Here’s the basic VPN setup flow: create an account, choose a plan, pay, get your subscription link, import it into a compatible client, then connect and test. A successful payment doesn’t mean your device is already using an international route. And a client showing “Connected” doesn’t necessarily mean every app is using that route.
This guide follows the setup process step by step. Each section explains what you should see and what to check if you get stuck. Menu names vary by client, so look for features such as Configuration, Subscription, Proxy, and Connect rather than relying on exact button locations.
Before you start: Accounts, subscriptions, and clients
Your account is where you manage plans, payments, and data usage. A subscription link lets a client retrieve route configurations and usually includes credentials that identify your account. The client parses those settings, establishes a connection, and routes requests according to its rules. Each has a distinct purpose—your account password is not a subscription link.
“VPN” can refer to a built-in system VPN or to a client that provides proxy features. Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, and VLESS are common proxy protocols, but their configuration formats aren’t interchangeable. The client must also support the protocols and transport settings used by your subscription. Similar names don’t guarantee compatibility.
- ✅ Use a device with a working internet connection, and make sure you can open a regular webpage.
- ✅ Get the client from the link provided in your account panel, then follow the instructions for your platform.
- ✅ Pause any other running proxy or VPN to prevent conflicts with routing and system proxy settings.
- ✅ Store your account password and subscription link separately. Don’t share full configurations in public discussions.
If your device is managed by your employer or school, check its usage policies and permissions first. A client can’t override device management requirements. Don’t disable unfamiliar security settings just to import a configuration.
Create an account and choose a plan: Pick a billing option
Open the user panel and create an account by following the on-screen instructions. No email address is required—just a username and password. Once you’re done, you should be able to access your account and find the plan or order section. Save your login details; staying signed in to a browser isn’t a substitute for keeping your password safe.
Choose a plan based on how often you’ll use it and how much data you need. If you regularly visit international sites, use AI tools, or stream video, compare monthly plans. If your usage is less predictable and you’d rather use data as needed, consider a data package that never expires. That refers to the package’s data validity, not permanent access to any external platform.
| Plan type | Price and data | Data terms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan | ¥9.9/month · 60GB ¥18/month · 250GB ¥28/month · 500GB |
Resets monthly on your activation date | For regular use; choose a tier based on typical data usage |
| Data package | ¥158 · 300GB ¥358 · 1000GB ¥658 · 3000GB |
Never expires | For occasional or variable use; consume data as needed |
Unlimited devices doesn’t mean unlimited data. If you use one account on multiple devices, keep an eye on its remaining data. When upgrading a monthly plan, the price difference is converted into remaining days. Check the result shown in the panel before proceeding; don’t assume you’ll get a new full billing period. Compare available tiers on the pricing page.
Pay for your plan: Check the order and plan status
Confirm your selected plan, amount, and billing option, then follow the payment instructions in the panel. Alipay, WeChat Pay, and USDT are supported. For USDT, use the network, payment details, and amount shown on the payment page. Don’t reuse details from an older order or choose a transfer network based on guesswork.
After your payment app confirms the payment, return to the panel and check the order status and whether your plan is active. The next step is to get the client and subscription—not to place another identical order. If the status hasn’t updated, refresh the order page and check your payment history. If you still can’t confirm it, submit your order details through a support ticket in the panel.
Copy your subscription: Import the link, not the login page
Once your plan is active, find the subscription section in the panel and choose “Copy subscription” or the import option for your client. A subscription link is a complete URL—not the marketing homepage, the panel address, or your payment confirmation page. Don’t remove query parameters; they may be needed for authorization or format selection.
- Open the client downloads page from the panel, select your device’s platform, and read the instructions for that platform.
- Return to the subscription section, choose the format compatible with your client, and copy the full link.
- In your client, open configuration or subscription management, choose Add from URL, and paste the link into the address field.
- Save and update the configuration. Check that the list shows routes or proxy groups—not just an empty configuration name.
- Select the imported configuration as the active one, then open the route selection and connection screen.
One-click import may require your browser to open the client. If it doesn’t, make sure the right client is installed, then try copying and importing the link manually. If the route list is empty afterward, check that your plan is active, the link is complete, the selected format is compatible, and the client can reach the subscription URL.
Connect: Choose how traffic is routed on each device
On Windows and macOS, some clients require System Proxy to be enabled so browsers and other apps that follow system proxy settings use the proxy. Other apps have their own network settings and may ignore the system proxy. TUN mode routes traffic through a virtual network interface, covering it differently and usually requiring extra permissions. It doesn’t automatically mean a faster connection.
On iOS and Android, clients typically ask to add a VPN configuration or establish a VPN connection. Check where the app came from, then approve the request in your system settings. A VPN icon in the status bar only means the system has established the relevant network interface; you still need to test the site you want to use. For iOS, follow the panel’s instructions and check your current plan’s permissions—don’t assume installation steps for other devices apply.
Linux desktop environments, permissions, and network management vary widely. A command-line program starting successfully doesn’t necessarily configure the proxy for desktop apps. Check each app’s proxy settings, environment variables, or the client’s traffic-routing options. Find platform-specific instructions in Guides. The client download link is in the user panel.
For your first connection, choose a route, keep the default routing rules, and connect. Rule-based mode typically directs traffic through a direct or proxy route according to the domain, destination address, or other criteria. Global proxy mode sends all requests within its scope through the selected proxy. “Global” doesn’t mean apps the client can’t control will automatically use the proxy.
Test the connection: Check websites, exit IP, and DNS separately
First, open a regular webpage to make sure your basic internet connection is working. Then try the international site or AI tool you actually need. If the page loads but you can’t sign in, check the platform’s account eligibility, regional requirements, and error message before assuming the route is down. Network connectivity and platform authorization are separate issues.
Next, check the client’s connection logs to see whether the request matched the expected rule. If needed, use a trusted exit IP lookup site to compare results before and after connecting—but interpret them in light of your routing rules. If that lookup site is set to connect directly, its result won’t reflect the exit IP used by other apps. Never enter account credentials on an unfamiliar site just to test your connection.
DNS translates domain names into IP addresses. A DNS leak occurs when DNS requests don’t follow the expected controlled path, potentially exposing the domains you look up. Browser Secure DNS, system DNS, client DNS, and routing rules can affect one another. A changed exit IP alone doesn’t prove that DNS requests are routed correctly; check trusted test results and your client’s documentation.
How to tell if you’re connected: The app you want to use works, the client logs show requests following the expected route, and your system network works again after you disconnect. Don’t rely only on the connection button’s color, and don’t assume one successful webpage proves that every platform will work.
Common issues: Troubleshoot based on where things go wrong
Subscription won’t update, or no routes appear after import
First, check that your plan is active, then copy the subscription link again in the format that matches your client. If the client reports an unsupported protocol or configuration field, update it and check the compatibility notes. Converting a subscription format can’t add support for protocols the client doesn’t handle. Don’t try to silence errors by blindly deleting configuration fields.
Shows as connected, but webpages won’t load
Make sure the current configuration is enabled, a route is selected, and System Proxy or VPN routing is turned on. Then pause other network proxy tools, check the client’s error logs, and try another route. If webpages still won’t load after closing the client, check for manual proxy settings left in your system rather than switching plans again.
Browser works, but an app still can’t connect
Check whether the app follows system proxy settings, whether a rule routes it directly, and whether the app has its own regional or account restrictions. You can temporarily change the mode as a comparison, following the guide, but avoid changing DNS, rules, and routing settings all at once. Change one thing at a time so you can tell what helped.
Connected, but video buffers or requests time out
First rule out congestion on your local Wi-Fi, background transfers, and low data balance, then compare other routes. Direct connections, relays, and IEPL dedicated lines describe network paths or transport methods; they don’t determine the speed you’ll get on your device. A relay forwards traffic through an intermediate node, while an IEPL dedicated line uses dedicated cross-border transmission resources. Actual performance still depends on your local connection, exit load, and the destination service. Check available regions and route types on the route list, then test access instead of relying on labels.
If you need help through a support ticket, include your device’s operating system, client name, the steps that led to the issue, the selected route name, and a redacted error message. Be specific about whether “the subscription won’t update” or “the target app fails after connecting”—that’s more useful than simply saying “it doesn’t work.”
Everyday use: Keep your configuration and connect as needed
After your first successful connection, there’s no need to import the subscription again each time. Update the configuration when route details change. If you reset your subscription credentials, replace them on your other devices too. Whether to stay connected depends on your use case and routing rules. Disconnect when you’re done, and make sure the system proxy settings return to normal.
Traffic is protected with military-grade encryption, but that doesn’t replace website certificate checks, account security, or device updates. Use the service only on networks and with services you’re authorized to access, and don’t dismiss certificate warnings. Keeping track of your account, subscription, and client status makes it easier to troubleshoot or switch devices later.