This article addresses common issues such as “How to import a subscription into Clash“, as well as problems after importing like no internet access, web pages not loading, incorrect IP display, and DNS leaks. It is suitable for everyday users who have just installed Clash, Clash Verge, Clash for Windows, or similar clients—just follow the steps below.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription
A Clash subscription is usually a URL link that contains multiple proxy nodes and rule configurations. You can use a subscription you already have, or check the free node information on this site and copy the subscription address. Note: do not publicly share your subscription link in group chats or forums, because it may contain your usage credentials.
- Make sure the client is installed and opens properly.
- Make sure the subscription link starts with http or https, and do not include extra spaces when copying it.
- If your computer’s time is inaccurate, sync the system time first to avoid certificate validation failures.
- If your network environment is too restricted, try switching to a mobile hotspot before importing.
2. General steps for importing a subscription into Clash
- Open the Clash client and go to the “Profiles / Config / Subscription” page.
- Click a button such as “New,” “Import,” or “Download from URL”; the exact wording may vary by client.
- Paste the subscription link, and enter “freevpn” or any custom name as the profile name.
- Click download, save, or update, and wait for the configuration file to finish downloading.
- Return to the proxy page, select a node from the node list, and use “Rule / Rules” mode first.
- Enable the system proxy, then visit a test website in your browser to confirm whether the target web page opens properly.
If the import succeeds but no nodes appear, the subscription URL is usually invalid, copied incompletely, or in a format the client does not support. In this case, try opening the subscription link in a browser. If it returns a blank page, an error, or requires login, the issue is not with Clash itself.
3. What is the relationship between IP, DNS, and the browser environment
Many users assume that importing a subscription means everything is finished, but in fact you also need to check whether the IP, DNS, and browser environment are consistent. The IP determines where websites think you are connecting from; DNS determines how domain names are resolved; and the browser environment includes information such as cache, extensions, language, and WebRTC.
After connecting, it is recommended to perform three checks: first, visit an IP lookup website and confirm that the displayed exit IP roughly matches the region of the selected node; second, visit a DNS test page and see whether the DNS still shows your local ISP; third, test in a browser incognito window to rule out the effects of cache, extensions, or old cookies.
If you are just browsing the web normally, there is no need to pursue a complicated environment with “perfect consistency,” but at minimum you should make sure that the system proxy is enabled, that the browser is not separately configured to use another proxy, and that no extensions are installed that rewrite network requests.
4. Troubleshooting import failures and connection issues
- Download failed: check whether the subscription link has expired, try updating after disabling the proxy, or switch networks and update again.
- Imports successfully but cannot connect: switch nodes, test by toggling between Rule and Global, and confirm that the issue is not just one unavailable node.
- The browser cannot open pages but the software shows connected: check the system proxy toggle, or restart the browser.
- Some websites will not open: update the rule configuration, or temporarily switch to Global to determine whether rule-based routing is the cause.
- DNS issues: enable DNS in the client settings, or re-import the subscription using the default configuration.
Finally, a reminder: the stability of free nodes can be affected by routing, time of day, and the number of users, so disconnections do not necessarily mean your settings are wrong. The best approach is to first confirm that the subscription can be updated, then switch nodes, and finally check the IP, DNS, and browser environment. By troubleshooting in this order, most Clash subscription import issues can be identified.