---
title: "Connect Remotely"
sidebarTitle: "Connect Remotely"
description: "Connect Eliza to a LAN, VPS, Tailscale, or Eliza Cloud backend."
---

Use remote access when the runtime should live somewhere other than the current device.

## Typical cases

- a home server
- a VPS
- one backend shared across multiple devices
- Eliza Cloud

## What you need

For a normal remote backend:

1. the backend URL
2. the access token or pairing credentials

For Eliza Cloud, sign in instead of pasting a manual URL and token.

## Connect from the app

On first launch, choose:

- `LAN`
- `Remote`
- `Eliza Cloud`

Then enter the URL or sign in.

## If you host your own remote backend

1. Install Eliza on the remote machine.
2. Start the runtime there.
3. If it is reachable outside localhost, set a strong API token.
4. Prefer HTTPS, Tailscale, or another private network path.

Minimal example:

```bash
ELIZA_API_BIND=0.0.0.0 \
ELIZA_API_TOKEN="$(openssl rand -hex 32)" \
eliza start
```

Use the `ELIZA_API_TOKEN` value as the access token when you connect from another device.

## Use a phone as a LifeOps sensor

Every device sends LifeOps telemetry to whichever backend the app is connected to.
That backend can be the Mac app on your desk, a LAN machine, a tailnet host, a VPS,
or Eliza Cloud.

For a local Mac agent:

1. Start Eliza on the Mac with `ELIZA_API_BIND=0.0.0.0` and a strong `ELIZA_API_TOKEN`.
2. Connect the iOS or Android app to the Mac's LAN or tailnet URL.
3. In LifeOps setup, open `Device Data`.
4. Tap `Enable` to request Health permissions where the OS allows it.
5. Open any remaining settings rows such as Usage Access, Local Network, Notifications, or Battery Optimization.

Once connected, the phone submits lock, wake, foreground, HealthKit or Health
Connect, and Android usage summaries to the LifeOps API on the backend
(see [LifeOps API](/rest/lifeops) for available endpoints). No Cloud account is required for local mode.

Android app usage requires the system Usage Access screen. iOS Screen Time
requires Apple FamilyControls and DeviceActivity entitlements; when Apple only
allows opening the app's Settings screen, Eliza opens that supported settings
target and shows the remaining blocker in `Device Data`.

## Provider routing on remote backends

A remote backend often owns provider routing. If provider changes on the client do nothing, check which machine owns the active configuration.

## Common problems

### Eliza will not connect

Check:

- the URL
- the token
- whether the backend is running
- whether the backend listens outside localhost

### One device works and another does not

Check network reachability first. LAN- or tailnet-only hosts often fail from devices outside that network.

## Eliza Cloud

Pick `Eliza Cloud` during setup, sign in, and let that backend own the runtime.

## Next

- [Connect Discord](/user/connect-discord)
- [Connect Telegram](/user/connect-telegram)