This article addresses how to import a subscription into Clash and why, even after importing, you still may not be able to open webpages, your IP may not change, DNS leaks may occur, or your browser environment may behave abnormally. It is suitable for ordinary users who have just obtained a Clash subscription link, a free node subscription, or an airport subscription. Just follow the steps to complete the import and basic troubleshooting.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription
Clash itself is a proxy client and cannot access the internet on its own. You must first have a valid subscription link. A subscription is usually a URL starting with http or https and contains multiple node configurations. You can use your own existing subscription, or refer to the free node page provided on this site for testing, but free nodes may expire or become congested, so they are recommended only for temporary use.
Also make sure you have installed a client that supports subscription management, such as Clash Verge, Clash for Windows, the Clash Meta series, or Clash Meta for Android. Different clients have slightly different interfaces, but the core process is the same: add the subscription, update the configuration, choose a proxy mode, and select a node.
2. General steps to import a subscription into Clash
- Open the Clash client and go to the “Profiles,” “Configuration,” “Subscriptions,” or “Profiles” page.
- Click a button such as “New,” “Add,” or “Import from URL.”
- Paste the full subscription link into the field, making sure not to include extra spaces, line breaks, or Chinese quotation marks.
- Give the subscription an easy-to-recognize name, such as “freevpn-test” or “Daily Subscription.”
- Click save, download, or update, and wait for the client to fetch the configuration.
- Go back to the proxy page, select a node, then switch the mode to Rule, Global, or choose as needed.
If the subscription imports successfully but the list is empty, it usually does not mean Clash is broken. More often, the subscription URL has expired, your network cannot access the subscription server, or the subscription format is incompatible with your current client. In this case, you can first copy the subscription URL into a browser to see whether the content opens.
3. What is the relationship between IP, DNS, and the browser environment
Many people assume that once a subscription is imported, the IP will change immediately. In fact, this also depends on the proxy mode and whether the browser is using the proxy. In Rule mode, domestic websites may connect directly, and only websites matching the rules will go through a node; in Global mode, most traffic goes through the selected node. When testing, it is recommended to open an IP lookup website and also verify with a different external website.
DNS can also affect the experience. If a webpage reports a resolution failure or some websites cannot be opened, there may be a conflict among the system DNS, Clash DNS, or the browser’s DoH settings. Ordinary users can first enable the system proxy in Clash settings and use the client’s default DNS configuration; do not install multiple proxy programs at the same time competing for the system proxy.
As for the browser environment, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox may have separate proxy extensions, private DNS, cache, or old cookies. If the displayed IP looks abnormal, you can test in an incognito window, or temporarily disable extensions such as SwitchyOmega and Proxy SwitchySharp to avoid overlapping rules.
4. Quick troubleshooting when import fails or connection does not work
- Subscription update failed: Check whether the link has expired, try updating after turning off the proxy, or switch networks and update again.
- All nodes are red: The nodes may be invalid or the ports may be blocked. Switch nodes or update the subscription.
- It connects but webpages will not open: Make sure the system proxy is enabled; you can temporarily switch the mode to Global for testing.
- The IP does not change: Check whether the browser is connecting directly or whether another proxy extension has taken over.
- Only some websites will not open: This is usually a rules, DNS, or node route issue. Switch nodes and test again.
Finally, it is recommended to develop two habits: first, regularly click “Update Subscription” to avoid using expired nodes; second, when troubleshooting, keep only one proxy client running. For beginners, it is usually more stable to first get things working with the default configuration, then gradually adjust the rules and DNS, rather than making lots of setting changes right from the start.