Create an account and open your dashboard
Start by opening the account creation page in your VPNSelf dashboard. No email address is required; you can get started with a username and password. Choose a username you’ll recognize and a password you don’t use on other websites. Before submitting, check your keyboard layout, capitalization, and any accidental spaces to avoid login problems later.
Once you’re done, follow the page instructions to open your dashboard. If you’re taken back to the login page, sign in with the username and password you saved. This step is complete when you can see your account overview. The marketing site’s plan details and guides are for reference; orders, clients, and subscriptions are managed in your dashboard, so there’s no need to create an account again on another page.
Use a password manager to save your login details. Don’t write your password in a public note or group chat. If you already have an account, use the “Log in” link in the navigation. If you can’t access your account, resolve the login issue before continuing; don’t place another order just to proceed with this guide. For help, see the account and subscription guide in the Help Center.
Result: You can access your dashboard. Next, choose your data allowance and billing option.
Choose a plan and check your order
Open the plans section in your dashboard and compare monthly subscriptions with data packages. Monthly options are ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, and ¥28/month for 500GB. Data resets monthly from the activation date, not at the start of each calendar month. When choosing a plan, consider how you’ll use it: browsing and documents, streaming video, and file transfers use different amounts of data. Device count alone isn’t enough to make the decision.
Data packages suit less predictable usage. Available options are ¥158 for 300GB, ¥358 for 1000GB, and ¥658 for 3000GB. They don’t expire and remain available until used. All plans support unlimited devices, but check your remaining data in the dashboard if you use multiple devices. Review the full pricing and billing details on the plans and pricing page before choosing a plan in your dashboard.
After choosing a plan, check the data allowance, amount, and billing option in your order. Then use the Alipay, WeChat Pay, or USDT payment option shown on the page. Once payment is complete, return to your order and account overview to check the order status and confirm that your plan is active. If the payment hasn’t appeared in your dashboard yet, refresh the status and check the original order. Don’t place the same order again or pay twice.
Plans come with a 7-day refund policy. See the refund policy for details on how to request a refund. If you upgrade later, the price difference is converted into remaining days; refer to the result shown in your dashboard. Before continuing, confirm that your selected plan is active, then get your subscription.
Get your subscription and keep the link private
Open the account overview in your dashboard and confirm your current plan status. Then find the subscription, copy link, or client import option. A subscription is not an installation file or the name of a server. It provides the client with the server configurations available to your account, which the client can then read and update. Get your subscription after logging in; there’s no public link to find on the marketing site.
If the dashboard offers a quick import option for your client, follow the prompt to open it. If your system asks whether to open an app, check that it’s the right one before continuing. If you haven’t installed a client yet, get one in the next step and come back to import your subscription. To copy the link manually, copy the entire URL and paste it into the client’s subscription address or remote configuration field.
After pasting, check that the beginning and end of the link are intact. Watch for truncation caused by forwarding through chat apps, automatic line breaks, or manual edits. The subscription field needs the link itself—don’t paste explanatory text, your account password, or a screenshot. This guide doesn’t provide real subscription links; get yours from your own dashboard after signing in.
Get a client and import your subscription
Open the client downloads section in your dashboard and get the VPNSelf client for your device, or use a compatible client explicitly supported by the dashboard. You can download clients on all platforms except iOS by logging in; iOS access depends on your active plan status in the dashboard. Downloading a client and having a usable subscription are separate steps. After installing the client, you’ll still need to import your subscription configuration.
The sections below cover common options for each platform. If the dashboard offers a quick import method for your client, use it first. If you choose a compatible client, check that it supports the subscription format provided in the dashboard. Don’t import a file just because its name looks similar, and don’t submit your link to an untrusted conversion website.
Windows: Subscription or configuration settings
Choose the Windows client in your dashboard, download it, and follow the system prompts to install and open it. With the VPNSelf client or a compatible Clash client listed in the dashboard, look for a configuration management page labeled “Subscription,” “Configuration,” or something similar. A quick import usually opens a confirmation prompt in the client; confirm and save. To import manually, add a remote subscription and paste the complete link you copied.
After saving, update or refresh the configuration and set the newly imported one as active. If you can see server groups or a list of regions, the client has read the subscription—but this doesn’t mean your system traffic is connected yet. If the list is empty, first check that the subscription updated successfully and your plan is active. There’s no need to change advanced network settings yet; leave the client open and continue to the connection steps below.
macOS: Remote configuration and system permissions
Choose the client for your Mac in the downloads section, install it, and open it. Configuration management may be in the main window or in the menu bar app’s menu. Find the subscription or remote configuration page, then import using the option supported by your dashboard or add the subscription link manually. Once imported, select and update the configuration, then check that the region and server names appear.
The first time you connect, macOS may ask you to approve a network configuration or related system permissions. Confirm that the request is from the client you just installed, then follow the system prompts to grant permission. Don’t assume you’re connected just because you see the menu bar icon; check the client’s connection switch and selected server too. If system authorization isn’t complete, return to the relevant prompt instead of adding the same subscription again.
Android: Add a subscription and allow the connection
Sign in to your dashboard to get the Android client, then install and open it. In the VPNSelf client or another compatible client listed in the dashboard, find the configuration, subscription management, or add option and choose to import from a link. Paste the address, save and update it, then select the configuration you want to use. Once the server names appear, choose one and connect; there’s no need to enter server settings individually.
The first time you connect on Android, you may see a VPN connection request. Confirm the app is from the expected source, then allow the connection. If the connection drops when you switch apps or lock your screen, check whether your system restricts background activity for the client and adjust the settings as prompted. First, make sure you can connect while the app is open. For details on background activity and battery settings, see the complete guide.
iOS: Use a compatible subscription format and grant network access
Check the iOS download section in your dashboard for access instructions; availability depends on your active plan status. Get the client as directed and use an iOS subscription client supported by the dashboard. If you already use a compatible client, first check which import formats the dashboard provides. Don’t use a configuration file intended for another platform or change the subscription link just because the menu is labeled differently.
Open the client’s subscription, configuration, or add page and import using a compatible method. If the dashboard can open the app directly, confirm the import in the app. Update the configuration, check the server list, select a server, and connect. If your system asks to add a VPN configuration, follow the on-screen prompts to authorize it. Test the website you want to use after both the configuration is imported and system access is granted; downloading the client alone doesn’t make it ready to use.
Linux: Choose a client using the dashboard instructions
VPNSelf also supports Linux. Sign in and open the downloads section, choose a client that suits your system, then import your subscription using its subscription or remote configuration option. System proxy settings vary across desktop environments, so this guide doesn’t cover command-line or routing configuration. For configuration management and advanced usage, read the complete guide. Avoid changing too many settings during initial setup.
Connect to a server and verify access
Return to the client and confirm that the selected configuration is the one you just imported and updated. Choose a region from the available server list, then connect. For your first connection, keep the mode recommended by the client. If it has a separate system proxy or traffic routing switch, enable it as prompted. Labels such as “Start,” “System Proxy,” and “Connect” vary between clients, so check the status indicators rather than relying only on whether a server is selected.
After connecting, reopen the website or app you want to access. First check that the page loads, then try the task you actually need to do, such as opening a document or playing content. An existing browser tab may not retry automatically; refresh it or reopen the app. Then visit a regular website to make sure everyday browsing still works as expected. The client showing “Connected” is only a local status—the test is whether the service you need is actually accessible.
If regular websites work but the service you need doesn’t, read the message on its page first. Region requirements, account eligibility, or an issue with the service itself won’t necessarily be fixed by changing servers. You can compare other servers in the same region, but change only one thing at a time and check the result before proceeding. Avoid changing the subscription, connection mode, and system settings all at once, or it’ll be hard to tell what made a difference.
If no servers appear in the list, go back and check the subscription update. If the list is there but you can’t connect, check the client’s permissions and selected configuration. If all websites stop working after connecting, disconnect first and check that your basic network connection works, then see if another proxy app is running. For more detailed troubleshooting, see the Help Center. There’s no need to try advanced settings here.
To contact support, use a support ticket in your dashboard and include your operating system, client name, selected region, the exact message you see, and whether the issue occurred during import or connection. Hide your subscription link and account details in screenshots. A clear description of what you did makes it easier to identify the issue than simply saying “it doesn’t work.”
You’re all set when: The client has loaded your server configuration, you can connect, and the website or app you need works. For everyday use, open the client, check the configuration and server, then connect. Check your remaining data and plan status in the dashboard from time to time. For details on server types, updates, and renewals, see the complete guide.