You can also connect securely from anywhere using a VPN. In this guide, we’ll use Tailscale, a free VPN service that can be set up in just a few minutes. You can also use another VPN solution if you already have one configured.

This is an advanced but useful feature, especially if you already leave your computer running for agents, media servers, backups or other services.

Once connected, you can:

• Stream music from Crates Desktop
• Download tracks for offline listening
• Sync crates 
• Sync your full library

Note: This currently works on iOS only. Android support is coming soon.

Before You Start

You’ll need:

• A Mac or Windows computer running Crates Desktop
• An iPhone or iPad running Crates for iOS
• An internet connection on both devices
• A free Tailscale account

Your computer must be powered on, connected to the internet, and running both Crates Desktop and Tailscale.

1. Install Tailscale on Your Computer

Download Tailscale from:

https://tailscale.com/download

1. Install and open Tailscale.
2. Create a free account or sign in.
3. Leave Tailscale running.

Tailscale runs quietly in the background and does not normally affect your internet connection or other applications.

2. Install Tailscale on Your iPhone or iPad

1. Install Tailscale from the App Store.
2. Sign in using the same account you used on your computer.
3. Allow the VPN permission when iOS asks.
4. Turn on the Tailscale connection.

Your computer should now appear in the Tailscale device list.

3. Enable VPN Connections in Crates for iOS

Open Crates for iOS and go to:

Library → Settings Cog (top right) → Allow Connection via VPN

Enable the switch.

4. Copy Your Computer’s Tailscale Address

In the Tailscale app on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Select your computer from the device list.
2. Copy its MagicDNS hostname.

Crates also supports the Tailscale IP address, but we recommend using the MagicDNS hostname.

You do not need to add a port number.

5. Connect Crates for iOS

1. Open Crates for iOS.
2. Tap the device icon in the top-right corner.
3. Tap Connect.
4. Select Connect Manually.
5. Paste the MagicDNS hostname.
6. Tap Connect.

Crates for iOS should now connect to Crates Desktop over the VPN.

Using the VPN

You do not need to keep the VPN connected all the time.

Turn it on when you want to stream from Crates Desktop, download tracks, or sync your library remotely. You can turn it off again when you are finished.

Mobile Data Usage

When you are not connected to Wi-Fi, streaming, downloading and syncing will use mobile data.

Large downloads or a full library sync may use a significant amount of data, so check your mobile data allowance before starting.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot connect, check that:

• Your computer is powered on and connected to the internet.
• Crates Desktop is running.
• Tailscale is running on both devices.
• Both devices are signed in to the same Tailscale account.
• Allow Connection via VPN is enabled in Crates for iOS.
• You copied the correct MagicDNS hostname or Tailscale IP address.

If the problem continues, contact Crates Support and include screenshots of the Tailscale device list and the Crates connection screen.

When Crates mobile app stays open in the foreground, these web players should normally continue to the next track.

However, when your phone is locked or Crates is running in the background, iOS and Android restrict what embedded web players can do. In many cases, the current track may keep playing, but the web player cannot reliably stay active and automatically move to the next track.

This limitation does not apply to local files. Local files are played through the native mobile player, so they support reliable background playback, lock screen controls, and continuous album or queue playback.

For the best mobile experience, especially with music you have purchased from services like Bandcamp, we recommend downloading the tracks to your computer and syncing them to your phone through Crates. This avoids web player limitations and gives you better audio quality too.

How to download your Bandcamp purchases

1. Log in to your Bandcamp account on your computer and go to Collection or Purchases page.
2. Find the album or track you purchased and download, preferably in lossless format (AIFF is recommended as it holds full metadata as well) 
3. Add the downloaded files to your Crates library.
4. Sync them to your phone using Crates.

Once synced, Crates mobile will play those tracks as local files, so playback can continue reliably when your phone is locked or the app is in the background.