Register your own device

To use HomeGrid VPN on a phone or PC, register it on the dashboard as a Spoke (a device that connects to the VPN). You can register your own device with the HomeGrid VPN app on Android or Windows, or with the official WireGuard app on any other device. To register a device that belongs to someone else, such as a family member, see “Invite someone else’s device”.

Choose a method

Device	App to use	Button to click on the dashboard
Android phone	HomeGrid VPN app	“Register via HomeGrid VPN app”
Windows PC	HomeGrid VPN app	“Register via HomeGrid VPN app”
Other devices, routers, and so on	Official WireGuard app	“Register via official WireGuard app”

Before you begin

Check that your Grid is connected (the “Grid Setup” panel shows “Active”). Until the Grid connects, you cannot use the “Add a Spoke” panel.
In the “Add a Spoke” panel, check “Spokes in use: … / …” to make sure you have room for another device. When you have reached the limit, the “+ Add Spoke (QR Code)” button is not shown.
Decide on a name for the device. Use lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens (for example, my-phone).

Step 1: Start the registration on the dashboard

This step is the same for all three methods.

In the “Add a Spoke” panel on the dashboard, click “+ Add Spoke (QR Code)”. The “Add Spoke” screen opens.

Screenshot (to be replaced): the “Add Spoke” screen
Enter the device name in the “Device name (e.g. iphone-15-pro)” field.
If you like, add a note in the “Comment (optional)” field.

Then continue with the step for your device.

Step 2A: Android phone

Install the HomeGrid VPN app on the phone. On the dashboard, click “Open the download page” to open the “Downloads” page, then get the app from “Get it on Google Play” under “Android”.
On the “Add Spoke” screen on the dashboard, click “Register via HomeGrid VPN app”. A QR code and an invite link appear.

Screenshot (to be replaced): the QR code and invite link for the HomeGrid VPN app, with the QR code, invite URL, and token blurred
Open the app on the phone and tap “Scan QR code” in the “Activate this device” section.
Scan the QR code shown on the dashboard. The token is filled in to the “Activation token” field.
Tap “Activate”.
Tap “Connect”. When Android asks you to confirm the VPN connection, allow it.

If you have the dashboard open on that same phone, you can tap “Open on this phone” instead of steps 3 and 4. The app opens and shows “Token filled in from the invite link. Tap “Activate” to complete registration.”. Then continue with step 5.

Step 2B: Windows PC

Install the HomeGrid VPN app on the PC. On the “Downloads” page, under “Windows”, click “Download version … (MSI)” to get the installer, then run it. To create the VPN’s virtual network adapter, you need Windows administrator rights only during installation (as with typical VPN software).
On the “Add Spoke” screen on the dashboard, click “Register via HomeGrid VPN app”.
Click “Copy” to the right of the “Token” field.

To register with the Windows app, use this token, not the invite URL.
Open the HomeGrid VPN app on the PC and paste the copied token into the “Activation token” field in the “Device activation” section.
Click “Activate”.
Click “Connect”. The VPN is connected when the status changes to “Protected”.

Step 2C: Official WireGuard app (configuration file)

Install the official WireGuard app on the device.
On the “Add Spoke” screen on the dashboard, click “Register via official WireGuard app”. A QR code appears on the “Scan with the official WireGuard app” screen.

Screenshot (to be replaced): the “Scan with the official WireGuard app” screen, with the QR code blurred
On a phone, tap the + button in the official WireGuard app and scan the QR code: choose “Scan from QR code” on Android, or “Create from QR code” on iOS. On a PC, click “💾 Download … for PC” to save the configuration file (.conf), then import it into the official WireGuard app.
After you scan or save it, click “Close” to close the screen.

The QR code and the configuration file contain the private key for that device. Do not show them to or send them to anyone. Once you close this screen, the same QR code is never shown again.

Check that the device was registered

The name of the device you registered appears under “Registered Devices” on the dashboard. It shows “Active” when the device is connected to the VPN and “Inactive” when it is not.

Screenshot (to be replaced): the “Registered Devices” list

Troubleshooting

“+ Add Spoke (QR Code)” is not shown: you have reached the number of devices you can register. “Delete” a device you no longer use from “Registered Devices”, or add capacity with “Expand capacity (add-on)”.
The app shows “The token is not valid. Please check it.” (Android): the token has expired (after 24 hours) or has already been used. Start again from “Register via HomeGrid VPN app” on the dashboard.