Troubleshooting Guide

Find your issue by symptom — covers Windows · macOS · Android

The 3-Point Universal Check Whenever you "can't connect," check these three things first, in order — it fixes 80% of issues: ① The node is set active/selected; ② the system proxy (or VPN switch) is on; ③ the node's latency isn't -1 (if it is, update your subscription first).

1. Installation Issues

Windows: Flagged by Defender / File Gets Auto-Deleted

This is a common false positive for proxy software. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings → Exclusions, add the v2rayN folder, and re-extract the archive. This assumes you downloaded from this site or an official source — a "virus" flag from a third-party download site could be genuine.

Windows: Double-Clicking v2rayN.exe Does Nothing

macOS: "Cannot Verify Developer" or "Damaged" Error

Click "Open Anyway" at the bottom of System Settings → Privacy & Security. If it says "damaged and can't be opened," run this in Terminal:

xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/v2rayN.app

Android: "Install Unknown Apps Not Allowed"

Follow the system prompt to allow your browser or file manager to "install unknown apps," then open the APK again to install it. Some Android skins (like MIUI) also require temporarily disabling restrictions under a "clean mode" setting.

2. Connection Issues

Still No Internet After Importing a Node

  1. Node isn't active: on v2rayN, select the node and press Enter to "Set as Active Server"; on Android, tap the node to highlight/select it.
  2. Proxy isn't on: on v2rayN, right-click the tray icon → "System Proxy" → "Auto-configure System Proxy" (the icon should turn red); on Android, tap the connect button and check for a key icon in the status bar.
  3. Node is dead: run a batch real-connection latency test — if everything shows -1, the nodes in your subscription have stopped working; update your subscription or contact your provider.
  4. Clock out of sync: the VMess protocol is time-sensitive — if your device's clock is off by more than 90 seconds, nothing will connect. Turn on "Set time automatically" in your system settings.

Subscription update failed

  1. Copy the subscription URL again in full (no spaces or line breaks).
  2. The subscription URL itself might need a proxy to reach: connect with a working node first, then use "Update Subscription (via Proxy)."
  3. Subscriptions stop working once your service expires — check with your provider.

It Was Working a Minute Ago, Now Nothing Connects

3. Speed Issues

Connected But Very Slow

  1. Batch-test latency and switch to the lowest-latency node.
  2. Congestion during peak hours (8–11 PM) is common and normal — try off-peak hours or a higher-tier line.
  3. For streaming video, look for nodes labeled IPLC, dedicated line, or with streaming unlock.

Domestic Sites Got Slower

The routing mode is set to "Global," so domestic traffic is being routed through the proxy too. If you're in mainland China, switch to "Bypass Mainland (Whitelist)" — see Routing Modes Explained. Users elsewhere can generally leave this on Global.

4. Some Apps Not Using the Proxy

Browser Works Online, But Some Apps Don't

"System proxy" only affects apps that respect the system proxy setting (like browsers). Command-line tools, games, and similar apps need:

Banking Apps, WeChat, or Similar Apps Act Weird After Connecting

Some apps (banking apps, WeChat, and similar) restrict functionality when they detect a proxy. If you're in mainland China, set routing mode to "Bypass Mainland"; otherwise, simply exclude those apps from the per-app proxy list — this works regardless of where you are.

Still Stuck?