This article explains how to import nodes into sing-box. It’s for users who have just installed a sing-box client and aren’t sure how to import free nodes, subscription links, or individual node links. It also explains how your IP, DNS, and browser environment interact after connecting, so you can avoid the “connected, but webpages won’t load” problem.
1. What to prepare before importing
sing-box is a proxy core. Most users access it through a graphical client, such as an app that supports the sing-box core on Windows, Android, iOS, or macOS. Before importing nodes, make sure you have at least one of the following: a subscription link, an individual node link, or a JSON configuration file. This site collects information about available free nodes, or you can use a subscription you already have.
- Subscription link: Usually an HTTPS URL, useful for updating multiple nodes at once.
- Individual node: Common formats include vless://, vmess://, and trojan://.
- Configuration file: Usually a .json file containing the complete inbound, outbound, and routing rules.
If you mainly browse the web, importing via subscription is the best option, as it makes future updates easier.
2. Common steps for importing nodes into sing-box
Menu labels vary slightly between clients, but the overall process is much the same. Here’s the general approach:
- Open the sing-box client and go to the “Configuration,” “Subscription,” or “Profiles” page.
- Click “Add,” “Import,” or the “+” button.
- For a subscription link, select “Import from URL,” paste the subscription address, and save it.
- For an individual node link, select “Import from clipboard” or “Add manually,” then paste the vless, vmess, trojan, or other link.
- For a JSON file, select “Import from file” and choose the configuration file on your device.
- After importing, update the subscription, select a node, and click “Start” or “Connect.”
Once connected, visit an IP lookup site to check whether your exit IP has changed. If it hasn’t, the system proxy may be disabled, your browser may not be using the proxy, or the client’s routing rules may not be matching your traffic.
3. How IP, DNS, and your browser environment are related
Many users assume that once sing-box shows “Connected,” all traffic automatically changes route. In practice, it depends on the client’s mode. Common modes include system proxy, TUN mode, and app-only proxy. System proxy mainly affects apps that follow the system proxy settings; TUN mode is closer to routing all traffic through the proxy; app-only proxy requires you to configure the proxy separately in each browser or app.
IP is the exit address that websites see when you visit them; DNS translates domain names into IP addresses; and your browser environment includes things like cache, cookies, WebRTC, language, and time zone. If your IP has changed but your DNS is still leaking, some websites may flag your connection as unusual. An old browser session may also keep showing content for your previous region.
4. Troubleshooting connection failures and failed imports
- Subscription won’t import: Check that the link is complete, that you haven’t copied any extra spaces, and that your network can reach the subscription URL.
- Nodes appear but won’t connect: Try another node, check that your device’s time is correct, and confirm that the current client supports the protocol.
- Connected, but webpages won’t load: Switch between system proxy and TUN mode, and check whether your browser has a separate proxy extension enabled.
- IP hasn’t changed: Close any other VPN or proxy apps, restart the client, and select the node again.
- DNS issues: Enable the client’s built-in DNS or switch to secure DNS, then clear your browser cache.
Finally, it’s best to import via subscription and test 2–3 nodes after updating. You can also verify the connection in a private browsing window to avoid confusion caused by cookies. With sing-box, the goal isn’t just to “successfully import” a node—it’s to make sure your traffic, DNS, and browser environment are all using the proxy as expected.