This article addresses the common question, “How do I import nodes into sing-box?” It walks you through installing a client, importing a subscription or node configuration, and checking your IP, DNS, and browser environment after connecting. Follow the steps to set up your connection and troubleshoot cases where an imported node doesn’t work.
1. What to prepare before importing nodes
sing-box is a general-purpose proxy core. Different platforms use different graphical clients, such as sing-box clients for Windows, macOS, and Android, or tools that support the sing-box core. Before you begin, you’ll need two things: a client and valid node information. Nodes usually come in one of two forms: a subscription link or an individual node configuration/share link.
- Subscription link: Usually starts with https:// and is suitable for keeping your nodes up to date.
- Individual node link: Commonly shared in VLESS, VMess, Trojan, Hysteria2, and other formats.
- JSON configuration: Some clients let you import a sing-box configuration file directly.
If you’re just testing, you can also use the free nodes listed on this site. However, free nodes may stop working at any time, so use them primarily to practice importing and connecting.
2. General steps for importing nodes into sing-box
- Open your sing-box client and go to “Config,” “Subscriptions,” or “Profiles.”
- Select “Add subscription” or “Import from URL,” then paste in the subscription link.
- If you have an individual node link, select “Import from clipboard” or “Add node.”
- Save your changes, then update the subscription and wait for the client to fetch the configuration.
- Return to the home screen, select the imported node or proxy group, and click Start/Connect.
- Open a browser and visit an IP lookup site to confirm that your outgoing IP address has changed.
Button labels vary between clients, but the process is generally the same: Add a source → Update the configuration → Select a node → Start the proxy. If the list is empty after importing, first check that the link is complete, contains no spaces, and is the full subscription URL.
3. How your IP, DNS, and browser environment are related after importing nodes
Many users assume that connecting to a node automatically means they’re secure, but you should also check that your IP, DNS, and browser environment are consistent. Your IP is the outgoing address websites see when you visit them. DNS handles domain lookups; if DNS requests don’t go through the proxy, your IP may appear to be abroad while your DNS requests still go through a local provider. Your browser environment includes details such as language, time zone, and WebRTC.
After connecting to sing-box, we recommend checking three things. First, visit an IP-checking page and confirm that the detected location matches your node. Second, run a DNS leak test and make sure the DNS server isn’t your local provider. Third, disable WebRTC in your browser or use one with strong privacy settings. If you just want to browse normally, there’s no need to overdo fingerprint protection, but you should at least prevent DNS leaks, which can cause problems accessing sites.
4. Common causes of failure and how to fix them
- Subscription update fails: Check whether your network can reach the subscription URL, or switch networks and try again.
- It says “connected,” but websites won’t load: Try another node, switch between global and rule-based modes, or check that the system proxy is enabled.
- Some websites won’t open: This may be due to routing rules. Temporarily switch to global mode to test.
- Frequent disconnections: This is common when free nodes are under heavy load. Try another node or try again later.
- Incorrect time: An inaccurate system clock can cause TLS handshake failures. First, correct the date and time zone.
If your client supports logs, open the log page and look for keywords such as error, timeout, TLS, and DNS. These can usually help you determine whether the issue is an inactive node, network blocking, or a local setting. When troubleshooting, don’t run multiple proxy apps at the same time, as they may conflict over ports.
5. Practical tips
For beginners, subscriptions are usually the best option: just click Update to get the latest nodes. Manual imports are better for testing a single node. After importing, first use global mode to confirm that the connection works, then switch back to rule-based mode for everyday use. Remember that node availability can change. A failed connection doesn’t necessarily mean your sing-box settings are wrong. Check the link, subscription, node, DNS, and browser in that order to find the problem.