This guide addresses common questions such as “How do I import a subscription into Clash?”, “How do I connect after importing it?”, and “Why can’t my browser still open webpages?” It also explains how subscriptions relate to exit IPs, DNS, and the browser environment. Button names may vary between Clash-based clients, but the basic process is the same: add a subscription, download the configuration, enable it, select a node, and then turn on the system proxy.
1. Before importing: Check your client and subscription link
Install a Clash-compatible client that suits your device’s operating system and is still maintained. Whenever possible, download it from the project’s official release page. Don’t judge an app’s safety by its name alone, and avoid installing modified versions shared in chat groups. Once you open the client, look for a page called “Config,” “Subscriptions,” or “Profiles.”
You need a complete subscription link, not the URL of a page introducing the nodes. A subscription usually returns a YAML configuration, or the provider may offer a dedicated Clash endpoint. A single vless:// or vmess:// link may not work as a subscription. Check with your service provider or the free-node articles on this site to confirm the format and compatible clients. The availability of free resources may change.
2. How to import a subscription into Clash
- Copy the subscription URL, making sure not to include spaces, line breaks, or Chinese punctuation.
- Go to the client’s “Config/Subscriptions” page and click “New,” “Add,” or “Import from URL.”
- Enter a descriptive name and paste the link into the URL field. If there’s an update interval setting, you can leave it at the default for now.
- Click Download or Save. Once the configuration appears, set it as the active configuration rather than leaving it only in the subscription list.
- Go to the “Proxies” page, expand the proxy group, and select a node. You can run a latency test if needed, but its results don’t necessarily reflect your actual browsing experience.
- Set the mode to “Rule,” enable the system proxy, then use your browser to visit the target webpage and check the connection.
Successfully importing a configuration doesn’t mean your traffic is already being proxied. If the configuration has been downloaded but not enabled, or the system proxy is still off, your browser may continue to connect directly. TUN mode is generally not required for an initial test. Consider enabling it only when an app doesn’t follow the system proxy or in similar situations, and check the client’s documentation for permission requirements and possible conflicts with other proxy software.
3. How are subscriptions related to IPs, DNS, and the browser?
A subscription provides nodes, proxy groups, and rules; it does not directly fix your exit IP. Your actual exit IP depends on the node you select and whether the request matches a proxy rule. In rule mode, different websites may use the proxy or connect directly. So if an IP lookup website shows your local IP, that doesn’t necessarily mean all your traffic is bypassing the proxy.
DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses, and DNS lookup failures may cause webpages to time out. Your browser’s secure DNS, proxy extensions, and system network settings can all affect the connection path. Don’t switch nodes, change DNS, and reset your browser settings all at once—change one thing at a time to make it easier to identify the cause. An incognito window can help rule out some cache and extension issues, but it can’t by itself confirm that the proxy is working.
4. What to check if importing fails or you can’t connect
- Download fails: Check whether the link has expired or was copied in full, and whether your current network can reach the subscription URL. Look for status codes or timeout messages in the logs.
- Parsing error: Make sure you selected the Clash format and that the client’s core supports the protocols used in the configuration. Changing only the file extension won’t help.
- All nodes time out: Check your device’s clock, network connectivity, and whether the nodes are still valid, then try updating the subscription or switching networks.
- Only the browser fails: Check the system proxy, browser proxy extensions, and secure DNS. If necessary, temporarily disable conflicting settings and test again.
Finally, treat your subscription link like a password: hide its token and any personal identifiers when sharing logs or screenshots or asking for help. After troubleshooting, restore any test settings you no longer need so they don’t interfere with your regular network connection.