v2rayN Setup Guide

Import a Subscription

A subscription URL retrieves server configurations; the server entries are what you'll connect to later. Copy the “subscription URL” or “client subscription link” from your provider's account page. Don't copy the login page URL or include surrounding instructions. Some links contain account-identifying information, so treat them like credentials. Don't post them in public chats, screenshots, or support requests.

v2rayN Desktop: Add a Subscription Group

Open Subscription Group at the top of the main window, then go to Subscription Group Settings and add a group. Enter a name in the remarks field to identify its source, paste the full subscription URL into the address field, and make sure the group is enabled before saving. The name is for local reference only and doesn't change the server configuration. For your first setup, add just one source to make troubleshooting easier.

Return to the main window and use the Subscription Group menu to update the subscription. If you see options to update “without proxy” or “through proxy” and you aren't connected yet, try updating without a proxy first. When the update finishes, check the result in the log, then select the relevant group or “All.” Server entries should appear with details such as type, alias, and address. Saving the subscription URL alone doesn't update the server list.

v2rayNG for Android: Save and Update a Subscription

Open Subscription Group Settings from the top-right menu, use the add option to enter remarks and the subscription URL, then save and return to the main screen. Open the menu again and select Update Subscription. Wait for the update to finish, then check whether configuration entries appear in the group. Don't keep tapping Connect: connecting can't replace a subscription update when the list has no configurations yet.

For a single share link, v2rayN has a clipboard import option under Servers; in v2rayNG, use the add option at the top and choose Import from Clipboard. You should see a separate configuration after importing. A standalone configuration usually doesn't update with a subscription, so don't confuse a successful clipboard import with a successful subscription group update.

No Entries? Pause Here

If the list is still empty after updating, first check whether another group is selected. Then check for extra spaces around the URL, confirm the subscription is valid, and look for network errors in the log. Being able to open your provider's account page doesn't guarantee that the subscription endpoint is available. Likewise, a successful update doesn't mean every server can connect. Don't create duplicate groups in the hope that one will work; correct the URL in the existing group and try again. See the glossary entry on subscriptions and servers for background. If updates keep failing, follow the FAQ sections on installation, setup, and troubleshooting.

Once configurations appear in the list, move on to proxy mode settings. First decide how traffic reaches the client and which destinations should use the proxy; choose an active server after that.

Choose a Proxy Mode

These are two separate settings. The “system proxy” directs requests from apps that follow system settings to the client. “Routing” decides whether those requests use the proxy outbound or connect directly. Setting routing to global doesn't automatically send traffic from every app through the client. For your first setup, use a common routing preset and leave other defaults unchanged. This makes it easier to identify the cause if something goes wrong.

v2rayN Desktop: Choose a Route, Then Set Up the System Proxy

Use the routing control at the bottom of the main window to select the “Bypass mainland China (Whitelist)” preset. Requests matching its direct-connection rules will connect directly; other requests follow the preset's proxy rules. The actual behavior depends on the rules currently in use. If the interface shows only Chinese labels, choose the corresponding “Bypass mainland China” option. There's no need to create extra rules just to match the English name.

“Blacklist” and “Global” are routing strategies, not speed settings. Global can be useful for a brief comparison, but it only handles traffic that has already reached the core. For now, locate the “System Proxy” menu and note the “Set system proxy automatically” option. Enable it after choosing a server in the next step, so your browser doesn't point to a local proxy that isn't ready yet.

For your first connection, leave “Enable Tun Mode” off. TUN adds variables such as a virtual network interface, permissions, and system routes, none of which are needed for a basic browser test. If an app doesn't follow the system proxy, first verify the basic connection, then read the advanced guide to TUN mode. Don't copy local port numbers from another device; use the values shown in your client's settings.

v2rayNG for Android: Keep the VPN Connection Method

Open the routing options in Settings and keep a preset suited to everyday split routing for your first setup. If an option such as “Bypass LAN and mainland China addresses” is available, start with that type of rule. Preset names and rule organization vary by version, so don't look for an exact match with the desktop English labels. For now, don't add custom domain rules or change the remote DNS address.

Android typically routes traffic through the system VPN interface, so you don't need to look for the desktop “Set system proxy automatically” option. “Per-app proxy” determines which apps use the connection. For your first test, don't add app filters; if an allowlist or exclusion list is already configured, make sure the browser you're testing isn't excluded. Other tools using the system VPN interface may conflict, so check what's active before connecting.

Save the settings and return to the server list. The connection method and routing are now set. Next, choose one working configuration and connect; don't change DNS, transport protocols, or core settings at the same time.

Connect to a Server

A server alias is just a label; it doesn't tell you whether the server is reachable. Start by testing a small number of configurations and see whether they can complete requests on your current network. A latency test reflects only the conditions at the time of testing. It isn't a download speed measurement and doesn't guarantee access to every site.

v2rayN Desktop: Set an Active Server

Select one or a few candidates in the server list, right-click, and choose the test option labeled with “real connection latency.” Wait for the results instead of repeatedly refreshing while the test is running. If some entries fail and others return results, start with one that completed the test. If they all fail, check your network and subscription before trying each entry blindly.

Select the server you want to use, then right-click and choose “Set as active server,” or use the equivalent double-click action in your version. Check the selected-server marker and status at the bottom to confirm the change. Then open “System Proxy” and choose “Set system proxy automatically.” The client may reload the core when switching servers; wait for the status to settle before testing in a browser. Opening the main window doesn't mean the connection is working.

Check the logs for obvious startup errors. If the client reports that a local port is already in use, it hasn't started listening correctly; switching servers usually won't fix that. Follow the troubleshooting guide to resolve the local conflict first. If another app keeps changing the system proxy settings, pause that proxy tool and apply the automatic configuration again. Keep a single, clearly defined proxy entry so you can verify the results.

v2rayNG for Android: Approve the System Connection Request

Tap the configuration you want to use in the list and make sure it is selected, then tap the connect button in the bottom-right corner. On first launch, the system will show a VPN connection request. Read the prompt and approve it. If you cancel, the client can't create the required interface; tap Connect again and approve the request instead of importing the subscription again.

After connecting, check the status at the bottom and the system VPN indicator. These show the local service and interface status, but don't prove on their own that the remote server is working. If your version offers “Test current configuration” or another connection test, run it once the service starts, then test in a browser. If it fails, check the logs and note the error category. Before sharing troubleshooting details, hide the subscription URL, server address, and account parameters.

If the connection drops soon after it starts, first check whether another app has taken over the VPN interface. If it disconnects only after the screen locks, check the system's background activity restrictions. There's no need to change all your battery settings before a first connection. Once you've checked these items, leave the client running and continue to the final step.

Verify the Proxy Connection

Check three things: whether the client starts properly, whether the target app uses the proxy entry, and whether requests follow the expected route. Seeing “Connected,” getting a latency result, or opening a webpage doesn't prove all three. Follow the checks below to avoid mistaking a site that's reachable directly for a working proxy connection.

Check the Status, Then Open a New Page

On desktop, confirm that an active server is selected, “System Proxy” is set to automatic configuration, and the logs show no recurring startup errors. Then open a new page in a browser that follows the system proxy and visit a site that should use the proxy under your current rules and that you're authorized to access. Test a fresh request rather than reloading a cached page. If the browser has an extension that manages proxy settings, make sure it isn't overriding the system settings.

On Android, confirm that v2rayNG is still connected, then open a browser and visit a similar destination. If you previously enabled per-app proxy settings, check again that the browser is included. A VPN icon in the status bar doesn't mean every app uses the same outbound route. It only indicates that the VPN interface is active; routing rules and app filters can still affect where traffic goes.

If the client logs show connection destinations or outbound details, compare a new request with the log timestamps to see whether it uses the expected proxy or direct outbound. Some versions provide only brief logs by default. Missing per-request entries don't mean the connection failed, and there's no need to enable extensive debug output for a first test. An external IP lookup can offer a clue, but it shows only the exit used for that particular request, not for every app or domain.

If a Site Won't Load, Change One Setting at a Time

First confirm that your regular network works, then check whether the subscription updates and the active configuration is valid. Next, verify that the desktop system proxy or Android VPN is actually enabled. Only then check routing and DNS. If one configuration fails but another works, continue testing with the working one. If they all fail, look for a common error in the logs rather than repeatedly changing routing settings.

If one site won't load but other proxy destinations work, briefly switch to global routing for comparison. If global works but the original split-routing preset doesn't, focus on the route rules and domain resolution for that destination. Restore the original preset when you're done. If both modes fail, don't keep adding domain rules; check the configuration, server status, and app's proxy entry instead. For more on routing rules and DNS, see Advanced Setup. For now, complete the basic connection checks.

Once the connection is verified, note the group, routing preset, and connection method you're using. There's no need to save a full screenshot containing credentials. After a subscription update, the active server may have been replaced or removed, so confirm which entry is selected. You can repeat this brief check after changing networks; there's no need to reinstall the client.

When You're Done, Restore Your Network Settings

On desktop, when you no longer need the proxy, first choose “Clear system proxy” from v2rayN's “System Proxy” menu, then exit the app. Closing the window may only minimize it to the system tray. Force-quitting the process can leave the system pointing to a local port, preventing your browser from connecting afterward. Clearing the system proxy restores only that connection method; restore any proxy settings configured manually in individual apps as well.

On Android, tap the connect button to disconnect and confirm that the status changes to disconnected. If the device has “Always-on VPN” or a system option to block connections without a VPN enabled, check that those settings are still what you want. That's all four steps: subscription, routing, connection, and verification. If an issue comes up later, check them again in the same order. Look up unfamiliar menu terms in the glossary, or find a solution by symptom in the FAQ.