This guide addresses the most common questions from everyday users: after getting a Clash subscription link, how do you import it, update it, and connect to a node correctly? It also explains why your browser might still be unable to load websites after a successful import, or why your detected IP and DNS settings might not match.
1. Basic steps for importing a Clash subscription
The interface varies slightly between Clash clients, such as Clash for Windows, Clash Verge, and Clash Meta for Android, but the general process is the same: add the subscription, update the configuration, then choose a node and enable the proxy.
- Copy the subscription link: Copy the full subscription URL from your node provider or from this site’s free nodes page. Make sure you don’t accidentally include any extra spaces.
- Open the Clash client and go to the Profiles / Configuration / Subscription page.
- Click “New,” “Import URL,” or “Add Profile,” then paste in the subscription link.
- Save it, then click “Update” and wait for the configuration to finish downloading.
- Go to the Proxies page and select an available node, or choose an automatic speed-test group.
- Return to the home page, enable System Proxy, and make sure Clash is running.
If you’re importing a local configuration file, select “Import File” and choose the YAML file. Subscription links are convenient for regular updates, while local files are useful for temporary testing.
2. Why you should check your IP and DNS after importing
Many users assume that “subscription imported successfully” means “the network is now using the proxy.” That’s not necessarily the case. Importing simply adds the node list to Clash. For the proxy to work, the proxy mode, system proxy, and browser settings all need to work together.
- IP: Use this to check whether your outgoing IP address has changed to the node’s location. If your IP still belongs to your local ISP, your browser or system traffic isn’t going through Clash.
- DNS: DNS resolves domain names. If DNS is leaking, a website may load while DNS requests still go through your local network, causing location mismatches or connection failures.
- Browser settings: Some browser extensions, standalone proxy settings, and DoH Secure DNS can bypass the system proxy. As a result, Clash may be enabled while your browser traffic still goes directly to the internet.
After connecting, visit a common IP-checking website and confirm that both your IP and DNS match your expectations. If your IP has changed but your DNS is still local, check Clash’s DNS settings or turn off your browser’s built-in Secure DNS.
3. Troubleshooting common connection failures
If Clash fails to import the subscription, first check whether the subscription link opens in a browser or downloads the configuration. If you see a 403 or 404 error, or a timeout, the link may have expired, your network may be unable to reach it, or the link may have been copied incompletely. Try obtaining a new subscription link or switching networks before updating again.
If the subscription imports successfully but you can’t connect, check the following in order:
- Make sure the system proxy is enabled in the client. On Windows, also check whether another proxy app is already using the port.
- Switch to Rule or Global mode for testing to rule out issues caused by routing rules.
- Try a different node. Don’t assume the entire subscription is unavailable based on just one node.
- Check that your system clock is accurate. An incorrect time can cause TLS handshake failures.
- Close any conflicting software, such as browser proxy extensions, accelerators, or corporate VPNs.
On mobile, also make sure Clash is allowed to create a VPN configuration. If the system prompts you for VPN permission, tap Allow. Otherwise, the node list may appear normal, but your traffic won’t enter the proxy tunnel.
4. Tips for everyday use
A subscription isn’t guaranteed to work reliably forever after a single import. Nodes may be changed or become unavailable. We recommend updating your subscription regularly. If a website won’t load, update the configuration first, then switch nodes. This site collects free nodes for testing, which are suitable for temporary use and troubleshooting. However, their stability depends on your network conditions, so it’s a good idea to keep several backup configurations on hand.
Finally, remember this rule of thumb: a successful subscription import only means Clash has received the configuration; your IP, DNS, and browser settings all working as expected means your connection is actually behaving as intended.