Clash is one of the most popular cross-platform proxy tools today. With a powerful rule engine and support for nearly every mainstream proxy protocol, it has become the go-to choice for developers and power users. If this is your first time, don't let the name or the complicated-looking config files scare you off — for the average user, the whole process is actually very simple.
Before You Start: Understand How Clash Works
Spending two minutes on the logic behind Clash will help you pinpoint the cause whenever a problem comes up later, and save you a lot of trial and error.
Clash is a proxy client tool that runs locally; on its own it provides no proxy nodes or network service at all. A complete setup is made up of three parts:
- The proxy provider: supplies the overseas server nodes, which you pay to access. The provider gives you a "subscription link" that contains the details of every available node.
- The Clash client: reads the subscription link, manages the nodes, and decides — according to your rules — which traffic goes through the proxy and which connects directly.
- The rule config: defines the routing logic. It usually comes bundled with the subscription link: domestic sites connect directly, overseas sites go through the proxy, and ad domains are blocked.
Step 1: Choose and Install a Client
The Clash ecosystem has several graphical clients, and all that choice can leave beginners unsure where to start. Here are the recommendations by platform:
- Windows: Clash Verge Rev — a clean, modern interface with full features, support for Windows 10/11, and the Mihomo core. It's currently the most actively maintained Windows client.
- macOS: Clash Verge Rev again. It supports both Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) and Intel chips, and the install experience matches the Windows version.
- Android: ClashMeta for Android (CMFA) — a clear interface, powerful features, and support for both ARM64 and universal-architecture APKs.
- iOS: Clash Plus — a free App Store download, searchable directly in the China region with no overseas Apple ID required.
- Linux: Clash Verge Rev offers both .deb (Debian/Ubuntu) and .rpm (Fedora/RHEL) packages.
Head to the download page to grab the latest version for your platform. When downloading, be sure to pick the right architecture: choose Apple Silicon for M-series Macs, x64 for Intel Macs from before 2020, and ARM64-v8a for most phones.
Windows Installation Notes
After downloading, just double-click the .exe to run the setup wizard. If a prompt to install the WebView2 Runtime appears during the first install, follow the guide to install it (Windows 11 usually ships with it already). Once setup finishes, the program launches automatically and a Clash icon appears in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar.
If your antivirus throws up a warning, that's common for proxy tools (they need to modify network settings) — just add the install directory to the allowlist. We also recommend verifying the SHA256 hash against the one on our download page to confirm the file's source is trustworthy.
macOS Installation Notes
Mount the .dmg and drag the app into your Applications folder. The first time you open it, macOS Gatekeeper will block it with a message like "cannot verify the developer" — this is the system's normal protection for apps that haven't gone through Apple notarization, not a virus. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security, find the block notice near the bottom, and click "Open Anyway" to use it normally.
Step 2: Import Your Subscription Link
Open Clash Verge Rev and find the Profiles tab in the left-hand navigation — this is where you manage subscriptions.
- Click the New button or the
+in the top-right corner. - From the pop-up menu, choose Import from URL.
- Paste your full subscription link into the URL field. It usually starts with
https://and tends to be quite long. - In the "Name" field, enter something easy to recognize (such as "My Nodes" or the provider's name).
- Click Download and wait for the client to pull the subscription contents. On success, a new profile entry appears in the list.
- Click that profile to set it as "active" (a blue selection mark appears to the left of the entry).
Step 3: Choose a Node and Turn On the Proxy
Once the profile is active, switch to the Proxies tab, where you'll see all the proxy groups and nodes from your subscription.
Understanding Proxy Group Structure
A subscription usually includes a few preset proxy groups:
- PROXY: the main proxy group, controlling the egress for all proxied traffic.
- Auto Select / AUTO: automatically tests speeds and picks the lowest-latency node; recommended for everyday use.
- Fallback: automatically switches to a backup node when the primary one fails.
- Streaming-specific groups (such as Netflix, Disney+): some subscriptions offer dedicated nodes for unblocking streaming services.
Test Speeds and Pick a Node
- Click the ⚡ icon next to a proxy group to run a latency test, and wait a few seconds.
- Once testing finishes, each node shows its latency: green (<100ms) is best, yellow (100–300ms) is usable, and red (>300ms) or "timeout" is best avoided.
- Pick a low-latency node, or just choose "Auto Select" and let the client manage it for you.
Enable System Proxy
Back on the client's home screen, find the System Proxy toggle and turn it on. Then open your browser and visit a site like Google or YouTube — if it loads normally, your setup is working.
Step 4: Advanced Settings (Recommended)
Set Up Automatic Subscription Updates
On the Profiles page, click the settings icon on your subscription entry, find "Update Interval," and enter 1440 (minutes) — that updates it automatically every 24 hours. This keeps your node information current, with no manual refreshing needed.
Understand the Proxy Modes
- Rule: recommended! Domestic traffic connects directly, overseas traffic goes through the proxy, and ad domains are blocked. The fastest option and the default choice for everyday use.
- Global: all traffic goes through the proxy, including domestic sites. Useful when troubleshooting, but not recommended day to day (domestic sites get slower).
- Direct: no traffic goes through the proxy — the same as having Clash off.
Common Troubleshooting
Still can't reach Google after turning on the proxy
First, make sure the proxy mode isn't "Direct" — switch to "Rule" or "Global" and try again. Next, check whether the node latency test passes; if every node times out, the nodes themselves are the problem, so contact your provider. Finally, check whether your browser has its own proxy setting overriding the system proxy (Firefox needs to be configured separately to use the system proxy).
The node list is empty
Paste the subscription link straight into your browser's address bar. If it returns a wall of gibberish or YAML content, the link is valid; if the browser can't open it, the link has expired or the account has an issue — contact your provider for a new one.
Domestic sites have gotten slow
Check whether you're in "Global" proxy mode. Global mode sends all traffic — including domestic sites — on a detour through overseas nodes, adding latency. Switch to "Rule" mode and domestic traffic will connect directly on its own.
Some apps or games don't go through the proxy
System proxy only works for apps that support proxy protocols (mainly browsers). Programs like game clients and command-line tools need TUN mode to be proxied. See TUN Mode Deep Dive for details.
No internet after closing Clash
Clash may have failed to clear the system proxy settings when it quit. Reopen Clash, manually turn off the "System Proxy" toggle on the main screen, then quit the program. Make it a habit before closing next time: turn off the proxy first, then quit.
Conclusion
The core workflow for using Clash is simply: install the client → import the subscription → pick a node → turn on the proxy. Master these four steps and you can already handle 90% of everyday needs.
As you go deeper, you'll gradually want to learn more: how to write custom rules so specific sites use specific nodes, how to enable TUN mode to cover the traffic of every app, how to configure DNS to prevent leaks… we'll cover all of these advanced topics one by one in future blog posts.