This article explains how to “import a subscription into Clash” and why, after importing, you still may not be able to open web pages, your IP may not change, DNS may leak, or your browser environment may appear abnormal. It is suitable for ordinary users who have just obtained a subscription link, a free node subscription from this site, or an airport subscription. Just follow the steps to complete the setup and troubleshooting.
1. What you need before importing a subscription
Clash itself is only a client; the subscription link contains the available nodes, rules, and proxy information. You first need to install the appropriate client, for example, Clash Verge Rev is commonly used on Windows, ClashX Meta or Clash Verge Rev on macOS, and Clash Meta for Android on Android. After installation, first make sure your system time is correct and that your network can normally access domestic websites.
A subscription link usually starts with https://, or it may be a URL provided through a copy button. Be careful not to treat a single vmess, vless, or trojan node as a subscription link and paste it directly into the subscription configuration field; if it is a single node, you should choose “Import from Clipboard” or convert it to a Clash configuration before using it.
2. General steps to import a subscription into Clash
- Open the Clash client and go to the Profiles / Configuration page.
- Click New, Import, Download, or “New Subscription”; the exact name varies slightly between clients.
- Paste the subscription link into the URL input box. For the name, you can enter “freevpn-x” or any name that is easy to recognize.
- Click download/save and wait for the configuration to finish downloading. If a YAML error appears, it means the subscription format is incompatible or the link has expired.
- Return to the Proxies / Proxy page and select a node. It is recommended to first choose one with lower latency and a region that meets your needs.
- Go to General / Settings and enable System Proxy / System Proxy; if you need a global proxy, switch to Global, but for daily use, Rule mode is recommended.
If you are using the free node subscription provided by this site, it is recommended to update the subscription first and then test node latency; the stability of free nodes can change, so if one does not work, do not keep reconnecting to the same node repeatedly.
3. After a successful import, how to check IP, DNS, and browser environment
Many people think that successfully importing a subscription means they are already bypassing restrictions, but in fact you still need to check three things: IP, DNS, and browser proxy settings. First, open an IP lookup website and confirm whether the displayed exit region has changed to that of the selected node; if it still shows your local ISP IP, it usually means the system proxy is not enabled, or the browser is not using the system proxy.
Next, check DNS. If web pages open but some websites show the wrong location, it may be because DNS is still going through your local network. Clients in the Clash Meta family can usually enable DNS or TUN mode in settings; for ordinary users, enable the system proxy first, and only try TUN if the issue persists. Do not enable multiple VPNs, accelerators, or proxy extensions at the same time, otherwise DNS can easily become confused.
Finally, check the browser environment. Chrome and Edge follow the system proxy by default, but some proxy extensions may override the settings. If you have installed extensions such as SwitchyOmega or Proxy SwitchySharp, disable them first before testing. Incognito windows may also be affected by extensions, so when troubleshooting, it is recommended to use a completely new browser profile.
4. Common failure causes and quick troubleshooting
- Subscription download failed: Check whether the link is complete and whether you accidentally copied extra spaces; try opening the subscription link in a browser to see whether it can download text.
- The node appears but will not connect: switch nodes, update the subscription, and check your system time; corporate or campus networks may block some protocols.
- It connects but web pages will not open: confirm that the system proxy is enabled, switch between Rule/Global for testing, and restart Clash and the browser if necessary.
- IP does not change: the browser is not using the proxy, or a proxy extension is overriding it; disable the extension and revisit the IP lookup page.
- DNS abnormality: close other VPN software, try enabling Clash’s TUN/DNS features, and then refresh the DNS cache.
Summary: The key to importing a subscription into Clash is “successfully downloading the configuration, selecting an available node, enabling the system proxy, and confirming that the browser is using the proxy.” If you run into problems, troubleshoot along the three lines of IP, DNS, and browser environment, and you can usually identify the cause quickly.