This article explains how to import nodes into sing-box, including importing from a subscription link or a single node link. It also covers how to check your IP, DNS, and browser settings after importing to avoid issues such as “connected but unable to open websites” or “IP changed but DNS is leaking.”
1. What to prepare before importing
sing-box is a proxy core. Most users access it through a graphical client, such as a client that supports the sing-box core on Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. Interfaces vary slightly between clients, but the general process is the same: add a configuration, import a subscription, select a node, and start the proxy.
- Get a working node subscription link, usually starting with https://.
- If you have a single node, its link may start with vless://, vmess://, trojan://, or a similar protocol prefix.
- Make sure your system clock is accurate. A large time difference can cause TLS connection failures.
- If this is your first time using sing-box, we recommend closing other VPN or proxy apps to avoid port conflicts.
This site gathers free node resources for connectivity testing. Free nodes can vary in reliability, so if you can’t connect, try switching nodes before troubleshooting the client.
2. Steps for importing a subscription into sing-box
The steps are similar in most popular clients. The key is to import the subscription link as a “remote configuration” or “subscription,” rather than pasting it into a regular text configuration.
- Open the sing-box client and go to “Configuration,” “Profiles,” or “Subscription Management.”
- Click “Add,” “+,” or “New Profile.”
- Select “Import from URL,” “Remote Profile,” or “Subscription Link.”
- Paste the subscription URL. Name it “Free Nodes” or choose a name of your own.
- Save it, then click “Update Subscription” and wait for the node list to load.
- Return to the home screen, select a node or proxy group, and start the connection.
If you only have a single node link, select “Import from Clipboard” or “Import from URL/Clipboard” when adding a configuration. If the client can’t recognize the link directly, the format may not be supported. You’ll need to use a client that supports the corresponding protocol or convert the subscription to a compatible format.
3. Why check your IP, DNS, and browser settings after importing?
A successfully imported node doesn’t necessarily mean the proxy is working properly. After connecting, check three things: your IP address, DNS resolution, and browser proxy status. Your IP shows whether traffic is going through the node; DNS shows whether domain names are still being resolved by your local ISP; and your browser settings determine whether web traffic is actually routed through the proxy.
A quick way to check: visit an IP lookup site before and after connecting. If the reported location changes, the proxy is probably working. Then visit a DNS leak test page. If it still shows your local ISP’s DNS, you may need to enable “DNS Proxy,” “Fake-IP,” or “Remote DNS” in the client. If only your browser can’t access websites, check whether it has a proxy extension installed or fixed proxy rules enabled. If necessary, set it to follow the system proxy.
4. Quick troubleshooting for connection failures
- Subscription update fails: Check whether the link has expired, whether you need to disable the proxy to access the subscription URL, or whether you accidentally copied extra spaces.
- You can select a node, but it won’t connect: Try another node, sync your system clock, or switch networks. Mobile and broadband connections can behave differently.
- You’re connected but can’t open websites: Check the routing mode. Switch to global mode to test, then check your DNS settings.
- Some websites won’t open: This may be a routing rule issue. Try updating the rules or temporarily using the global proxy.
In short, importing nodes into sing-box comes down to correctly importing a subscription URL or node link, successfully updating it, selecting a node, and starting the connection. After importing, check your IP, DNS, and browser settings to confirm that the entire proxy connection is working. If you run into problems, don’t keep reinstalling the app. Check the subscription, node, DNS, and routing mode in that order to find the cause quickly.