A subscription link is a dedicated URL that lets a client retrieve connection settings. It is not a payment link or a regular website address. Beginners generally just need to find the link for their client in the user panel, import it, update the configuration, and select a route. This guide covers each step, from getting the link to verifying and maintaining your setup.

How Subscription Links Differ from Plans and Nodes

Here, “subscription” means the mechanism a client uses to retrieve configuration from a server. It is separate from whether a plan is billed monthly. A plan determines the account’s data allowance and reset rules; a subscription link gives the client information about available nodes. Copying the link does not make a payment or change the account’s data allowance.

A node configuration typically includes a server address, port, protocol, and authentication details; the exact fields vary by protocol. A subscription can provide a set of nodes in one place. Some formats also include proxy groups, routing rules, and DNS settings, but not every subscription includes them. Updating a subscription retrieves the current configuration provided by the server.

Know the difference between configuration access and account benefits
Term Main purpose Common point of confusion
Plan Sets the account’s data allowance and billing terms An active plan does not mean the client is already connected
Subscription link Lets a client retrieve connection settings It is not the user panel login URL or a client download link
Single-node link Imports the connection details for one route Do not assume it can replace the update mechanism for a full subscription
Client configuration Organizes nodes, policies, and local connection settings A node can be working while local rules prevent access to a particular website

Where to Find Your Subscription Link

Sign in to the VPNEI user panel, check your plan and data status, then look for the subscription or connection settings section. Section names may change as the panel is updated, so follow the labels shown in your account. Do not paste a marketing page URL, order URL, or panel homepage into your client.

VPNEI does not require an email address; you can create an account with a username and password. Download clients from the client download page, then sign in to get your subscription link. First, check the beginner’s guide for your operating system and client. Do not download installers from unfamiliar chat messages or let strangers import your subscription link for you.

  1. Sign in to the user panel and check that your current plan is active and has enough data remaining.
  2. Identify your device’s operating system and client, then check which protocols and subscription formats they support.
  3. In the panel, choose the subscription option for your client. If the interface offers a dedicated import button, follow its instructions.
  4. When copying the link manually, include the entire URL. Do not remove query parameters or add quotation marks or spaces.

Subscription links often contain account-specific credentials, so treat them like passwords. Do not post the full link in support tickets, public screenshots, group chats, or online format converters. When troubleshooting, hide the credentials and share only the error message and client details.

Choose a Client for Your Platform and Import the Subscription

The steps vary across Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux, but the basic process is the same: add a remote subscription, retrieve the configuration, enable it, and choose a route. Clients use different labels, such as “configuration,” “subscription,” or “servers,” so follow the guide for your current client rather than relying on a button’s location.

Desktop clients often include a system proxy toggle, and some also support TUN mode. The system proxy mainly affects apps that follow the operating system’s proxy settings. TUN mode routes traffic covered by the configuration through a virtual network interface and usually requires additional permissions. Mobile operating systems typically ask you to authorize a VPN connection. This allows the client to create a network tunnel; it does not verify the exit route or confirm that a particular website is accessible.

Linux users should also check whether they are using a graphical client or a command-line core. The latter may require you to specify a configuration file and launch method; a subscription URL cannot simply be used as a local configuration file. Check the client documentation for support for background updates, reconnecting after sleep, and different network modes.

General Steps for Manual Import

  1. Open the client’s subscription or configuration manager and choose to add a remote configuration, not a single server.
  2. Paste the subscription URL copied from the panel, give it a recognizable local name, and save it.
  3. Update the subscription or retrieve the configuration, then check that a node list appears. If you get an error, save the error text instead of repeatedly deleting the configuration.
  4. Select the configuration you just imported, then choose an exit route. Some clients do not enable a configuration automatically after saving it.
  5. Follow the client’s instructions to enable the connection mode, grant any required system permissions, and check the exit route and website access.

Protocol Support and Subscription Formats Are Different Things

A client supporting a protocol does not mean it can read every subscription format. Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, VLESS, Hysteria2, and TUIC are different connection protocols or protocol families. A list of nodes, a complete YAML configuration, and other client-specific configurations are different ways of representing settings. An import can fail while the client is parsing the format, before it even tries to connect to a server.

For example, clients in the Clash ecosystem typically use YAML configurations, but protocol support varies across cores and versions. sing-box has its own configuration structure and cannot be assumed to load another client’s full configuration as-is. These protocols are listed to explain compatibility; this does not mean VPNEI offers all of them.

If you see “format not supported” or “unable to parse,” first return to the panel and make sure you selected the subscription option for your client. Then check the client version and supported formats. Renaming a file extension will not fix an incompatible format, and you should not assemble node parameters yourself. If conversion is necessary, use an adapter provided by the service when available. Sending a subscription link to a third-party conversion service increases the risk of credential exposure.

Verify Your Exit Route, Routing, and DNS After Connecting

Seeing a node list only confirms that the subscription was retrieved successfully. A client showing “Connected” does not prove that every app uses the same exit route. After connecting, open the IP lookup page to check the route used by your browser, then visit the website you need. Browser results do not show how other apps are routed, so test the relevant app separately.

Rule mode uses domains, addresses, or other rules to decide whether traffic connects directly or goes through a proxy. Global proxy mode usually routes requests covered by that mode through the selected exit, but it does not guarantee that every app on the device is covered. If a website will not load, check which rule matched and which policy group is selected before switching routes.

DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses. If DNS requests go to an unexpected resolver, the domains you look up may be exposed, or you may get results that do not work with your current exit route. When troubleshooting, check the client’s DNS configuration, system resolver settings, and the browser’s encrypted DNS settings. The exit IP alone cannot tell you whether DNS is leaking.

How Often Should You Update a Subscription, and What Changes?

There is no fixed update interval that works for everyone. Update your subscription when service announcements mention route changes, the node list differs from the panel, or a route you used stops working. If your client supports automatic updates, enable them as described in its documentation. Background updates can still be affected by power-saving settings and network conditions, so check the result manually when needed.

An update usually refreshes the node information provided by the server; a full-configuration subscription may also replace policies or rules. If you have edited the configuration, check whether the client will overwrite your changes. Rather than editing a remote configuration directly, use the client’s local override feature if available, and keep a record of your changes.

Updating your subscription does not reset your plan’s data allowance. VPNEI monthly plans are ¥9.9 / 60GB, ¥18 / 250GB, and ¥28 / 500GB, with data resetting monthly on the activation date. Data packages are ¥158 / 300GB, ¥358 / 1000GB, and ¥658 / 3000GB; they last until used and never expire. Check the plans page for details. There is no limit on the number of devices connected at the same time, but each device still needs to be configured correctly.

How to Handle Import Errors and Leaked Links

First, tell a retrieval problem from a connection problem

For “subscription download failed,” first check whether your device can reach the panel, whether the URL is complete, whether your account is in good standing, and whether there is a certificate or network error. Do not disable certificate verification to get past a warning. For “configuration parse failed,” check format compatibility first. For “node connection failed,” check the node settings, client support, route status, and local network. These errors happen at different stages and require different fixes.

If only one website fails, check the exit region, routing rules, DNS, and the website’s own access requirements. If switching routes does not help, use the support ticket page to share your operating system, client version, error message, and the steps that caused the issue. Do not include the full subscription credentials. See the user guide for more configuration help.

If a link is exposed, revoke the old credentials first

Deleting a public message may limit further sharing, but it will not invalidate a link that has already been copied. Sign in to the panel and look for an option to reset the subscription URL or connection credentials, then read the confirmation prompt carefully. If there is no such option, contact support to find out how to revoke the old credentials. Changing your login password may not revoke the subscription, so do not treat these as the same action.

  1. Remove messages and screenshots containing the full link, and stop sharing the old URL.
  2. Revoke the old subscription credentials through the panel or support, making sure you are changing the connection credentials and not just the login password.
  3. Get a new URL, replace the old subscription on all your devices, then update and enable the new configuration.
  4. Confirm that the old credentials no longer work, check your account’s data usage history, and remove any tasks that still use the old configuration.

For beginners: Get the format that matches your client from the panel, import it and verify the actual exit route, update it when routes change, and revoke old credentials if a link is exposed. A subscription link distributes configuration; it does not replace plan benefits, client compatibility, or local routing settings. Troubleshooting one stage at a time is more effective than repeatedly reinstalling the client.