Interface labels may vary by platform, client, and version. This guide uses general terms such as “configuration,” “subscription,” and “import.” Follow the labels, eligibility requirements, and import instructions shown in your user dashboard and client. Import your subscription first, then check the connection; there’s no need to change advanced settings beforehand.
account / Account
Create an Account and Open the User Dashboard
Open the account page below and follow the instructions to set a username and password. 4NVPN requires no email address—just a username and password. Choose a username that’s easy to remember but doesn’t reveal sensitive personal information. Use a unique password and store it in a trusted password manager. Before submitting, check your keyboard layout, capitalization, and any extra spaces to avoid login issues later.
Once you're done, open the user dashboard. If you return to the login page, sign in with the credentials you just created; there's no need to create another account. First, make sure the dashboard shows the account you expect, then choose a plan. This is especially important on shared devices or in browsers that have saved other accounts. Check future orders, subscriptions, and support tickets under the same account.
Seeing the dashboard doesn't mean your service is ready to use. Your account manages the service, your plan determines the data allowance and billing method, and the client connects your device. Complete these steps in order. If you already have an account, sign in from the navigation menu and continue to the next step.
You can access your user dashboard and have safely saved your username and password.
plan / Plan
Choose a Plan and Check Your Order Status
Open the plans section in your dashboard and compare monthly subscriptions with data packages. Monthly subscriptions are ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, or ¥28/month for 500GB; data resets monthly from the activation date. Data packages are ¥158/300GB, ¥358/1000GB, or ¥658/3000GB; they last until used and never expire. Choose based on your typical usage and whether you want a monthly reset. You don't need a higher tier for more devices—this service allows unlimited simultaneous devices.
After selecting a plan, check its name, price, and data allowance on the confirmation page. Then pay with Alipay, WeChat Pay, or USDT. The payment page may open in a different tab from the dashboard, so return to the original dashboard after paying and check the order status. Don't assume the service is active based only on a payment app's confirmation, and don't create duplicate orders before the status is confirmed.
If the order still shows as processing, refresh the order page or account overview and check that the payment matches the order. If the status doesn't update, submit a support ticket through the dashboard with your order details and a description of the issue. Hide any payment details that aren't relevant before sharing screenshots. 4NVPN offers a 30-day refund policy. Check the dashboard and Terms of Service for how to request a refund and review the applicable terms.
If you already have a plan, check your remaining data and current status first. When you upgrade mid-cycle, the price difference is converted into remaining days; an upgrade doesn't add another full billing cycle. Confirm that the plan is active before getting your subscription to avoid troubleshooting an import that can't connect.
The order shows as paid, and the account overview displays your active plan and data details.
subscription / Subscription
Get Your Subscription Link from the Dashboard
Open the account overview and look for an option to view your subscription, copy its link, or import it into a client. A subscription link isn't a regular website homepage; it lets a client retrieve the route configuration associated with your account. If the dashboard offers an import option for your client, use it. Otherwise, copy the subscription link and import it manually in the client.
Paste the link directly into your client whenever possible. Don't send it first to group chats, online notes, or public conversion sites. The link contains account access credentials, and anyone who gets it may be able to use the associated subscription. Hide the full link and its credentials in screenshots you share when asking for help. The example below is for format recognition only; it won't connect and should not be imported as a working configuration.
https://example.com/sub?token=YOUR_TOKENIf your browser asks whether to open an app after you click the dashboard's import button, make sure it names the client you intend to use. If the client isn't installed, the import may do nothing. That doesn't mean your subscription is invalid: install the client in the next step, then return to the dashboard and try again. When pasting manually, make sure the link is complete and has no extra quotation marks, line breaks, or explanatory text.
After importing the subscription, the client saves the configuration and retrieves the route list. You can update the subscription later to sync changes. If you think the link has been exposed, look for a reset option in the dashboard; after resetting it, reimport the subscription on any devices where you used it. For more on updating and protecting your subscription, see the Beginner's Guide to Subscription Links.
You've found the subscription option in your dashboard. Next, import or copy it into your client.
client / Client
Import a Configuration for Your Device
Get clients and subscriptions from the dashboard after signing in. This page does not provide direct download links to installers.
Open the downloads section in the dashboard and choose the 4NVPN client for your operating system. You can get the client for Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux after signing in; you don't need a purchased plan first. An active service is still required to connect. iOS has different eligibility requirements: you must have a purchased, unexpired plan. Check the dashboard for the current download option. Once the client is installed, return to the account overview to import your subscription, so your browser can find an app to handle the configuration.
Windows: Desktop Client
Get the Windows desktop client from the dashboard, install it, and open it. If the dashboard offers one-click import, keep the client open, select the import option, and confirm the browser prompt to open the app. For manual import, go to a section such as “Configuration” or “Subscription,” choose an option like “Add” or “Import from URL,” paste the subscription link you copied, save it, and update. Once the route list appears, select this configuration as the active one. Adding a subscription to the list without enabling it usually isn't enough to connect.
If your system asks for network access permission when you connect, check the app's identity before granting access. For initial setup, use the client's default mode and avoid changing system proxy, virtual network adapter, and routing settings at the same time. If other network proxy tools are running on your device, pause them first to prevent multiple apps from changing network settings simultaneously.
macOS: Desktop Client
Choose the macOS client in the dashboard, follow the instructions to install it, and open it. If your system asks you to confirm the app's source or network permissions, check where it came from and follow the system prompts. Don't disable system-wide protections just to install it. In the client, open configuration management and use the import-from-link or add-subscription option. You can also return to the dashboard and use the matching app import option.
Save the configuration, update the subscription, and check that the selected configuration includes routes. If the interface has a system proxy switch, enable it as instructed by the client. If a mode requires network extension permission, confirm it in the system prompt. A client icon in the menu bar only means the app is running, not that it's connected. Check the client's connection status and complete the access test below.
Android: Mobile Client
Sign in to the dashboard to get the Android client. During installation, check the file source and system prompts. Open the app and find the add option in its configuration or subscription section. Choose import from link, paste the subscription, save it, and update. If the dashboard offers an app handoff, you can start the import from your browser. If the system lists multiple apps, choose the client you just installed, not another browser or unrelated tool.
Select the configuration and start connecting. When Android asks for permission to set up a network connection, confirm the app's identity and allow it. After connecting, keep the app in the foreground for an initial test, then check whether it stays connected in the background. If it disconnects only when the screen is locked or the app is in the background, check Android's battery and background activity restrictions for the app and allow background activity if needed. Don't disable battery saving for all apps.
iOS: Mobile Client Listed in the Dashboard
Check the iOS section in the dashboard's downloads area. If you have a purchased plan that hasn't expired, follow the dashboard instructions to get the client. The available option and prompts depend on the current dashboard. After installing the client, return to the account overview in your browser and use the import method that matches the client. If the system asks whether to open the app, confirm and check that the new configuration appears. You can also add the link from the client's subscription management section.
The first connection usually requires permission to add a VPN configuration. Follow the iOS prompts to confirm. Then return to the client, select the imported configuration and a route, and turn on the connection. The VPN indicator in the system status can suggest that you're connected, but it doesn't prove that every destination service is available. Don't delete work configurations or device management settings to troubleshoot. If you run into restrictions, note the system prompt and contact the relevant administrator.
Linux users can also get the appropriate client from the dashboard's downloads section and import their subscription using the dashboard instructions. For command-line tools, IDE extensions, or environment variable proxy settings, see the AI Tools Guide for application-level configuration. A desktop client showing as connected doesn't necessarily mean all development tools are using the same exit route.
The client has saved and enabled the subscription configuration, and available routes appear after an update.
verify / Verify
Connect to a Route and Check Access
Select the route you want to use in the client, start the connection, and wait for its status to appear. For the first test, stay on the same route; don't switch routes repeatedly while a page is loading. Open a regular website first to check that your device has a working internet connection, then try the destination service. If regular websites won't load either, check your local network, system permissions, and whether the client configuration is enabled.
To check your exit route, open the site's IP Lookup page and compare the result with the selected route's region. Rule-based mode may route only some traffic through the proxy, so interpret the result in light of the client mode. One lookup alone can't confirm the path of all your traffic. A failed lookup may also mean the tool's request didn't complete; check the client status and how the services you use behave as well.
Next, test the service you actually need: can you sign in, does the content keep loading, and do AI responses finish? Connecting to a route doesn't replace the destination platform's account requirements, regional policies, or subscription conditions. If you see a region notice, first check whether the selected exit location matches a region supported by the platform, then check your account status. Don't troubleshoot by repeatedly refreshing the login page or frequently switching regions.
If the route list is empty, update the subscription in the subscription manager and check that the link is complete and your plan is active. If routes appear but won't connect, try another route and test again, making sure other proxy tools are paused. If only one app fails, check whether it uses the system proxy and review the error from the destination service. Change one setting at a time and keep any error messages so you can identify what made a difference.
If the issue persists, open a support ticket in the dashboard. Include your device platform, client name, selected region, the action that caused the problem, and whether it affects all apps. You can attach screenshots with credentials obscured, but don't send your full subscription link or password. For help understanding how AI services determine regions, streaming connections, and proxy settings for developer tools, see the Complete Guide to Accessing AI Tools. That completes the basic setup in this guide.
The configuration is enabled, the route is connected, and your target app remains accessible. When setting up another device, sign in to the same dashboard to get the client and import your subscription.