built 2 min verified 3b862d5 (2026-09-14)

Say hello

Every router runs a small front desk at hello.mesh. It shows who's around, what you can open, and how the routers connect, and it's where you make your identity.

Status: built. An online mesh reports an open connection immediately. An offline mesh opens a local explanation and hello.mesh link. No button controls internet access.

Step 1: Confirm the connection

Right after you join, your phone or laptop checks whether the mesh currently has an internet route. With one, it marks the Wi-Fi connected without a sheet. With no route, it may open a sheet explaining that the local mesh is still available.

Do: wait for the Wi-Fi indicator to show connected.

Expect: normal internet access without a button when any mesh router has an uplink. With no uplink, use Open hello.mesh in the sheet for local people and services. The sheet clears automatically after routing returns and the device checks again.

If not: forget the network and rejoin it, then see Troubleshooting.

Step 2: Open hello.mesh

Do: in your normal browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox…), type exactly:

http://hello.mesh

Type the http://. There's no https version, and some browsers treat a bare hello.mesh as a search.

Expect: a page that says "You're connected to <router name>" with the subtitle "A community mesh running on the routers around you. No internet required."

If not:

• Your browser searched instead: type the full http://hello.mesh.
• "Server not found": turn off Private DNS or secure DNS (Troubleshooting).
• Still nothing: open http://10.42.x.1, using the router address from Connect to the Wi-Fi, step 3. Come back to http://hello.mesh for step 3 of this guide, though. Identities made at the numeric address are kept separately.

Step 3: A quick tour

From top to bottom:

The page updates itself every few seconds.

Next: Create your identity.