This Windows client guide covers everything from installation and subscription import to connection verification. The goal is not simply to click through each button, but to explain what every status means, how system proxy mode differs from TUN mode, and how to confirm that your browser, applications, and DNS are using the intended route after connecting.
Before you begin, separate three concepts: the client is the connection tool running on your computer, the subscription link is the credential used to retrieve route configurations, and the route determines the entry and exit points for your traffic. Installing the client does not mean you are connected, and successfully importing a subscription does not mean system traffic has switched. The process is complete only after the configuration is loaded, a route is selected, the connection is enabled, and the result is verified.
Prepare Your Environment and Download the Correct Client
Start from the Windows download entry on the user panel’s client download page. Do not look for installers in chat histories, file-hosting mirrors, or pages from unknown sources. Clients differ in the protocols and subscription formats they support, so the panel’s download entry is generally matched to the current service configuration and can help prevent “format not supported” errors or empty route lists after import.
Before downloading, confirm that the currently signed-in Windows account can install applications. If the client needs to create a virtual network adapter or enable TUN mode, Windows may request permission because these features require network components. After installation, launch the client normally. For now, avoid running other proxy, acceleration, or network-filtering tools at the same time, since multiple programs may otherwise modify the system proxy and routing table.
- ✅ Open the Windows download entry from the user panel and confirm that the file source matches the usage instructions.
- ✅ Pause other network tools that take over the system proxy, virtual network adapter, or DNS.
- ✅ Keep the subscription link intact; do not include spaces, line breaks, or punctuation when copying it.
- ✅ Confirm that the system date and time are correct. Clock drift can cause TLS handshakes or certificate checks to fail.
Protocol Names and Client Capabilities
A subscription may include configurations for Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, VLESS, Hysteria2, or TUIC. These are different transport or proxy protocols, not route locations. No Windows client supports every protocol, and even when a client can recognize the subscription, it may skip certain nodes because its core version is outdated. If some routes are missing, first update the client or connection core recommended in the panel instead of repeatedly deleting the account configuration.
Labels such as “IEPL,” “transit,” or “direct” describe how the link is organized; they are separate from the proxy protocol. The protocol handles the connection and data transfer between the client and server, while the route type describes how data reaches the exit. Both layers must be compatible. You cannot judge speed or stability from the protocol name alone.
Import the Subscription and Confirm the Configuration Update
After opening the client, look for entries such as “Subscriptions,” “Configurations,” “Profiles,” or “Import from URL.” Names vary slightly between applications, but the workflow is the same: create a remote configuration, paste the complete subscription link, give it a recognizable name, and run an update. After a successful import, the client should show route names, locations, or groups—not just an empty subscription entry.
If the client can detect links from the clipboard, it is still a good idea to review the link once in the subscription manager. Automatic detection may include other text copied from the browser; checking it manually confirms that no extra characters were added at either end. Once the subscription link is updated, the client fetches the remote configuration again, so you do not need to enter server addresses, ports, and protocol parameters one by one.
- Copy the subscription link from the user panel. Do not open the link and copy the page contents.
- Open the client’s subscription or configuration manager and choose the option to add a remote configuration by URL.
- Paste the link and save it, then run one manual update.
- Open the route list and confirm that locations, route names, and groups are displayed.
- Close the subscription editor and return to the client’s main interface, then select the configuration you just imported.
How to Interpret Common Import Results
| What You See | Possible Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Import succeeds and a route list appears | The client recognized the subscription format | Continue by choosing a route and enabling the connection |
| The subscription exists, but the route list is empty | The configuration was not refreshed, the core did not load, or the format is incompatible | Update the subscription manually and check the client version |
| A network request failure appears | The current network cannot retrieve the subscription, or time validation failed | Check the basic network connection, system time, and security-software blocking logs |
| Some routes are missing | The client does not support the relevant protocol or configuration fields | Use the client recommended in the panel and update the connection core |
If the link is reported as invalid immediately after copying, first remove spaces before and after it, then make sure you did not copy the instructions along with the link. If basic webpages also fail to open, restore the local network connection first rather than continuing to edit the subscription. Retrieving a subscription depends on an existing network connection; when the computer is completely offline, the client cannot fetch the remote configuration by itself.
Choose a Route and Connection Mode
Route selection should not be based on geographic distance alone. The destination, current network provider, evening congestion, and route entry point all affect the experience. When accessing content for a particular region, start with an exit that matches the target region. For ordinary web browsing, begin by testing a nearby route with a stable connection. If the client shows latency, treat the number as the result of a single probe—not as a guarantee of download speed, video buffering performance, or long-term stability.
A direct route usually connects to the remote exit through the local network. Its path is simple, but it is more affected by public-network routing changes. A transit route connects to an intermediary entry point first and then forwards traffic to the target exit, which can help adjust the cross-network path. An IEPL dedicated route generally indicates that the link includes dedicated transport resources intended to reduce fluctuations caused by public-network congestion. Follow the route description provided; “IEPL” is not an encryption protocol, and it does not guarantee fixed latency at every time of day.
| Route Type | Link Characteristics | How to Evaluate It |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | The client connects directly to the remote exit over a public-network path | Observe connection success and sustained transfer performance on the current network |
| Transit | Traffic reaches an intermediary entry point first, then travels to the exit through the transit link | Compare evening access, cross-provider paths, and long-connection stability |
| IEPL Dedicated | The link uses a dedicated transport segment, reducing reliance on some public-network paths | Test it against the target region, application type, and actual usage period |
System Proxy vs. TUN Mode
System proxy mode writes the proxy settings to Windows, allowing browsers and applications that follow the system proxy to forward traffic through it. Some games, command-line tools, Store apps, and software that manages its own network connection may ignore the system proxy and continue using the local network. If the browser works but a particular program does not change, first check whether that application reads the system proxy.
TUN mode uses a virtual network adapter to take over a broader range of traffic. It is useful for applications that do not support system proxies, but it is also more likely to conflict with other virtual adapters, enterprise security software, virtual-machine networking, or local DNS settings. For a first setup, use system proxy mode for the basic verification. If an application truly does not follow the proxy, enable TUN according to the client’s instructions and allow it to install the required network components.
Establish the Connection and Configure Split Tunneling
After selecting a route, click the client’s connection switch and check whether the status changes from “Disconnected” to “Connected.” Some clients also require system proxy mode to be enabled separately, so check both the main connection switch and the proxy takeover switch. If the tray icon changes after connecting but webpages still use the original exit, open Windows proxy settings and confirm that the client actually wrote the proxy address.
Split-tunneling rules determine which requests use the proxy route and which access the internet directly. Common modes include rule-based routing, global proxy, and direct connection. Rule-based routing selects a path according to domains, address ranges, or application rules and is usually better for everyday use. Global proxy sends more traffic through the current route and is useful for diagnosing cases where rules are not matching. Direct mode bypasses the proxy and can temporarily restore local access.
Rule mode does not mean every request will automatically follow the intended path. A webpage may load its main domain, static assets, login services, and content-delivery domains at the same time. If any one of them is incorrectly sent direct, the page may open while images, video, or login fail. In that situation, briefly switch to global mode for comparison. If global mode works but rule mode does not, the issue is usually closer to the split-tunneling rules than to the subscription or route itself.
- ✅ The client’s main interface shows Connected, and the current route matches the intended exit.
- ✅ The system proxy switch is enabled, or the TUN virtual network adapter is working.
- ✅ In rule mode, the target domain matches the proxy group rather than the direct group.
- ✅ Re-establish the connection after switching routes so an old session does not continue using the previous route.
- ✅ When testing in a browser, close old tabs and make a new request to reduce interference from cached results.
The Protocol Connects, but Webpages Do Not Open
A connection status only means that the client and remote service completed a handshake. It does not prove that domain resolution, split tunneling, and application proxying are working correctly. Check DNS, the system proxy, rule matching, and browser extensions in that order. Do not switch through many routes in succession, as this can hide the real local configuration problem.
If only one application behaves incorrectly, first check whether it has its own proxy settings. Some software prioritizes its own proxy configuration instead of the Windows system proxy; other software reads the network environment only at startup. Fully exit and reopen the application after changing the proxy. This is often more reliable than simply refreshing its interface.
Verify the Connection, Check DNS, and Enable Startup
Do not verify the connection by looking only at the client’s green status. First visit this site’s IP lookup page and note the exit information before and after connecting. The exit location shown after connecting should match the selected route. If it still shows the local network exit, system proxy mode, TUN takeover, or the browser’s proxy settings has not taken effect. If the location is correct but the target site still behaves unexpectedly, continue by checking split tunneling, DNS, and the site’s own account-region requirements.
Next, check whether DNS requests are following the intended path. A DNS leak occurs when application traffic goes through the proxy but domain lookups are still handled by the local network’s resolver, which can produce results inconsistent with the exit location. If the client offers remote DNS, proxy DNS, or leak-prevention options, enable them according to the recommended configuration. After changing the setting, clear the Windows DNS cache before testing again in a newly opened browser.
ipconfig /flushdns
nslookup example.com
tracert example.comipconfig /flushdns clears the local cache so previous connection results are not reused. nslookup shows the resolver used for the current query and its response, but one query alone cannot prove that every application uses the same path. tracert can help inspect routing; some nodes may not respond to probes, so a blank segment in the middle does not necessarily mean the connection failed.
How to Configure Startup
Clients usually offer separate options for “Launch at startup,” “Connect automatically after launch,” and “Enable the system proxy automatically.” These are different functions: launch at startup only runs the program, automatic connection selects a configuration and establishes a session, and the system proxy or TUN switch determines whether traffic is actually handed to the client. Enabling only the first option can leave a tray icon visible while network traffic still goes direct.
Complete one manual connection and verification before enabling automation. If the computer frequently switches between home, office, and public networks, keeping manual connection enabled can prevent an old route from blocking access after the network changes. If automatic connection is necessary, confirm that the client retries when the network is not ready and check whether it restores Windows’ previous proxy settings after an abnormal exit.
A Fixed Troubleshooting Sequence
- Confirm that the computer can access the basic network normally and that the system clock is accurate.
- Update the subscription manually, check that the route list is complete, and choose a clearly identified route.
- Check that the connection status, system proxy, or TUN mode is actually enabled.
- Temporarily use global mode alongside rule mode to determine whether the issue is related to split tunneling.
- Check the exit information, DNS results, and the target application’s own proxy settings.
If the issue persists, collect the client name, connection protocol, selected route, error text, and reproduction steps, then submit them through the contact page. Logs may contain server addresses or subscription information, so hide sensitive fields before sending them. A precise error time and action sequence is much more useful than simply saying that something “will not open,” because it helps identify whether the problem occurs during connection, resolution, or split tunneling.