Using Clash on iOS: Get a Client from the App Store and Import Configurations

Before you start: iOS requires a compatible client, not the desktop Clash app

The Clash, Clash Meta, or mihomo configurations commonly used on Windows, macOS, and Android cannot be copied directly to an iPhone as installable apps. iOS apps must be installed through an Apple-approved distribution channel and use Network Extension with Packet Tunnel to handle traffic. In practice, you need an App Store client that can read Clash configurations, proxy subscriptions, or the relevant protocols.

The key question is not whether the app name contains “Clash”, but whether it can parse your configuration format. Some iOS clients support full Clash YAML and recognize fields such as `proxy-groups`, `rules`, and `rule-providers`; others accept only provider-specific subscriptions converted for iOS. Some clients support individual protocols such as Shadowsocks, Trojan, or VMess but cannot import Clash configuration files directly.

Three ways to tell whether a client is suitable

• Configuration compatibility: The product documentation explicitly supports Clash YAML, Clash Meta configurations, or the iOS format listed by the subscription provider.
• Protocol compatibility: Every protocol used by the configuration must appear in the client’s supported list. Even when the protocol name matches, check transport settings, TLS, Reality, plugin options, and other extensions.
• Rule compatibility: For traffic routing, confirm support for rule sets, policy groups, and DNS settings. An app that supports only single-node connections cannot fully reproduce complex routing rules.

mihomo is the kernel name used by the project that followed Clash Meta. When a configuration contains mihomo-specific fields, basic Clash compatibility does not guarantee full compatibility. Newer proxy parameters, rule types, or DNS behavior may be recognized only by a particular kernel. If the app reports “unknown field” or “configuration parse failed” after import, first inspect the reported line and field instead of assuming the subscription has expired or stopped working.

Get a client from the App Store: check region availability and purchase history first

App Store results are determined by the country or region associated with your Apple ID, not solely by your iPhone’s current location. An app may be available in one region but missing from search in another; previously purchased apps may still be downloadable from purchase history. Check the items below in order to avoid repeatedly signing out or changing regions.

Option 1: Search directly and verify the developer

1. Open the App Store and tap Search in the bottom-right corner.
2. Enter the client’s full name instead of searching only for the broad keyword “Clash”.
3. Open the app’s product page and verify the developer name, icon, latest update date, system requirements, and linked website.
4. Check Compatibility and confirm that your current iOS version meets the requirement. For example, if the app requires iOS 16.0 and your device is still running iOS 15.8, the current version cannot be installed.
5. Tap the price or download button, then authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password.

Matching or similar names do not prove that two listings are the same app. Cross-check the developer name, App Store product page, and the subscription provider’s documentation. If the provider supplies an App Store link, open it first rather than choosing based only on the icon.

Option 2: Redownload from purchased items

If you previously obtained the app with the same Apple ID, open the App Store → your account avatar in the top-right corner → Purchased or Apps, then search for the app name. When Family Sharing is enabled, distinguish between your purchases and those of family members. If the app has been removed from the current regional store, it may no longer be available in purchase history; this depends on the App Store’s current status.

When the region does not match, check account restrictions first

The Apple ID region setting is usually found under Settings → your Apple Account at the top → Media & Purchases → View Account → Country/Region. Before changing regions, Apple generally requires you to resolve account balance, active subscriptions, rentals, pre-orders, and Family Sharing relationships. You may also need a valid payment method and billing details for the target region.

If the app page says “This app is not available in your country or region”, the issue is at the App Store regional layer, not a node, DNS, or system proxy failure. If the page opens but the button says the device is incompatible, the issue is at the OS version or hardware compatibility layer. These require different fixes.

First launch: understand the “Add VPN Configurations” system prompt

When a client starts proxying traffic for the first time, iOS displays a prompt such as “VPN Configuration Required”. After you confirm, the device may ask for Face ID, Touch ID, or the passcode. This creates a Network Extension VPN configuration so the app can send selected traffic through a local Packet Tunnel.

After authorization, a VPN indicator may appear in the status bar or Control Center. “VPN” is iOS’s standard label for a network tunnel interface; it does not necessarily mean the client is connected to a traditional corporate VPN. Clash-compatible clients typically perform rule matching, DNS handling, and proxy forwarding inside this tunnel.

The correct first-time authorization order

1. Import a configuration that parses successfully.
2. Select that configuration on the client’s home screen, then choose an available node from its policy group.
3. Tap Start, Connect, or the client’s equivalent switch.
4. When iOS prompts you to add a VPN configuration, tap Allow.
5. Complete Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode verification.
6. Return to the client and confirm that the status changes from Stopped to Connected.

If you tapped Don’t Allow the first time, tap the client’s start switch again to trigger authorization. If the prompt still does not appear, go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management → VPN and check whether the client already has a configuration. Wording may vary slightly by iOS version, but the entry is usually under VPN & Device Management.

An old VPN configuration can cause conflicts

iOS generally allows only one personal VPN tunnel to remain active at a time. Always-on VPN on managed devices, other proxy clients, ad-blocking apps, and corporate management profiles can all compete for Network Extension. Common symptoms include the connection switch turning off immediately or another app’s VPN disconnecting at the same time.

• Open Settings → VPN and confirm which configuration is actually connected.
• Temporarily disable other network-filtering or VPN apps, then test the target client by itself.
• If an old configuration is no longer needed, delete it from its VPN details page, but do not remove a management configuration required by your organization.
• If a supervised device says settings are managed by your organization, contact the administrator about the restriction. A personal app cannot bypass system policies.

Method 1: Import a configuration with a subscription URL

Subscription URLs are useful when nodes and rules need regular updates. They are usually addresses beginning with `https://`; the client downloads the remote content and saves it as a local configuration. Because a URL may contain account-identifying information, treat it like a credential and never post it in chat groups, screenshots, or public webpages.

Standard import steps

1. Copy the iOS- or Clash-compatible subscription URL from the provider’s control panel.
2. Open the client and go to Configurations, Profiles, or a similarly named page.
3. Tap “+” in the top-right corner, then choose Import from URL, Download from URL, or Subscription.
4. Paste the complete address into the URL field. Enter a recognizable name, such as “Daily configuration”.
5. Tap Download, Save, or Done, then wait for parsing to finish.
6. Return to the configuration list, tap the imported configuration, and set it as the active configuration.

Menu names vary across clients, but the data flow is the same: subscription URL → download remote content → parse configuration → save locally → set as active. Pasting the URL into Safari does not import it automatically unless the provider has configured a client-specific deep link.

How to set the update interval

When nodes change frequently, set automatic updates to every 12 or 24 hours. Updating too often increases request volume and may trigger server-side rate limits. If node names, traffic usage, or the expiration date remain unchanged, manually update once from the configuration details page, then check the last-update time and any error message.

Method 2: Import a YAML configuration through Files

A local file is useful for offline storage, manual rule edits, or one-time configurations. The file usually ends in `.yaml` or `.yml` and should use UTF-8 encoding. On iOS, the Files app can send a file from iCloud Drive, Downloads, or a local folder to a compatible client.

Import by sharing from Files

1. Save the configuration file in the Files app under Downloads or On My iPhone.
2. Touch and hold the YAML file, then tap Share.
3. Choose the target client in the share sheet. If it is not listed, tap More to find it.
4. When the client opens, confirm the import and give the configuration a recognizable name.
5. Open the configuration list, select the file, and start the connection.

Another option is to tap “+” on the client’s configuration page, choose Import File, and locate the YAML file in the system file picker. Both methods ultimately copy the file into the client’s sandbox. Later edits to the original file in Files usually do not sync automatically; import it again.

Check the minimum structure before importing

A typical Clash configuration contains proxies, policy groups, and rules. The example below shows only the structural relationships and does not include usable nodes. Actual fields should be generated by the subscription provider and fall within the client’s supported range.

mixed-port: 7890
mode: rule
log-level: info

proxies:
  - name: Example-Node
    type: ss
    server: 192.0.2.10
    port: 443
    cipher: aes-128-gcm
    password: example-password

proxy-groups:
  - name: PROXY
    type: select
    proxies:
      - Example-Node
      - DIRECT

rules:
  - DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXY
  - MATCH,DIRECT

`mixed-port: 7890` is a common mixed-proxy listening port in desktop Clash configurations. iOS clients primarily handle traffic through the system Packet Tunnel and may not expose or use this port. Ignoring the port field does not necessarily indicate a problem; follow the client’s configuration documentation and runtime logs.

YAML is indentation-sensitive and normally uses spaces; do not mix in tabs. A missing space after a colon, incorrect list indentation, or quotes replaced during copying can all cause parsing failures. If the error points to line 18, the actual problem may be an unclosed quote or incorrect indentation on line 17.

The file imports, but rules do not behave as expected

First confirm that the client is in Rule mode rather than Global or Direct. Rule mode matches `rules` from top to bottom and stops at the first match; Global mode typically sends all capturable traffic to one policy; Direct mode bypasses the proxy. Menus may show these as Rule, Global, or Direct.

When the configuration references remote `rule-providers` or `proxy-providers`, the local YAML is only the entry point. The first run still needs network access to download rule sets or proxy providers. If a provider URL is invalid, the main file may parse successfully while related policy groups remain empty. Check the provider’s update time and download errors instead of focusing only on the main configuration.

After importing, finish node selection, policy groups, and connection testing

A successful import only means the client accepted the syntax; it does not guarantee that any node works. Test in this order: configuration → policy group → node → tunnel → actual request. Skipping policy-group selection is a common reason an iOS setup shows “Connected” while webpages remain inaccessible.

Step 1: Select the active configuration

In the configuration list, confirm that the target configuration has the selected indicator. When multiple configurations exist, editing one does not automatically make it active. Note the configuration name and last-update time to avoid using an outdated file by mistake.

Step 2: Check the policy group

Open Proxies, Policy, or a similarly named page and find the main policy group, such as `PROXY`, `Proxy`, or “Node Selection”. Select a node manually. With a `url-test` group, the client may choose automatically based on the test URL; with `select`, you usually need to choose explicitly.

Step 3: Run a latency test

Latency tests usually send an HTTP probe and do not represent full download speed. A node showing 180 ms means the probe round trip took about 0.18 seconds; Timeout means no valid response arrived within the configured period. Run two consecutive tests before treating a brief network fluctuation as a persistent fault.

• Only some nodes time out: switch to other nodes in the same region; the issue is probably with those nodes or their routes.
• All nodes time out: check the subscription, direct network access, system time, and VPN permission.
• Latency is normal but webpages do not open: check rule matches, DNS, the policy group, and the destination website itself.
• Wi-Fi works but cellular data does not: check the client’s cellular-data permission under Settings → Cellular.

Step 4: Start the tunnel and verify traffic

1. Disconnect the client and open a directly accessible website in Safari to confirm that the basic network works.
2. Return to the client, start the connection, and wait until the status remains Connected.
3. Open the client logs and look for DNS errors, rule matches, or connection failures.
4. Test one address that should go direct and another that should use the proxy.
5. If the client provides connection records, verify the matched rule, policy group, and final node for each request.

Troubleshoot common iOS issues by layer

The connection drops immediately after starting

Go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management → VPN and confirm that the configuration exists. Then disable other VPN or network-filtering apps. If deleting and rebuilding the VPN configuration still causes an immediate disconnect, check the client logs for configuration initialization failures, memory limits, or Network Extension startup errors. Restarting the iPhone can clear a transient extension state, but it cannot repair an invalid configuration.

The subscription opens in Safari but fails to import in the client

Safari may display a login page, an error message, or a web-wrapped subscription rather than the raw configuration. Check the HTTP status and content type returned by the client. If the provider offers separate Clash, universal, and iOS-specific formats, copy the entry intended for your client.

All nodes stop working at the same time

Check the subscription expiration date and traffic allowance first, then test the direct network with the proxy disabled. Next go to Settings → General → Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically. An incorrect system clock can affect TLS certificate validation. If everything looks normal, update the subscription manually and inspect the logs instead of deleting every configuration immediately.

Some apps have no traffic after the tunnel starts

Check whether the client has enabled on-demand connections, bypass LAN, IPv6, or DNS-related options. Some apps use special network interfaces or custom DNS, so they may behave differently from Safari. Temporarily switch to Global mode for comparison: if Global works but Rule does not, the issue is usually in the rules or policy group; if neither works, check the node and tunnel.

Local network devices cannot be reached

Clash-compatible clients may process private addresses according to the configuration. Common LAN ranges include `192.168.0.0/16`, `10.0.0.0/8`, and `172.16.0.0/12`. To reach a printer, router, or NAS, make sure these addresses are routed directly and check whether the client has a bypass-LAN option. Do not send private addresses through a remote proxy.

The connection drops after running in the background

iOS manages background resources, but a functioning Network Extension can keep the tunnel active when system conditions allow. For frequent drops, check Low Power Mode, client crash reports, on-demand connection rules, and network-switching scenarios. Test 30 minutes on fixed Wi-Fi, 30 minutes on fixed cellular data, then test switching between Wi-Fi and cellular to identify when the disconnect occurs.

Configuration updates and routine maintenance

Once the setup is stable, focus maintenance on subscription updates, removing old configurations, and keeping fault records. There is no need to change DNS, rules, or node parameters every day. Keeping the most recent working configuration makes it easier to tell whether a problem comes from a subscription change or the device environment.

• Set subscription configurations to update every 12 or 24 hours, and retain the last successful content when an update fails.
• Before editing YAML manually, make a backup and include the date in its name, such as “Rules-adjusted-2026-07-29”.
• Keep only the configuration currently in use and the most recent working copy to avoid confusion between duplicate names.
• After updating the client, test the existing configuration first. Do not update the app, subscription, and system settings at the same time.
• When reporting an issue, record the iOS version, client version, time of occurrence, network type, and log errors. Do not disclose subscription URLs or node credentials.

Use a fixed triage order: App Store availability → client and configuration compatibility → VPN system authorization → subscription or file parsing → policy-group selection → node connectivity → rules and DNS. Change only one layer at a time so test results remain meaningful.