This article addresses “how to import a subscription into Clash” as well as common issues after importing, such as webpages not opening, the IP not changing, DNS leaks, and the browser still using the local network. It is suitable for users who have just obtained a subscription link, a free node link, or an airport subscription. Just follow the steps to complete the setup and troubleshoot connection issues.
1. Confirm these 3 things before importing a subscription
There are many Clash-based clients, such as Clash Verge, Clash Meta, and older versions of Clash for Windows. Their interfaces differ slightly, but the logic is the same: import the subscription link into a configuration file, then select a node and proxy mode. Before importing, please confirm the following:
- The subscription link is a complete URL, usually starting with http or https. Make sure you did not copy only half of it.
- Your client supports the subscription format, commonly a Clash YAML subscription or a convertible subscription.
- Your system time is correct, as an incorrect time may cause TLS connection failures.
The free nodes provided on this site usually include copyable subscription or node information. Before using them, it is recommended to read the page instructions first to avoid mistakenly importing a raw V2Ray link as a Clash subscription.
2. General steps for importing a subscription into Clash
- Open the Clash client and go to the “Profiles / Configuration / Subscription” page.
- Click “New / Add / Import from URL” and paste the subscription link into it.
- Give the configuration a name, such as “freevpn-x node” or “backup subscription.”
- Click download, update, or save, and wait for the client to fetch the configuration.
- Return to the “Proxies / Proxy” page and select a node or choose an automatic latency-testing group.
- Go to “General,” enable System Proxy, and enable TUN mode if necessary.
If you can see a node list on the configuration page, the subscription was imported successfully. If you get prompts such as parse error or download failed, the issue is most likely an incompatible link format, network problem, or subscription content.
3. What is the relationship between IP, DNS, and the browser environment?
Many people think that importing a subscription will definitely change the IP, but it also depends on the proxy mode. After enabling the system proxy, the browser will usually access webpages through Clash, and only then will IP-checking websites show the proxy exit IP. If the system proxy is not enabled, or if the browser is separately configured for a direct connection proxy, you may see the situation where the node is connected but the IP has not changed.
DNS also affects the experience. When DNS resolution is abnormal, you may find that Telegram works but webpages do not open, or that some websites redirect to the wrong region. Clash Meta clients can enable built-in DNS in the DNS settings. Ordinary users are not advised to modify complex rules casually; it is better to use the client’s default configuration first.
As for the browser environment, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox may have proxy extensions, privacy extensions, or old proxy settings installed. If Clash is enabled but the browser cannot open webpages, first disable extensions such as SwitchyOmega, or create a clean window without extensions for testing.
4. Troubleshooting import failures and connection failures
- Subscription download failed: First open the subscription link in a browser to see whether it is accessible. If it is not, switch networks or update again later.
- No nodes shown: This means the subscription content is not in Clash format. Try using the subscription conversion feature supported by the client.
- Connected but webpages will not open: Switch to Global/Rule mode for testing, or change the node.
- IP has not changed: Confirm that the system proxy is enabled and that the browser is not using a direct connection or an extension-based proxy.
- Some websites are slow: Switch to a node in a different region, or select a lower-latency node in the proxy group.
It is recommended to save 2–3 working subscriptions as backups and click “Update / Refresh” regularly. Free nodes may become invalid, congested, or change regions. When something stops working, do not repeatedly modify the system. First switch nodes, then switch subscriptions, and only after that check DNS and the browser environment. Once you understand this order, you can basically determine whether the problem with Clash is an import issue, a node issue, or a local proxy environment issue.