This article addresses “how to add a subscription in v2rayNG” as well as problems after adding one, such as no internet access, webpages still showing your original IP, DNS leaks, or the browser failing to open pages. It is suitable for Android users who want to import subscription links for V2Ray/VLESS/VMess/Trojan step by step and do some basic troubleshooting.
1. The correct steps to add a v2rayNG subscription
Before you start, make sure what you have is a subscription link, not a single node link. A subscription is usually a URL beginning with http or https and contains multiple node configurations. The free node page on this site also provides a copyable subscription entry. It is recommended to copy the full link before using it.
- Install and open v2rayNG on your Android phone. It is recommended to get it from a trusted app marketplace or the project release page.
- Tap the “＋” or menu button in the top right corner, then select “Subscription settings.”
- Tap “Add subscription,” and enter a name in “Remarks,” for example, freevpn-x.
- Paste the subscription link into “Address,” and make sure you do not accidentally include extra spaces, line breaks, or Chinese punctuation.
- After saving, return to the main screen, open the menu, and select “Update subscription.”
- Once the update is complete, multiple nodes will appear in the list. Select one, then tap the connect button in the lower right corner.
If it says the update failed, first try opening the subscription link in a browser to check whether it is accessible. If the browser cannot open it either, the link may have expired, been blocked by the network, or been copied incompletely.
2. How subscriptions, IP, DNS, and the browser environment are related
A subscription is only a “list of node configurations.” What actually determines the region shown by a webpage and the access result is the exit IP of the node you connect to. After a successful connection, websites generally see the node’s exit IP rather than your local phone IP. If a webpage still shows your original region, it usually means the connection was not successful, the browser cached the old result, or some apps are using a direct connection.
DNS is responsible for resolving domain names into IP addresses. After v2rayNG connects, if DNS is not routed through the proxy, you may see a DNS leak, resolution to servers in the wrong region, or some websites failing to open. Regular users can enable the relevant “Local DNS” option in v2rayNG settings, or switch routing modes for testing. If you are unsure, keep the default settings and try changing nodes to verify.
The browser environment can also affect the results. For example, Chrome and Edge may retain cache, cookies, location permissions, and account region information. Before testing your IP, it is recommended to use Incognito mode, disable webpage location permissions, and refresh the detection page. Do not rely on just one website to judge the result; open two more IP-checking pages for comparison.
3. Troubleshooting connection failures and subscriptions with no nodes
- Empty subscription: Check whether the link has expired, whether it needs to be copied in full, or whether short-link redirection is affecting it.
- Can update but cannot connect: Try a different node. Free nodes may fail because of line congestion or temporary unavailability.
- Connection succeeds but webpages will not open: Switch the routing mode in v2rayNG, or disable and then re-enable the system VPN permission.
- IP does not change: Confirm that the VPN icon appears in the phone’s status bar, and check whether you selected the correct node.
- Only some apps do not work: Check whether per-app proxy is enabled, as some apps may be excluded from the proxy.
You can also try restarting v2rayNG, switching between mobile data and Wi-Fi, or turning off other VPNs or accelerators. If the subscriptions come from multiple sources, it is recommended to keep only one subscription at a time when updating, to avoid selecting the wrong node because there are too many.
4. Usage recommendations
After adding a subscription, there is no need to frequently change advanced parameters. Regular users should focus on three things: whether the subscription can update, whether the node can connect, and whether the browser-detected IP has changed. When problems occur, first try switching nodes and networks, then check DNS, cache, and per-app proxy settings. This will cover most common issues after adding a v2rayNG subscription.