This article addresses “how to import a subscription into Clash” and why, even after importing, webpages still won’t open, the IP doesn’t change, DNS leaks occur, or the browser behaves abnormally. It is suitable for ordinary users who have just obtained a subscription link or free node link and want to get it working quickly in the Clash client.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription
Clash itself is only a proxy client and cannot provide internet access on its own; you need to supply a subscription URL or configuration file. Common subscriptions appear as http/https links and contain nodes such as VMess, VLESS, Trojan, and Shadowsocks. This site will compile testable free node resources, and you can also use your own provider subscription.
- Make sure Clash Verge, Clash for Windows, or another Clash-core client is already installed.
- Copy the complete subscription link, making sure not to miss the token, parameters, or equals signs.
- Turn off other VPNs on the system to avoid multiple proxies taking over the network at the same time.
- Keep your computer’s time accurate; incorrect time may cause TLS connection failures.
2. General steps for importing a subscription into Clash
- Open the Clash client and go to the Profiles, Configuration, Subscription, or Config Files page.
- Click New, Import, Import from URL, or Add Subscription.
- Paste the subscription link into the URL input box; for the name, you can enter “freevpn” or “daily nodes”.
- Click Download, Update, or Save, and wait for the client to fetch the configuration.
- Go to the Proxies or Proxy page and select a node; Rule mode is recommended first, and you can switch to Global for testing.
- Turn on the system proxy switch, or enable “System Proxy” in the client.
If the import succeeds but the node list is empty, the subscription link is most likely invalid, incompatible in format, or inaccessible from your network. You can first open the subscription link in a browser; if it directly shows 404, expired, or no permission, then you need to replace the subscription.
3. How subscriptions relate to IP, DNS, and the browser environment
Many people assume that importing a subscription means they are already bypassing restrictions, but in fact two more steps are needed: selecting a node and routing traffic through it. Once the node is connected, the outbound IP shown by websites will change to the proxy server’s IP. If the browser still shows your local IP, it is usually because the system proxy is not enabled, the browser is using a direct connection, or some applications are not following the system proxy.
DNS is also crucial. DNS is responsible for resolving domain names into IP addresses. If DNS is still being resolved by your local ISP, websites may fail to open, redirect abnormally, or suffer from polluted resolution. Clash configurations usually include DNS rules, and ordinary users do not need to change complex parameters, but you can check whether the client’s DNS switch is enabled and whether the mode is fake-ip or redir-host. If you are unsure, prioritize using the configuration included with the subscription and do not casually remove the dns section.
The browser environment includes cache, cookies, language, time zone, WebRTC, and so on. Even if the proxy IP has changed, websites may still judge the environment based on the browser’s history. When troubleshooting, it is recommended to test in an incognito window or temporarily switch to another browser. If you are concerned about WebRTC exposing your local address, you can restrict WebRTC in browser extensions or settings.
4. Quick troubleshooting after import if the connection fails
- Update the subscription: manually click Update on the Profiles page to confirm you are not using old nodes.
- Switch nodes: some nodes within the same subscription may be temporarily unavailable, so test another region or protocol.
- Switch modes: if Rule mode does not work, test with Global. If Global works, it means the issue lies in rule matching.
- Check port usage: system proxy commonly uses 7890/7897; if the port is occupied, the browser may fail to connect.
- Check the logs: if the log shows timeout, it means a timeout; tls handshake failed may indicate a time, certificate, or node issue.
In summary, the core of importing a subscription into Clash is “add the URL, update the configuration, select a node, and enable the system proxy.” If webpages still behave abnormally, do not focus only on the subscription itself; also check the outbound IP, DNS resolution, and browser environment at the same time. By troubleshooting step by step as described above, you can usually identify most connection issues.