Clash Quick Start: Import Subscription, Choose Mode, Connect & Verify

Preparation: Two Things You'll Need First

Before you start, get two things ready. First, the client itself: install it and open it once so it can set up its config directory and request any permissions it needs, before you move on to the next steps. Second, your subscription link - usually found under "Copy Subscription URL" or "One-Click Import" in your provider's dashboard, a long address starting with http. This link is itself a credential - anyone who has it can use your plan, so don't screenshot it or paste it into public chat groups.

If you don't have a subscription link and only have a single node's details or a local YAML file, you can use "Import Local File" instead - the process is basically the same. What exactly a config file contains, how a subscription differs from a local file, and how to manage multiple profiles is a separate topic covered in detail under "Profile" in the Concept Reference page - we won't go into it here.

One number worth remembering: the default mixed port is 7890. The client starts listening on this port as soon as it's installed, and both system proxy and the verification step later depend on it. If you've changed the port, use your custom value instead. You'll also find "mixed port" explained in the Concept Reference page.

Step 1: Import Your Subscription

Using Clash Verge Rev as an example: open the main window, click "Profiles" in the sidebar, and you'll see a long input field at the top of the page. Paste your subscription link in exactly as-is, then press Enter or click the import button on the right. Within a couple of seconds, a new profile card will appear below, showing the subscription's name, remaining data, and last update time. Here's the key step: click the card to select it - it should show a highlighted border once selected, which means the client is now actually using this profile. Importing without selecting it is like filling a prescription and never taking it.

Clash Plus works the same way: go to "Config / Subscription", create a new subscription, give it a memorable name, paste the address, save it, then enable it from the list. Other clients follow the same pattern - just look for an entry labeled "Profiles" or "Subscription" and paste your link there.

How do you know this step worked? Check two things: the profile card shows a non-zero node count, and switching to the "Proxies" tab shows one or more proxy groups with an expandable node list. If both check out, your subscription is safely loaded into the client.

A subscription isn't a set-and-forget thing - nodes get added or removed, and plans expire, so remember to click the refresh button on the card periodically, or enable auto-update intervals in settings. If the card shows zero nodes or throws an error on update, don't rush to switch clients - it could be an expired link, a local network issue, or a problem on your provider's end. The "Subscription Update Failed" section on the Troubleshooting page walks through the full diagnostic process step by step.

Step 2: Choose a Proxy Mode

With your subscription in place, the next decision is how your traffic gets routed. Clash offers three proxy modes, and picking the wrong one can cause all sorts of odd symptoms:

For everyday use, pick Rule mode. It checks each connection against built-in rules - sites in mainland China connect directly, everything else goes through the proxy, so neither side is slowed down. To switch: in Verge Rev, use the mode selector at the top of the home or Proxies page; in Clash Plus, it's in the mode selector on the main screen. Just click "Rule."

In Rule mode, what actually decides "which route your non-China traffic takes" is the proxy group. On the Proxies page, you'll see proxy group entries like "Proxy Select" or "Auto Select" - clicking one expands a node list, and whichever node you click becomes the active one. Not sure which to pick? Click the latency test button next to the proxy group to run a quick benchmark, and favor nodes with low latency and a suitable region. For the full method of choosing nodes by latency, cost multiplier, region, and protocol, see our blog post "How to Choose a Proxy Node in Clash" - but the short version is: latency numbers are just a reference, real-world browsing feel is what actually matters.

Global mode routes all traffic through whichever node is currently selected, and it's really only meant for two situations: ruling out rule-related interference while troubleshooting, or forcing a specific app to go through the proxy. Remember to switch back to Rule mode afterward - leaving Global mode on long-term means mainland China sites take an unnecessary detour. Direct mode is the opposite - nothing goes through the proxy, effectively pausing it. For more detail on all three modes, check the "Operating Modes" section of the Concept Reference page.

Step 3: Turn On the Connection

With your mode set, there's one last gate to open: getting your system's traffic to actually flow into the client. That gate is the system proxy. In Verge Rev, you'll find a "System Proxy" toggle on the Settings page, and usually a quick toggle on the home page too. Clash Plus puts a big switch right on the main screen. Turning it on points your operating system's proxy settings to 127.0.0.1:7890 - the mixed port the client listens on - so your browser and most apps that respect system proxy settings will automatically route through Clash from then on.

To confirm it worked, check two things: the toggle itself shows as on, and the client icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (macOS) changes color or style. If both check out, the gate is open. While you're at it, you might as well turn on "Launch at Startup" too, right next to the system proxy toggle in Settings - it saves you from having to open the client manually every time.

Should You Turn On TUN Mode Now?

Some apps ignore system proxy settings entirely - certain games, command-line tools, a handful of desktop apps - and these need TUN mode, where the client creates a virtual network adapter to capture and route all system traffic. TUN mode requires installing an extra service or granting elevated permissions, and it's an advanced feature - we'd suggest skipping it on your first setup. If you run into a case where "everything works fine in the browser but one specific app just won't connect," check the TUN mode section on the Troubleshooting page for setup steps and caveats; term definitions are on the Concept Reference page.

Step 4: Verify It's Working

The setup's done - now you need to confirm it actually works. Verification happens in two layers: first check whether the connection itself is working, then check whether traffic is routing correctly.

The most straightforward check is an IP lookup. Stay in Rule mode and open both a China-based IP lookup site and a non-China one in your browser: the former should show your real local address (it went direct), and the latter should show your node's location (it went through the proxy). If both give the expected answer, your routing is working correctly. If the non-China site also shows your local address, traffic isn't reaching the client at all - go back to Step 3 and check your system proxy toggle.

If you're comfortable with the command line, running curl through the client's mixed port is a quicker check:

A normal response header (like HTTP/2 200) means the whole chain - from your machine, through the node, to the target site - is working. A timeout or error usually points to a problem with the node or the port.

Double-Check with the Connections Panel

For a closer look, Verge Rev's "Connections" page lists every connection along with whether it went DIRECT or through a specific node, and which rule matched - much easier to read than digging through logs. Clash Plus has a similar connections list too. This is the quickest way to confirm your traffic is being routed the way you expect.

Troubleshooting Order If It's Not Working

If verification fails, check these four things in order: is the system proxy toggle actually on; has the mixed port been changed or is it being used by another program; is the mode accidentally stuck on Direct; is the current node timing out (try switching to a different one). If you've checked all four and it's still not working, the "System Proxy Not Working" and "No Internet Access" sections on the Troubleshooting page walk through a full diagnostic process step by step. For quick one-off questions, check the Help Center first - odds are it's already answered.

What's Next: Where to Go From Here

With these four steps done, you've got everything you need for everyday use. Beyond that, here's where to go depending on what you run into:

Two more reads worth your time: "Top 10 Questions Clash Beginners Ask" answers the most common questions from newcomer communities in one place, and "What Is a Clash Profile?" explains the difference between subscriptions and local files - useful once you're ready to manage your setup beyond just importing a subscription.