Computer Internet Access Guide for Windows and macOS (2026)
This beginner guide explains how to configure proxy access on a Windows PC or Mac in 2026. It covers the basic terminology, Clash Verge Rev installation, subscription import, the system proxy, and common problems.
Core concepts: client and subscription
Only two components are required for the basic setup:
- Client software: The application installed on the computer, such as Clash Verge Rev. The client itself can be free, but it does not supply network nodes.
- Subscription and nodes: A provider supplies a URL, usually beginning with
http. Importing it into the client adds the available nodes and routing profile.
Need a subscription?
Consult the proxy-service selection and review guide to compare options, evidence, and current risk records.
1. Windows
The source guide recommends the open-source Clash Verge Rev instead of the discontinued Clash for Windows project.
Download and install
- Detailed guide and downloads: Install Clash Verge on Windows, Linux, and macOS
Basic steps
- Install the client: Check the official installation guide and use its GitHub Releases for the correct architecture. Current versions do not support Windows 7; check the selected release requirements on Windows 10/11 too.
- Obtain a subscription: Copy the provider's Clash-compatible subscription URL.
- Import the profile: Open Clash Verge Rev, select Profiles or Subscriptions, paste the URL, and choose Import.
- Enable the proxy:
- Open Proxies and select Rule for rule-based routing, or use Global temporarily when testing.
- Open Settings and enable System Proxy.
- Select an available node in the proxy group, then open the intended website in a browser and inspect the connection records. An enabled switch only indicates that the system proxy is configured; it does not prove successful access.
2. macOS
Installing an app on macOS may trigger an unidentified-developer warning. Confirm the package source before bypassing any warning. The remaining configuration is similar to Windows.
Download a client
Clash Verge Rev currently supports macOS 12 or later, with separate Intel and Apple Silicon packages. The source guide also mentions ClashX Pro as an alternative.
- Detailed guide and downloads: Install and Use Clash Verge Rev on macOS
Basic steps
- Install the app: Open the
.dmgand drag the app into Applications. Check the official package source and the exact warning first. A damaged-app or malware warning is not an ordinary unidentified-developer prompt: stop and verify the file or contact the developer. Only after confirming a trusted, untampered app and understanding the risk should you consult Apple’s warning-specific instructions about an individual app exception under System Settings → Privacy & Security. Do not disable overall security protection. - Import the subscription:
- Copy the provider's subscription URL.
- Open the client, find Profiles or Subscriptions, paste the URL, and download the profile.
- Connect:
- Open the client from the menu bar or app window.
- Enable System Proxy, select an available node, and test browser access.
- The official quick start distinguishes system proxy from TUN. Read the relevant instructions before using TUN for applications that ignore the system proxy; it is not a default requirement for ordinary browsing.
3. Frequently asked questions
The client is open, but websites still do not load
- Check the system proxy: Confirm that System Proxy is enabled.
- Check the mode: Use Rule normally. Temporarily switch to Global to investigate routing rules. This changes routing only for traffic reaching the proxy core; it does not capture every application automatically.
- Check the nodes: Run the latency or connectivity test. A timeout only means that test failed; it does not establish an expired subscription or a vanished provider. Check local connectivity, the active profile, selected node, test address, logs, and provider status. Verify expiry and quota in your account, and do not publish subscription URLs or credentials from logs.
The computer cannot access the internet after the client closes
The system proxy may have remained enabled after the client exited.
- Reopen Clash.
- Disable System Proxy.
- Exit normally.
On Windows, you can also open Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy and disable the manually configured proxy server.
Can the same subscription be used on a phone and computer?
Check the plan’s device and concurrent-connection limits and each client’s supported subscription format. Import compatible profiles on both devices only when the plan permits it.
See the Mobile Access Guide for Android and iOS.
Summary
The basic sequence is: install a client → import a subscription → enable the system proxy or TUN mode.
Use the detailed platform guides above when the interface, permissions, or package architecture needs closer attention.