V2Ray Client FAQ

V2Ray generally refers to the proxy technology ecosystem built around Project V. v2rayN is a graphical client for Windows, macOS, and Linux, while Xray is one of the cores a client can use. Daily tasks are mainly handled in the v2rayN interface; the selected core parses protocols, establishes connections, and applies routing.

Use v2rayN first on Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop devices. Android devices typically use v2rayNG with the Xray core; if a subscription or node specifically depends on the V2Fly core, v2flyNG is another option. Their configuration entry points differ, but all three can import common subscriptions and individual node links.

Yes. A subscription service can return multiple protocols at once, and the client identifies each entry and builds a server list. Whether an entry works depends on the client version, active core, and completeness of its transport parameters—not on the presence of other protocols in the same group. If one protocol fails, check that entry’s parameters first.

A system proxy mainly affects apps that follow the operating system’s proxy settings. It is simple to configure and works well with browsers and most desktop software. TUN mode uses a virtual network interface to capture a broader range of traffic, making it more effective for apps that ignore system proxy settings, but it usually requires extra permissions and is more susceptible to firewalls, virtual adapters, and other network tools.

A subscription is an address used to retrieve a batch of nodes. A node is a specific connection configuration containing a server, port, protocol, and transport parameters. Subscription groups organize nodes by source. With separate groups, you can update, filter, or disable sources independently, making it easier to identify where a configuration came from during troubleshooting.

First check for leading or trailing spaces, line breaks, or missing characters. Then confirm that you are adding it through subscription management rather than the individual-node import option. Use a browser to verify that the address returns content normally. If it requires login, has expired, or returns a regular web page, the client cannot parse it; ask the subscription provider for the complete URL that can be updated directly.

Content beginning with vmess://, vless://, or trojan:// usually represents one individual node and should be imported from the clipboard or through the manual-add option. A subscription URL typically begins with http:// or https:// and returns multiple encoded entries. Putting an individual node link in the subscription field, or treating a subscription URL as a single node, will cause the import to fail.

Most mainstream Android phones and tablets released after 2015 use arm64, so the smaller arm64 package is usually the best choice. If the device architecture is unknown, the hardware is older, or the arm64 package cannot be installed, use the broader-compatibility universal package instead. The client features are generally the same; the main difference is the processor architectures included.

The desktop edition uses a newer cross-platform interface and suits users who want a similar workflow across desktop operating systems. The classic WPF edition targets Windows and retains its mature traditional interface and menu layout. If your tutorials, habits, or automation rely on the classic interface, you can continue using WPF; for a new installation, try the desktop edition first.

Select the subscription group you just created and run an update once, then check whether the server filter still contains a keyword. Filters for protocol, remark, or status may also hide every entry. If the list remains empty after clearing the filters, check the update log for parsing errors and confirm that the subscription returns a format supported by the client.

Create a separate group for each configuration source instead of merging every address into the default group. Give each group a recognizable name, and configure its update interval, filters, and default node independently. When changing a subscription, adjust only its group. This prevents duplicate names from becoming mixed together and preserves usable configurations from other sources if one update fails.

A latency test reflects the response under a particular combination of test time, method, and target address; it is not the same as actual download speed. Some nodes may not respond to a specific test method while still establishing a proxy connection. When choosing a node, consider connection success, how familiar websites load, and stability over time—not just a single test result.

Rule mode decides whether to connect directly or use the proxy based on domains, addresses, or predefined rules, making it suitable for everyday use. Bypass-mainland is a common strategy: local and mainland-China resources usually connect directly, while other traffic follows the rules. Global mode sends a much broader range of traffic through the current node and is useful for temporary diagnosis, but should not be left enabled long-term without understanding its scope.

After saving the rules, reapply the configuration and disconnect and reconnect if necessary. Existing connections may continue using the old route, so close the relevant apps or refresh their network sessions during testing. Confirm that the edited routing configuration is active and check the rule order; a broad rule near the top may match first and prevent later rules from running.

For your first setup, keep the client’s default settings and confirm that the basic connection works. Adjust DNS separately only when domains fail to resolve, results are abnormal, or a specific routing strategy requires it. Change one setting at a time and record the original value. Changing local DNS, remote DNS, FakeDNS, and routing rules together makes troubleshooting much harder.

First confirm that the device itself can access the network normally, then update the subscription and verify the system time. Temporarily disable extra proxy apps, virtual adapters, and firewall rules that may intercept connections, then test one node again. If every node times out at once, the cause is usually the local network, subscription validity, or client configuration; timeouts affecting only a few entries are more likely to be individual-node failures.

Confirm that the active node actually works, then check that the system proxy is enabled and that the browser is not using its own proxy settings. Switch to rule mode and reconnect, then test a domain and a direct address separately to determine whether DNS is involved. If only one app cannot connect, check whether it ignores the system proxy or requires TUN mode to capture its traffic.

A system proxy works only with programs that actively read the operating system’s proxy settings. Some games, command-line tools, and apps with their own network stacks do not use it. Check for a proxy option inside the program first; if none exists and its traffic must be captured, consider TUN mode. Before switching, exit other traffic-interception tools to avoid routing and virtual-adapter conflicts.

Fully exit the client, restart it with the administrator permissions provided by the system, and confirm that security software has not blocked the virtual-adapter driver. If other VPNs, virtual machines, or network-acceleration tools are installed, temporarily exit them and try again. If it still fails, switch back to system proxy mode for basic use, then inspect old virtual adapters, driver status, and system network services.

Stop the current update task, confirm that the subscription URL has not expired, and check whether opening it in a browser returns a login or error page. Then review the request status in the client log and rule out an incorrect system time, DNS resolution failure, or a local proxy loop. If only one of several subscriptions fails, handle that group separately rather than deleting working configurations; export the current settings before adding it again.