How it works
What is a VPN subscription link, and how do you use it?
A VPN subscription link is a private URL that your app downloads its server list from. Instead of adding each config by hand, you paste one link and the app fetches every protocol on your plan, then checks back for updates. DXVPN's link detects whether your app expects a v2ray, Clash or sing-box format and refreshes every 6 hours. Treat it like a password.
Key points
- One link replaces a pile of separate configs and keeps them up to date.
- DXVPN's link detects v2ray, Clash or sing-box apps and serves the matching format.
- It carries every protocol on your plan, so your app has fallbacks ready.
- Anyone with the link can use your plan: keep it private like a password.
What a subscription link is
A subscription link is a URL that belongs to your account. When your VPN app opens it, the server returns the list of connections you are allowed to use, already formatted for that app.
Without a subscription, you would copy each config one by one: a VLESS entry, a Trojan entry, a Shadowsocks entry, and so on for every server. When anything changed on the provider's side, you would have to do it all again. A subscription turns that into a one-time step. You add the link once, and the app goes back to it to fetch the current list.
DXVPN also delivers configs as a QR code or a config file, and those are fine for a quick start. The subscription link is the option that keeps itself up to date, which is why we recommend it for everyday use.
One link, three formats
VPN apps do not all speak the same language. Most of the apps people use fall into three families, and each expects its own format:
| App family | What the app expects | Examples from our download page |
|---|---|---|
| v2ray-compatible | A list of share links, one per connection (vless://, trojan://, ss:// and so on), usually encoded as one block | v2rayNG, V2rayN, V2Box, Streisand, Shadowrocket |
| Clash-compatible | A YAML config with a list of proxies, proxy groups and rules | Clash Verge, Clash Meta and ClashX Meta |
| sing-box | A JSON config with outbounds and routing | sing-box on every platform |
Some providers give you a different link for each family, and it is easy to paste the wrong one. DXVPN's link detects which kind of app is asking and serves the matching format. Links like this commonly rely on the information the app sends with its request, so a very unusual or heavily customised app may still need the right format chosen by hand.
What is inside DXVPN's link
The link includes every protocol on your plan, not just one. On Free, Pro and Family that means up to 7 protocols; availability can vary by server. Basic carries VLESS, Trojan and Shadowsocks. The full list is on the protocols page.
This matters on filtered networks. If VLESS + Reality stops working, Trojan or Shadowsocks 2022 is already in your app, and you do not need to visit a website to get it. The subscription refreshes every 6 hours, so when servers or settings change, your app picks up the new list on its next update. If something breaks in the meantime, a manual update is usually the first thing to try.
How to import it
The steps are similar in every app, even though the button names differ. Get the link from your dashboard or from the Telegram bot @dxvpnbot, then:
- Copy the link. Copy it straight from the dashboard or the bot. Do not retype it; a single wrong character breaks it.
- Find the import option. Look for wording such as adding a subscription, importing from the clipboard, or creating a profile from a URL. In many apps it sits behind a plus button.
- Paste and save. Give the profile a name if the app asks for one.
- Update once. Most apps fetch the list straight away. If the list stays empty, trigger an update by hand.
- Pick a connection and connect. Choose a specific protocol or an automatic group, if your app shows one.
If your app can scan QR codes, the QR code from the dashboard or bot is the quickest way on a phone. The download page lists compatible apps for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Linux.
How url-test and fallback groups work
Clash-compatible and sing-box apps can put several connections into a group and choose between them automatically. Whether you see such a group depends on your app and the format it receives, but the ideas are worth knowing.
- Manual selection. A selector group simply lets you pick one entry yourself. It changes only when you change it.
- url-test. The app regularly opens a small test address through each connection and measures how long it takes. It then uses the fastest working one, and usually only switches when another is noticeably faster, to avoid jumping back and forth.
- fallback. The app keeps an ordered list and uses the first entry that passes the test. If it fails, the next one takes over.
An automatic group helps most when one protocol suddenly stops working on your network. A manual choice helps when you know which protocol works best where you are. Our guide on choosing a VPN protocol explains what each one is good at.
Keep the link private
Your subscription link is a credential. Anyone who has it can load your configs and use your plan, just as they could with your password. A few habits keep it safe:
- Do not post it. Keep it out of public chats, forums, screenshots and bug reports. The same goes for its QR code.
- Be careful with online tools. Websites that convert or check subscription links receive the full link. Only paste it into apps you trust.
- Use it within your plan. Your plan sets the device count. Sharing beyond plan limits is not allowed under the terms of service.
- If it leaks, act like it was a password. Contact support through @dxvpnbot or check your dashboard to get a new link, then update it in each of your apps.
Protecting your account helps too: DXVPN supports two-factor sign-in with an authenticator app or through Telegram.
Questions
Is a subscription link the same as a config file?
No. A config file is a snapshot of your settings at one moment. A subscription link is an address your app downloads the current settings from, so it can pick up changes later without you doing anything.
How often does the DXVPN subscription update?
The subscription refreshes every 6 hours. Most apps also let you trigger an update by hand, which is worth doing if a server stopped working or your plan changed.
What should I do if my subscription link leaks?
Treat it like a leaked password. Stop sharing it, and contact support through @dxvpnbot or check your dashboard to get a new link. Then update the link in every app you use.
Can I use the same link on several devices?
Your plan sets how many devices you can use, for example 1 device on Free and 5 on Family. Sharing access beyond your plan's limits is against the terms of service, so check your plan before adding more devices.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. VPN rules differ by country — check the law where you are.
See it for yourself
Run the “what the censor sees” check on the home page, or start on the free plan — no card needed.