VPN Setup and Subscription Import
Create an account, get your subscription, import it into a client, and check the connection. If this is your first time, follow the steps in order. If you already have an account, jump to the step you need.
Create an Account and Sign In
Open the X8VPN account page and follow the prompts to enter a username and password. No email address is required to create an account. You’ll use your username to sign in later, so choose one that’s easy to recognize but doesn’t reveal personal information. Set a unique password and save it in a trusted password manager. Before submitting, check that both fields are correct, especially for extra spaces or changes in capitalization introduced by your input method.
Once you’re done, open the user dashboard. If you’re still on the sign-in page, use the username and password you just saved; there’s no need to create another account. Links such as “Account Overview,” “Plans,” or “Download Client” indicate that you’re in the account management area. The marketing site provides information, while the user dashboard is where you manage plans, download clients, and get your subscription. They are separate pages.
We recommend confirming that you can sign out and sign back in before choosing a plan. You’ll also need this account to access the dashboard and get your subscription when setting up another device. Don’t enter your dashboard password in a client’s subscription URL field: your account credentials and subscription link serve different purposes. For now, you only need to review the plans in the dashboard.
Choose a Plan and Review Your Order
After signing in, open the plans page and distinguish monthly plans from data packages. Monthly plans include ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, and ¥28/month for 500GB. Data resets monthly from the date you activate your plan; it does not reset for everyone at the start of the calendar month. For browsing and everyday tools, estimate your needs based on your usual usage. If you often stream video or transfer files, keep a closer eye on your data usage in the account.
Data packages are ¥158/300GB, ¥358/1000GB, and ¥658/3000GB. They last until used and never expire. They are not monthly subscriptions with recurring data, so compare the included data and billing terms—not just the upfront price. To compare the options side by side, see the plan pricing guide, then return to the dashboard once you’ve decided.
On the order confirmation page, check the plan name, amount, and payment method, then follow the instructions to pay. X8VPN supports Alipay, WeChat Pay, and USDT, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. After paying, return to the dashboard and check your order and plan status. If the external payment page shows the payment as complete but the dashboard hasn’t updated, refresh the order status and check the payment record. Don’t submit the same order again until you’ve confirmed its status.
There’s no limit on the number of devices that can be online at once, but keep an eye on your account’s data usage. If you upgrade mid-plan, the price difference is converted into remaining days. Check the updated details in the dashboard before proceeding. Once the plan shows as active, go to the account overview to get your subscription. For information on requesting a refund, see the refund policy.
Get Your Subscription Link from the Dashboard
Open the account overview in the user dashboard and find the subscription section. First, check your current plan and data status. Your subscription link lets a client retrieve server configuration; it is not a regular website URL or an installation file. Add it to a client that supports subscriptions so the client can load the configuration and show available servers. Downloading a client alone does not complete the connection setup.
If the dashboard offers an import option for your client, follow the instructions to open the installed app and check whether the new configuration appears. If your browser doesn’t open the client, copy the link instead: return to the dashboard, copy the full subscription URL, and paste it into the client’s “Import from URL” option or similar. Don’t paste the link into a search engine, and don’t use the dashboard page URL from your browser’s address bar in place of the subscription link.
Copy the full link without editing or removing parameters, and don’t add any extra text. After importing, the client usually displays a configuration name or subscription entry. You still need to update or download the configuration; this step is complete only when the server list appears. If the configuration name is there but the server list is empty, check the update result and any error messages before trying to connect.
Treat your subscription link as an account credential and keep it safe. If you ask someone for help, don’t send the full link or share its QR code publicly, and make sure link parameters aren’t visible in screenshots. To use another device, sign in to the dashboard and get the link again instead of posting it in a public chat or shared document. For further checks when a subscription update fails, see the subscription checks in the troubleshooting guide.
Import the Client for Your Platform
In the user dashboard, select your operating system from the download section and use the client and instructions provided there. Sign in to download clients for Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux; sign in is also required to get your subscription. Available iOS download options depend on your account status in the dashboard. After installation, import your subscription before connecting to avoid mistaking an empty client for an unavailable service.
The instructions below reflect common layouts in desktop proxy clients and mobile VPN clients, and aren’t tied to specific app versions or menu locations. If the dashboard provides a dedicated import method, follow its instructions first. For manual imports, choose an option that supports remote subscriptions rather than manually creating a single server connection.
Windows: Add a Subscription in Configuration Management
Download and install the Windows client from the dashboard, then open it and look for “Configuration,” “Subscription Management,” or a similar page. Choose the option to add from a link and paste in the subscription URL you copied. If there’s a name field, enter a label that’s easy to recognize. Save and update the configuration. Check that the server list isn’t empty, then set this configuration as the one in use.
Next, go to the connection or proxy page, choose a server, and enable the system proxy as prompted by the client. If you need another traffic-routing mode, follow the client’s instructions. When a system permission prompt appears for the first time, confirm it comes from the client you just installed before allowing it. If other proxy software is running, disconnect it first to prevent multiple apps from changing your network settings at the same time. Keep the client running and continue with the checks below.
macOS: Import Your Subscription and Check the Menu Bar
Select the macOS client in the dashboard, install it, and open the app. If macOS asks you to approve the app or grant network permissions, verify the app’s source before following the system prompts. Go to the configuration or subscription page, choose Import via URL, paste your subscription link, and update it. Once the server list appears, select the configuration you just added and choose a server from the main window or menu bar.
Closing the desktop window doesn’t necessarily quit the client. Check the menu bar for the connection toggle and current server. Conversely, seeing the app icon doesn’t mean it’s routing network traffic; confirm that the system proxy or the connection mode required by the client is enabled. For now, don’t layer on advanced changes to DNS or routing. First, use the default settings to visit a website, then decide whether further adjustments are needed.
Android: Add a Subscription and Allow the VPN Connection
Sign in to the dashboard and download the Android client from the download section. Install it using the system prompts, then open it. Go to “Configuration” or “Subscription,” choose Import from Link, and paste the full URL. Save and update the configuration. Return to the main screen, select the configuration and server you just added, then tap Connect. When Android asks to authorize the VPN connection, check the app name and confirm.
While connected, check the client status and Android’s VPN indicator, but verify the connection by visiting a website too. If the connection drops when the app goes into the background, check the system’s battery management and background activity settings. Allow the client to keep running if needed; there’s no need to disable battery optimization for every app. Subscription import and background operation are separate steps: once the server list appears, check the connection status instead of importing the subscription again.
iOS: Get the Client from the Dashboard
First, check the iOS download section in the dashboard. Accounts with an active, unexpired plan can access the relevant App Store link; for other account statuses, follow the dashboard instructions. Don’t look for alternative installation files on untrusted sites. After installing the client, return to the dashboard and use a supported import option to open the app. You can also choose Add from Link on the app’s subscription or configuration page.
Save and update the configuration, select a server, and connect. The first time you add a VPN configuration, iOS will ask for permission. Follow the prompts on your device to approve it. Then return to the client, check that it’s connected, and open a browser to verify access. If the import option doesn’t open the app, open the client manually to confirm it’s installed correctly, then try again. For prompts about the App Store region or account status, visit the Help Center instead of repeatedly deleting existing configurations.
Linux: Choose a Configuration Method from the Dashboard
Linux users should also get the appropriate client from the dashboard, then use a graphical client that supports subscriptions or the configuration method specified in the dashboard instructions. Import and update the subscription first, then configure the proxy or network permissions as required by the client. Don’t reuse startup commands from a different Linux distribution. For service startup, permissions, or routing issues, follow the troubleshooting guide step by step.
Connect to a Server and Verify It Works
After the subscription updates, select a server in the client and turn on the connection. For your first connection, leave the default rules unchanged rather than adjusting multiple options at once. X8VPN covers 90+ countries and 220+ routes; the options currently shown in your client may vary. Choose a region based on the requirements of the site you want to access—no single region is right for every service.
First, make sure you can open a regular website, then try the international site or app you actually need. A “Connected” status only means the connection process has started or a connection has been established; it doesn’t guarantee that every website will accept your current network environment. Open Network Check to review your current exit information and compare it with the results from before connecting. With split-routing rules, different sites may use different routes, so check how the site you want to use behaves.
When testing, start with a basic browser check, then try the specific app. If the site works in your browser but the app still shows an error, quit and reopen the app, check whether it’s retaining an old connection, and confirm that the current rules include it. AI tools and streaming services may also depend on platform accounts, service regions, and the platforms’ own policies. A network connection doesn’t override these requirements. For related scenarios, see using AI tools and streaming connections.
If no websites load, disconnect first and check that your local network is working. Then reconnect or try another server. Change only one setting at a time and note the result so you can tell what helped. To update your subscription, return to the configuration page and run the update; don’t clear the app’s data as a substitute for troubleshooting. When you’re done, disconnect normally in the client so the system proxy settings are restored.
You’ve now completed the full setup, from account and plan to subscription, client, and access checks. Going forward, keep an eye on your plan and data status in the dashboard, and update the subscription as prompted by your client. For ongoing issues, use the troubleshooting guide to identify the problem. If you still need help, submit a support ticket in the dashboard with your operating system, client name, error message, and steps you’ve already tried. Before sharing a screenshot, hide your password, subscription URL, and other account details so you can explain the issue without exposing sensitive information.