VPN Setup and Subscription Import
Get your subscription ready in the panel, then import it into a client on your device. Follow the steps below and finish by checking that websites and apps connect as expected.
Interface labels may vary between platforms, clients, and versions. This guide uses general terms such as “subscription,” “configuration,” and “import from link.” Follow the current instructions in the user panel and client. If you see a similar label, check that it serves the right purpose before continuing.
Set Up Your Account
Open the account creation page in the VPNFile user panel. Choose a username that's easy to remember, then set a password. No email address is required; you'll use this username and password to log in later. Before submitting, check that your entries match the on-screen requirements. Watch for leading or trailing spaces, your input method, and password capitalization so unintended characters aren't saved as account details.
Use a password manager to store your login details. Don't put your username and password in public notes or send them to anyone with your subscription link. If the username is already taken, choose another and try again. If you've already created an account, use the panel's login page instead of creating another one.
Once you're done, make sure you've reached the user panel and can see Account Overview or the plans section. Payments, subscription access, client downloads, and support tickets are all handled in the panel. The marketing site explains how to use the service; it doesn't collect passwords or authenticate clients. With your account ready, choose a plan that suits your usage.
Choose a Plan and Complete Your Order
Open the plans section in the panel and compare monthly subscriptions with data packages. Monthly subscriptions are suited to regular use. Current options are ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, and ¥28/month for 500GB. Monthly data resets on your activation date each month, not at the start of the calendar month. Choose an allowance based on how you plan to use the service; the number of devices isn't a limiting factor, as simultaneous device use is unlimited.
If your usage varies, consider a data package: ¥158/300GB, ¥358/1000GB, or ¥658/3000GB. Data is available until used up, and packages never expire. The main difference from a monthly subscription is how billing and data usage work. Before ordering, check which type you've selected and confirm the price and data allowance so you don't mistake a data package for a plan that replenishes data every month.
After confirming your order, choose Alipay, WeChat Pay, or USDT as prompted by the panel. Once payment is complete, return to the panel to check the order status, then confirm in Account Overview that your plan is active. Don't assume activation succeeded just because the payment page closed. If the payment result and panel status don't match, check the order and contact support through a panel ticket to avoid paying twice.
VPNFile offers a 60-day no-questions-asked refund. See the Terms of Service for details. If you upgrade a monthly subscription mid-cycle, the price difference is converted into remaining days; check the panel for the final order details. For a full breakdown of prices and billing, see the Plans page, then return to the panel to choose a plan.
Get Your Subscription in the Panel
Once your plan is active, open Account Overview in the user panel and look for the copy link or import option in the subscription section. The subscription link isn't your login page or the plan information page; your client uses it to retrieve its configuration and display routes and related rules. Use the panel's copy button when available to avoid missing the end of the link.
If the panel offers one-click import for your installed client, you can use it. Your browser may ask whether to open an external app. Check that the app name matches the client you want before allowing it to open. If the client doesn't launch, make sure it's installed and open. If it still won't launch, copy the subscription link and import it manually in the client instead of repeatedly clicking the same option.
Treat your subscription link as sensitive account information. Don't post it in public chats, online link checkers, or article comments. Before sending a screenshot to support, hide the full link, QR code, and any related credentials. This guide doesn't include a real subscription address; get your actual link from the user panel after logging in.
Once you've copied the link, continue to the next step. If you can't find the subscription option, first check that you're logged in to the account used for payment and that the plan status in Account Overview is normal. If the status looks fine but the option still isn't working, see the subscription section in Troubleshooting or submit a ticket through the panel.
Import the Client on Your Platform
Open the client downloads section in the user panel, choose your device's platform, and read the installation notes beside the download link. These are network clients that can read subscription configurations, not browser extensions or simple webpage shortcuts. After logging in, you can get clients for Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux. Sign in to the panel to view subscription details. The panel provides the iOS download link and eligibility information; follow the instructions currently shown there.
There are two common ways to import: launch the client from the panel for one-click import, or paste the subscription link into the client. Both do the same thing, so you only need one. The steps below cover the general manual import process. If one-click import has already worked, just check the configuration list; don't add the same subscription again.
Windows: Add a Link in Configuration Manager
Install the Windows desktop client as instructed in the panel. Open it and look for a page called “Configuration,” “Subscription,” or something similar. Choose the option to import from a link or URL, then paste the subscription link you copied into the address field. If there's a name field, enter a label that's easy to recognize; don't put it in the link field. Confirm and wait for the configuration to load, then select it for use.
If you see a list of routes by region, the configuration has loaded, but the connection may not be active yet. Find the client's connection or system proxy option and turn it on as prompted. If the system asks for permission or network access, first make sure the request is from the client you just installed, then follow the panel's instructions. Proxy settings for a single app may differ from modes that route system-wide traffic; for your first setup, use the setting recommended by the panel.
macOS: Import a Configuration and Approve System Access
Get the macOS client from the panel, follow the installation instructions, and open it. In configuration or subscription management, choose the option to import from a link, paste your subscription address, and confirm. Once it loads, check that regional groups appear, then enable the newly imported configuration. If the system asks to allow a network configuration or helper component, check the app name and follow the current client instructions to approve it.
Some permissions need to be approved in System Settings. Once that's done, return to the client and start the connection. If the client says it's running but your browser still uses its previous connection, check that the system proxy or client-recommended mode is enabled before deleting the configuration or reinstalling. For help with permission prompts, System Settings, and troubleshooting, see the Mac VPN Setup Guide.
Android: Add a Subscription and Allow the Connection Request
Install the Android client using the link in the panel. Open the app and choose link import from the configuration, subscription, or add menu. Paste your subscription address, save it, and wait for the update to finish. Some apps have separate “Save subscription” and “Enable configuration” steps. After the routes appear, make sure this subscription is selected as the active configuration, then tap Connect.
The first time you connect, Android may show a VPN connection request. Confirm the app is the right one, then allow it. Check the connection status in the client and the system VPN indicator, then test in a browser. If the connection drops only when the app is in the background, check its background activity and battery settings. This is a stability issue to troubleshoot later; there's no need to create another account or place another order.
iOS: Get and Add a Subscription as Directed in the Panel
Choose the iOS option in the panel and follow the current instructions to get a compatible subscription client. If the panel shows eligibility requirements or other guidance, address those first, then continue with the import. Once installed, use the matching one-click import option in the panel, or open the client and choose Add Link in its subscription or configuration settings. Paste the link, save it, and wait for the client to load the routes.
When you enable the configuration and start the connection, iOS may ask to add a VPN configuration. Approve it as prompted by the system. This authorization allows a connection to be established; return to the client to confirm it's running. Subscription updates are usually handled in the client's subscription manager, so you don't need to add a system configuration again. If the system prompts differ from this guide, follow the current instructions in the client and panel.
If import fails, first check that you copied the full subscription link, your device has an internet connection, and the selected import option supports this configuration. Don't submit the link to a third-party conversion website. For more advanced issues involving protocols, DNS, split tunneling, and background activity, see Troubleshooting.
Connect and Verify It Works
Return to the client, select the imported configuration, then choose a route that matches the region required by your target service. For your first test, try one region and leave other settings unchanged so you can assess the result. After connecting, check that the client shows an active connection and that any required system permissions have been approved. A route appearing in the list, a loaded configuration, and an active connection are separate states; check each one.
First, open a website you normally use to confirm your device's internet connection is working. Then open the international website or app you need and check that the page loads fully and the sign-in process works. If your browser works but a particular app doesn't, check whether it has separate proxy settings or is excluded by a routing rule, and whether restarting the app helps. There's no need to switch every route right away.
A successful connection doesn't guarantee that a streaming service or AI tool will accept your current region, account, or network environment. Platforms may also consider your account region, subscription eligibility, and their own policies. If you see a region warning, first check the service's supported regions, then confirm that your selected route matches. Don't assume a platform restriction means the client import failed.
If the route list changes, use the update option for your existing subscription in the client, then check the active configuration and selected route again. Update your existing subscription rather than adding duplicate configurations. If the problem persists, note the affected platform, client name, error message, route region, and whether only one app is affected. Send these details through a panel support ticket, hiding your subscription link and other sensitive information in screenshots.
Once you've tested a website and your target app, you're all set. To use another device, log in to the panel on that device, get the matching client, and repeat the import steps. Simultaneous device use is unlimited. For dropped connections, failed subscription updates, DNS issues, or slowdowns during peak hours, follow the symptom-based steps in Troubleshooting. Avoid changing several settings at once when the cause isn't clear.