External link

Let friends join without router setup

LAN hosting works without an account. External link is the optional tunnel for players outside your Wi-Fi: LuaNet connects out to NovaX, and players join through the address shown in the app.

App guide Privacy details
LuaNet External link dashboard screen

What happens when you enable it

01

Sign in

External link needs a LuaNet account so limits and abuse protection can be enforced.

02

Prepare the address

LuaNet securely requests the unique hostname and port assigned to that server.

03

Start the server

Luanti still runs on the phone. NovaX does not run the world and does not receive the files.

04

Open the tunnel

LuaNet creates a reverse UDP tunnel from the phone to NovaX. This works even when the phone is behind NAT.

05

Share the address

Players join server-name-code.luanet.net:<port>. Both values are shown separately in the app.

06

Stop cleanly

Stopping the server closes the tunnel. LuaNet keeps the port reserved briefly so quick reconnects do not collide.

Current Free limits

Feature Current app Notes
LAN hostingIncludedNo LuaNet account required
ContentDB installsIncludedGames and mods stay local
ZIP import and backupsIncludedStored on the device
External linkRewarded adRequires account and running server
Extra server slotsTemporary rewarded unlockUp to the app limit while active
Link durationTime-limitedServer-side lease expiry applies

Privacy

NovaX is transport, not storage

Public game packets pass through NovaX while the external link is active. External link does not upload worlds, chat logs, player names, installed mods or server configuration. The separate, opt-in Sync feature can store limited profile configuration as described in the Privacy Policy.

Read the full privacy policy

NovaX needs only

  • Account and limit state
  • Device/session identifiers
  • Tunnel lease, assigned port and expiry
  • Aggregated usage and anti-abuse logs
  • Temporary tunnel credentials

If LAN works but External link does not

Check sign-in first, then API/DNS reachability, tunnel capacity, expired Free lease, ad completion, phone battery/thermal stops and whether the Luanti server itself is still running.

Want the full app workflow?

The main guide explains profiles, engines, ContentDB, ZIP import, players and backups.

Read how LuaNet works