Why can’t I connect to a free node? This guide helps you distinguish between an inactive node, a client that isn’t routing traffic, a restricted exit IP, DNS resolution issues, and browser setting conflicts—and troubleshoot them in order. It’s intended for everyday users of clients such as Clash, V2Ray, and sing-box, and doesn’t require changes to server configuration.
First, determine whether the node is down or the website won’t load
Turn off the proxy first and check whether your local network can access websites you normally use. If not, resolve any Wi-Fi, mobile network, or sign-in issues first. Once the proxy is back on, check the client logs: connection timeouts, authentication failures, and DNS resolution failures usually indicate different causes. A successful latency test doesn’t guarantee that websites will load, and a failed speed test alone doesn’t prove that a node is inactive.
Step 1: Check that the node and subscription are valid
- Install the client from the project’s official source. Check that your device’s date, time, and time zone are correct, as they can affect TLS certificate verification.
- Manually update the subscription once in subscription management. Check for download failures, unsupported formats, or subscription expiration messages. If the update fails, the list may still show old nodes.
- Make sure the selected option is a proxy node, not “Direct” or another policy. Check that the system proxy or VPN is enabled; on phones, you may also need to allow the VPN connection.
- Switch to another node and retry the same website. If other nodes work, the original node may be offline, congested, or restricted. You don’t need to reinstall the client.
Free nodes may stop working temporarily, and nodes shared on this site should be judged by their actual connection results. Change only one setting at a time so you can tell which step resolved the issue.
Step 2: Check whether the issue is related to the IP or DNS
A node’s exit IP is the source address that websites see. If most websites work but one site shows access restrictions, repeatedly asks you to verify your identity, or refuses service, the site may be applying risk controls to the exit IP. This doesn’t necessarily mean the node is completely disconnected. Try another node for comparison rather than repeatedly refreshing the page.
If the logs show an error such as “DNS resolution failed,” check whether the client is using the recommended DNS settings and whether they conflict with another VPN, filtering software, or custom DNS setting. Restore the client’s default or officially recommended configuration, then reconnect. Don’t blindly use DNS addresses found online: changing your system DNS may not affect the client’s internal DNS resolution, and it won’t fix an inactive node.
You can also switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to test. If the same node only fails on one network, the cause may be that network’s access restrictions or routing—not necessarily the node itself.
Still can’t connect? Here’s what to note
Record the client name and version, network type, time of the issue, whether all nodes fail, and the key error messages in the logs. Before asking for help, hide your subscription link, node password, and token. Share the error message, not your full subscription. Troubleshooting in this order—local network → subscription and nodes → client traffic routing → DNS → browser—is usually more effective than repeatedly importing subscriptions or reinstalling the client.