This article addresses the question of “how to import nodes into sing-box“: if you have an airport subscription, a free node link, or the available node information provided by this site, you can import it into the sing-box client by following the steps below, and also check your IP, DNS, and browser environment to avoid issues like “the software shows connected but web pages won’t open” or “the IP didn’t change.”
1. What to prepare before importing nodes
sing-box itself is a core engine, and ordinary users usually use a client with a graphical interface, such as a sing-box GUI or related shell client on Windows, Android, iOS, or macOS. Button names may vary slightly between clients, but the basic logic is the same: add a subscription, update the configuration, select a node, and start the proxy.
- Prepare a subscription link, usually a subscription URL starting with https.
- Or prepare a single node link, such as VLESS, VMess, Trojan, Shadowsocks, etc.
- Make sure the client version is relatively up to date, as older versions may not support some protocol parameters.
- Ensure the system time is correct, since an incorrect time can cause TLS handshake failures.
If you are using this site’s free nodes, it is recommended to copy the “subscription link” first, as it is more convenient for updates than copying nodes one by one.
2. Steps to import a subscription into sing-box
- Open the sing-box client and go to the “Configuration,” “Profiles,” or “Subscription” page.
- Click “Add,” “New Profile,” or “Import from URL.”
- Paste the subscription URL there. For the name, you can enter “freevpn-x nodes” or any name you can recognize.
- After clicking save, run “Update Subscription,” “Update,” or “Download.”
- Return to the home page, select the configuration you just imported, and then choose a node.
- Turn on the connection switch and wait for the status to change to connected.
If you only have a single node link, you can choose “Import from Clipboard”: first copy the node link, then return to the client and import it. If the list is empty after importing, it usually means the link format is not recognized by the current client. In that case, it is recommended to switch to a subscription format or update the client.
3. How to check IP, DNS, and browser environment after importing
Successfully importing a node does not necessarily mean the network is working properly. After connecting, first open an IP lookup website to confirm whether your public IP has changed to the node’s location. If the IP has not changed, it means the system proxy or TUN mode may not be taking effect.
DNS is also critical. If DNS is still routed through your local ISP, you may encounter pollution, resolution failures, or abnormal access. The client usually has options such as “DNS,” “FakeIP,” and “Rule Mode.” Ordinary users are advised to use the default configuration first and not casually change DNS settings they do not understand. If web pages won’t open, you can try switching to global mode for testing to determine whether the issue is caused by rule-based routing or by the node itself.
The browser environment can also affect the results. Some browsers may have Secure DNS, proxy extensions, or corporate network extensions enabled, which may bypass sing-box. When troubleshooting, it is recommended to first disable browser proxy extensions, or switch to a browser without extensions for testing. After the test succeeds, restore the extensions one by one.
4. Troubleshooting common connection failures
- Subscription update failed: Check whether the subscription link is complete and whether the network can access the subscription URL.
- The node imports successfully but won’t connect: Switch to another node, or confirm whether the system time and client version are normal.
- Shows connected but web pages won’t open: Switch to global mode for testing and check the DNS settings.
- The IP did not change: Confirm that the system proxy or TUN/VPN mode is enabled, and that the browser does not have separate proxy settings.
Summary: the core process for importing nodes into sing-box is to add a subscription, update the configuration, select a node, and start the proxy. After that, check the IP, DNS, and browser environment to quickly identify most issues. Ordinary users do not need to modify complex low-level parameters. First get it working with the default configuration, then adjust the rule mode as needed.