This guide answers the question “How do I import nodes into sing-box?” It’s for users who have just installed sing-box and aren’t sure how to add VLESS, Trojan, or Shadowsocks nodes, or a subscription link. You’ll learn how to import nodes and update subscriptions, and how your IP, DNS, and browser environment interact after connecting—making it easier to troubleshoot common issues such as websites not loading, your IP not changing, or DNS leaks.
1. What to prepare before importing nodes
sing-box is a proxy core, and the names of graphical clients can vary across platforms. The interfaces on Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS may look slightly different, but the import process is much the same. You’ll need one of the following:
- Subscription link: Usually a full link beginning with https://, suitable for importing multiple nodes at once.
- Single-node share link: Such as vless://, trojan://, or ss://.
- Configuration file: Usually a JSON file, suitable for advanced users or for importing settings exported from another client.
If you don’t have any nodes yet, you can get a usable subscription or single-node link from the free nodes page on this site. Free nodes may be affected by your network conditions, so it’s a good idea to have a few alternatives ready.
2. Import sing-box nodes using a subscription link
For most users, importing a subscription is the recommended option. When nodes change, you can simply update the subscription instead of editing them one by one.
- Open your sing-box client and go to “Configuration,” “Profiles,” “Subscriptions,” or “Import.”
- Select “Import from URL,” “Add Subscription,” or a similar option.
- Paste your subscription link and enter a name, such as “freevpn,” or choose your own.
- Save it, then click “Update Subscription” or “Update” and wait for the node list to load.
- Return to the home screen and select an available node from the node list or proxy group.
- Enable the system proxy, VPN mode, or TUN mode, then test the connection in your browser.
If you see a format error, first make sure you copied the entire link, including the final characters. If the update fails, try switching networks and updating again, or use another subscription source.
3. How to import a single node manually
If you have a vless://, trojan://, or ss:// link, select “Import from Clipboard” in the client. Copy the entire node link first, then open the sing-box client and import it. Some clients automatically detect details such as the protocol, address, port, UUID, and encryption method. If the link isn’t recognized, the client may be outdated or the link may use a format that the client doesn’t support.
When adding a node manually, check the server address, port, protocol type, UUID/password, transport, TLS, SNI, and Reality settings. If you’re a typical user, avoid changing these fields without a reason—a single incorrect value can prevent the connection from working.
4. How your IP, DNS, and browser environment are related after importing
Many users assume that successfully importing a node means their online activity is anonymous, but your IP, DNS, and browser settings matter too. Once connected, websites should see the exit IP of the network the node is on. If your IP hasn’t changed, the system proxy may be off, your browser may be connecting directly, or the rules may be routing that website directly.
DNS affects how domain names are resolved. If DNS requests still go through your local ISP, you may encounter domain poisoning, resolution failures, or DNS leaks. In the client settings, enable remote DNS or FakeIP, or use the recommended settings for your client. Avoid running multiple network acceleration tools that may conflict with one another.
Your browser environment also includes cache, cookies, WebRTC, language, and time zone settings. For everyday browsing, there’s usually no need to change much. If a website still shows your original region, try clearing the cache, checking for conflicts with WebRTC leak-prevention extensions, or testing again in a private browsing window.
5. Quick checks for connection failures
- Try another node first: Free nodes may be temporarily unavailable, so test several.
- Check your system time: An incorrect time can cause TLS handshakes to fail.
- Check the mode: Use global mode for testing, then switch back to rule mode once you’ve confirmed the connection works.
- Check permissions: On mobile, allow VPN access; on computers, allow the app through the firewall.
- Update the client: Older versions may not support newer VLESS Reality features or sing-box configuration formats.
In short, the easiest way to import nodes into sing-box is with a subscription link; for a single node, you can import it from the clipboard. After connecting, check whether your IP has changed, DNS is working correctly, and your browser has no cache or leak issues. Following these steps should take you through the entire process, from importing a node to getting connected.