This article addresses “How to import a subscription into Clash” and common issues such as websites not loading after import, your IP address staying the same, DNS leaks, and your browser still connecting directly. It’s intended for users who have just received a free node or subscription link. Follow the steps below to finish setting things up.
1. Basic steps for importing a Clash subscription
The interface varies slightly between clients, such as Clash for Windows, Clash Verge, and Clash Meta-based clients, but the basic process is the same: add the subscription, update the configuration, then select a node and enable the proxy.
- Copy your subscription link. It usually starts with http or https. The free nodes page on this site also provides subscription links you can import.
- Open the Clash client and go to the “Profiles / Configuration / Subscriptions” page.
- Click “New / Add / Import from URL,” paste the subscription link, and enter a name, such as freevpn-x.
- Click “Download / Update” and wait for the configuration file to finish downloading.
- Go back to the “Proxies” page and select a node, or choose “Auto Select” in a proxy group.
- Enable “System Proxy.” Turn on “TUN Mode” only if you need all traffic to go through Clash.
If the download fails, first check that you haven’t copied any extra spaces into the subscription link, and make sure you haven’t used a regular webpage address instead of a subscription link. Clash should be able to recognize the link as configuration content.
2. Why hasn’t my IP address changed after importing the subscription?
If the import succeeds but a search for “my IP” still shows your local address, the subscription usually isn’t the problem—the proxy mode may not be enabled. Check these three things: first, is System Proxy enabled? Second, is the current rule mode routing the target website directly? Third, is your browser using a separate proxy extension?
In Clash, “Rule” mode routes traffic according to the configuration: domestic websites may connect directly, while overseas websites use a node. “Global” mode routes as much traffic as possible through the selected node, while “Direct” mode does not use a proxy. To test a node, temporarily switch to Global and visit an IP lookup website.
3. Configuring DNS and your browser
DNS affects domain name resolution. Incorrect settings can result in a connection to the node but websites not loading, loading slowly, or showing the wrong region. Most users should stick with the client’s default DNS settings and avoid changing the system DNS without a good reason. If your client supports “Enhanced Mode,” “Fake-IP,” or “TUN DNS,” leave the defaults in place at first, and only adjust them if you encounter DNS poisoning or resolution failures.
- If your browser has a proxy extension installed, disable it first to avoid conflicts with Clash.
- If your company or campus network has restrictions, try another network or test a different node.
- If only one website won’t load, switch from Rule to Global to check whether rule-based routing is the cause.
- If DNS is malfunctioning, update the subscription, restart Clash, and then clear your browser cache.
4. Quick troubleshooting for connection failures
First, click “Update” for the subscription, then try 2–3 different nodes. If none work, check that your device’s clock is accurate—some protocols are time-sensitive. Then check the Clash logs: “timeout” usually means the network is unreachable, while “authentication failed” often means the node credentials are no longer valid. Free nodes may be temporarily unavailable, so it’s a good idea to have multiple subscription sources as backups.
In summary, the key steps for importing a Clash subscription are: “paste the correct subscription URL, update the configuration, select a node, and enable the system proxy.” After importing, check your IP, DNS, and browser extensions one by one to identify the problem.