This article addresses common issues such as “how to import a subscription into Clash” as well as problems after importing, like no internet access, unchanged IP, DNS leaks, or browsers still being unable to open websites. It is suitable for ordinary users who have just obtained a Clash subscription link, a free node subscription, or an airport subscription. Just follow the steps to complete the setup.
1. Confirm These 3 Things Before Importing a Subscription
Clash itself is only a client and requires a working subscription link or configuration file. Before importing, please confirm: the subscription address starts with http or https; the link has not been truncated by chat software; and your current network can access that subscription address. If you are using the free nodes provided by this site, it is also recommended to copy the complete subscription link first and then paste it into the client.
- On Windows, commonly used options include Clash Verge, older versions of Clash for Windows, or Mihomo-based clients.
- On macOS, you can use Clash Verge Rev, ClashX Meta, and similar tools.
- On Android, you can use Clash Meta for Android; on iOS, clients that support Clash configurations are typically used.
2. General Steps to Import a Subscription into Clash
- Open the Clash client and go to the “Profiles / Configuration / Subscription” page.
- Click “New / Add / Import from URL”.
- Paste the subscription link, and you can name it “Free Nodes” or “My Subscription”.
- Click Download, Update, or Save, and wait for the configuration to finish downloading.
- Go back to the “Proxies / Proxy” page and select a node or choose an automatic selection policy group.
- Enable the system proxy. It is recommended to use Rule mode first; if access still fails, temporarily test Global mode.
If the import succeeds but the proxy list is empty, the subscription link is usually invalid, the format is incompatible, or the client does not support that protocol. In this case, you can switch to a client that supports Mihomo/Clash Meta or obtain a new subscription.
3. What Is the Relationship Between IP, DNS, and the Browser Environment?
Many users assume that importing a subscription means everything is working, but in reality you also need to consider the IP, DNS, and browser environment. After connecting to a node, visit an IP lookup website. If the displayed exit region matches the node, it means the proxy is basically working. If the IP has not changed, first check whether the system proxy is enabled and whether the browser has been separately configured to connect directly.
As for DNS, if web pages will not open but chat software can connect, DNS resolution may be abnormal. You can enable DNS in Clash settings, or change the system DNS to a public DNS service and try again. For the browser, it is recommended to first disable other proxy plugins, ad-blocking extensions, and VPN plugins to avoid multiple tools competing for the proxy. Testing in an incognito window is also useful, as it can rule out the effects of cache, cookies, and extensions.
4. Quick Troubleshooting Checklist for Connection Failures
- Subscription update failed: check whether the link is complete, then switch networks and update again.
- Node timeout: switch to another node; free nodes may be temporarily unavailable.
- Can update but cannot access the internet: make sure the system proxy is enabled, and switch to Rule or Global mode for testing.
- Browser cannot open websites: disable browser proxy plugins, clear the DNS cache, and restart the browser.
- Some websites behave abnormally: change the node region, or compare Rule mode and Global mode.
Finally, it is recommended to develop one habit: after each subscription import or update, first test the node latency, then open an IP lookup page to confirm the exit IP, and finally test the target website. This way, you can quickly determine whether the problem lies with the subscription, node, DNS, or browser environment, making troubleshooting much more efficient.