or UDP/TCP).
  2. Select the process type (random subdomain, custom subdomain, or custom domain, depending on your plan).
  3. Choose the AuthToken / device you have just configured.
  4. Select the server/region where the tunnel will run.
  5. Enter the local IP and port of your service (for example, IP: 127.0.0.1, Port: 8080).
  6. Create and start the tunnel. Localtonet will generate a public URL that you can share or use for testing.

6. Next steps

You are now ready to use Localtonet in your daily workflow. For more detailed scenarios and best practices (such as using Localtonet with databases, game servers, RDP, SMTP, SSH, and more), visit the Localtonet Documentation and explore the “Supported Tunnels” and “Using Localtonet With” sections.

Localtonet securely bridges your localhost to the internet through a versatile and scalable tunneling platform — offering a rich suite of features including advanced port forwarding, HTTP/HTTPS tunneling, mobile proxy support, file server access, UDP game tunneling, virtual host management, and more — all tailored for developers, gamers, testers, and networking professionals who need powerful tools for secure and flexible connectivity