V2Ray Windows Client v2rayN Download & Setup

Choose VLESS, VMess, Trojan, or Shadowsocks based on the configuration provided by your server. The protocol name alone does not determine whether a connection will work. After importing a link, check the address, port, authentication details, and transport settings. For REALITY, also verify the server name, public key, and related fields. REALITY is a security-layer technology, not a standalone proxy protocol. v2rayN brings these fields together in a graphical interface, but compatible combinations still depend on core support and server settings. Keep the original configuration before making changes, and replace your everyday profile only after confirming the updated one works.

Treat the v2rayN interface and the core that handles connections as separate components. The desktop client can use cores such as Xray and sing-box; available options and support depend on the current client version. If a configuration is incompatible, check “Core Type” and the startup error before considering a core switch. Changing the interface edition alone will not solve core incompatibilities. Cores can interpret protocol parameters, DNS, and routing differently, so do not assume custom configurations will work unchanged across them. After switching, recheck logs, name resolution, and app access. Keep the last working settings so you can revert if needed.

Open “Subscription Group Settings,” give each source a separate name, and enter its subscription URL. Save the group, select it, then choose “Update Current Subscription (without proxy).” Use the through-proxy option only if the subscription provider requires it. A successful update means the configuration list was retrieved; it does not guarantee that every server will connect. Test one configuration first, then set up routine updates. Subscription updates may overwrite manual changes within a group, so manage custom entries separately if you need to keep them. Treat subscription URLs as sensitive information and remove the full URL before sharing screenshots or logs.

Choose a preset under “Routing” that suits your network, then add custom rules gradually. Rules can match domains, destination addresses, or other criteria, and their order affects the outbound route. Put specific exceptions before broader rules when needed. geosite organizes domain categories; geoip organizes IP address categories, and they are not interchangeable. After choosing “Bypass mainland China,” test both direct and proxied destinations and check the DNS path. If one website has a problem, identify the matching rule rather than routing all traffic through the same outbound path to hide the issue.

First use “Automatically configure system proxy” to test apps that respect system settings. Consider TUN mode for other programs. TUN captures traffic through a virtual network adapter and typically requires additional permissions; it also interacts with system routes, DNS, and other virtual adapters. It expands the range of traffic the client can capture, but does not mean every destination must use a proxy—the routing rules still determine the outbound path. Before enabling it, close other traffic-capture tools and note the current settings. Afterward, test your browser, target apps, and local network access separately. If something breaks, turn off TUN to restore the basic connection, then isolate conflicts one at a time.