VPN Subscription Links: How to Get One, Import It, and Keep It Updated

Subscription Links, Servers, and Clients: What’s the Difference?

A client reads configuration, establishes a connection, and applies traffic-routing rules. A server is a remote connection endpoint; its configuration may include a server address, port, protocol, and authentication details. A subscription link gives the client access to configurations maintained by the service, so it can fetch updated server details without requiring you to edit each one manually.

Subscription URLs often start with https://, but ordinary web addresses use the same format, so the prefix alone doesn’t tell you what the URL is for. Some URLs return a list of servers; others provide a complete configuration that includes rules, policy groups, and DNS settings. The content depends on the service provider and the format supported by your client.

Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, VLESS, Hysteria2, and TUIC are different proxy protocols, not client brands. A client must also support the relevant protocol and transport methods. This guide explains these general concepts; it does not mean YuanVPN offers every protocol listed. Check the control panel and download instructions for currently available configurations.

Where to Get Your Subscription Link

Get your link from the service’s account dashboard. Don’t look for so-called universal subscriptions in public chats or search results. YuanVPN doesn’t require an email address: your username and password are all you need. After logging in, you can get the client and subscription; an active plan is also required to download the iOS app. Start at the dashboard login page, then follow the page instructions to find subscription and download options.

1. Make sure you’re signed in to your own service account. Check your plan and data status to avoid copying details from another service.
2. Choose the format that matches the client you plan to use. If the dashboard offers a dedicated import option, read the instructions next to it first.
3. Use the copy button to get the full URL. Don’t piece it together from a chat preview, screenshot, or text split across lines.
4. In the client, choose the option to add a subscription by URL, or use a one-click import feature explicitly provided by the service.

If you can’t find the option, see Quick Start or use the support page to tell us your platform and client name. When reporting an issue, describe what happened; there’s no need to send the full subscription URL.

How to Import a Subscription on Each Platform

Menu names vary by platform, but the basic steps are the same: add a remote subscription, wait for it to be parsed, select the configuration, then enable the connection. Before importing, check that you have the right client and that it supports the format. Just because you can copy a URL doesn’t mean every app can read it.

Windows, macOS, and Linux

On desktop, add the remote URL under “Profiles,” “Subscriptions,” or a similar menu. Give it a recognizable name, paste the link, save it, and update the subscription. Once the server list appears, select the configuration and the server you want to use. Some clients require you to enable the system proxy separately; others offer TUN mode to route more system traffic.

The system proxy only affects apps that follow that setting; it doesn’t mean every program will use it. TUN mode involves a virtual network interface, routing, and permissions—it doesn’t guarantee that all traffic is covered without checking the rules. On Linux, also check that the desktop proxy, terminal environment, and app settings agree. Don’t rely on the tray icon alone to confirm it’s working.

iOS and Android

On mobile, you may be able to import by pasting the link or opening it from another app. After switching apps, make sure the expected client opens, then save the configuration. The first time you connect, your device may ask for permission to add a VPN configuration or establish a VPN connection. This authorizes the system to route network traffic; it doesn’t mean your plan is active.

Android clients may let you include or exclude specific apps. On iOS, the available options depend on the client and the system’s networking features, so don’t assume the menus match Android. If your device has a work-managed profile or other network-routing software, check its requirements before removing any unfamiliar configuration.

• ✅ You can see the subscription name, update result, and server list—not just “link saved.”
• ✅ You’ve selected the configuration and server you want to use, and enabled the connection.
• ✅ You’ve checked which mode is active: system proxy, TUN, or per-app routing.
• ❌ Don’t treat access to one website in a browser as proof that every app is using the server.

How to Check Routing Rules and DNS After Importing

First check whether the client reports a connection error, then verify your exit IP and the app you want to use. Note your local network’s exit information before connecting. Once connected, run the check again in a browser you expect to use the proxy. A changed exit IP means the route used for that check changed; it doesn’t prove that every app is covered.

Rule-based mode may send local services directly while routing international sites through the proxy. That’s normal split tunneling. If the target app still connects directly, check whether it’s excluded, which rule matches its domain, and which policy group is in use. Global mode can help with a brief comparison, but it may change how local services are reached. Restore your preferred settings when you’re done testing.

Interpret DNS checks in light of the route you expect. Seeing the name of a particular DNS provider in a test doesn’t automatically mean there’s a leak. The key question is whether lookups for domains that should be protected are being sent through an unexpected local network path. Browser Secure DNS, system resolvers, client DNS settings, and routing rules can all affect the result. Check the client logs rather than relying only on the location shown by a test page.

How Often Should You Update a Subscription Link?

There’s no single update interval that works for every service. Updating a subscription fetches the configuration again; it doesn’t refresh connection status in real time or renew your plan or reset your data allowance. Update it after the first import, when the service announces route changes, when servers are missing, or when credentials have been reset. Set automatic updates according to your client and the service’s instructions.

If your current connection works, there’s no need to keep refreshing it manually. After an update fails, keep the working configuration and check the error before deleting anything—you may not be able to restore it. Automatic updates can also be affected by background restrictions or a sleeping device, so an enabled setting doesn’t guarantee that every update ran.

Troubleshoot by the Error Message

• Request timed out: Check whether your local network can reach the subscription endpoint, and whether the update request depends on a proxy route that’s already unavailable.
• Authentication failed or access denied: Sign in to the dashboard again and check your account status. Make sure the link hasn’t been reset or revoked, and that you copied it in full.
• Failed to parse: Check the client’s supported format and version. The response may be a login or error page rather than a configuration the client can parse.
• Update succeeded, but you can’t connect: Check the server, protocol compatibility, network conditions, and account restrictions instead of repeatedly changing the subscription URL.

IEPL, relay, and direct connection describe how network routes are organized, not subscription file formats. A relay typically forwards traffic through an intermediate server, while a direct connection typically connects the client to the destination server. IEPL refers to dedicated transmission links. These labels can’t guarantee how a particular connection will perform, and changing the URL text won’t turn an ordinary route into a dedicated one.

What to Do If Your Subscription Link Is Exposed

Treat a full URL that’s been made public as compromised credentials. Deleting the chat message may limit further sharing, but it can’t remove copies others have already saved. Changing your account password may not invalidate the subscription token, so check separately how to revoke or replace it.

1. Look in the dashboard for an option to reset or revoke subscription credentials. If you can’t find one, contact the service to confirm how to invalidate them.
2. Get a new link, replace the old one on each of your devices, and update the configurations.
3. Confirm that the old credentials are invalid. Whether downloaded server configurations can still connect depends on whether the service also rotated or revoked the associated authentication details.
4. Check for unusual changes to your plan’s data or your account status. Remove public screenshots, shared documents, and unnecessary clipboard sync records.

If you need to share logs with support, redact tokens in the subscription URL, server passwords, and authentication fields. Hiding only your account name usually isn’t enough: logs, QR codes, and exported configuration files may contain reusable credentials.