VPN setup guide

Understanding VPN connections and clients

Know the difference between your account, plan, subscription, and connection

VPNSize is a subscription service for cross-border network access. Your account identifies you, your plan sets your data allowance and billing terms, your subscription provides the available route configuration to your client, and the client uses it to establish a connection. These steps are related, but they are not interchangeable. Signing in only confirms that your account is accessible. After placing an order, check that the plan is active. After importing the subscription, choose a route and connect. Understanding each step makes it easier to tell whether to check the panel, configuration, or device network when something goes wrong.

The user panel and this information page serve different purposes. The information page covers pricing, routes, and setup; the user panel is where you manage sign-in, orders, client downloads, subscriptions, and support tickets. To manage your account, use the sign-in link in the navigation or the panel link on this page. Don’t treat examples in an article as your personal configuration, and don’t paste the panel’s web address into a client’s subscription field. The client needs the subscription content provided specifically by the panel, not an arbitrary webpage URL.

Understand which part of the connection changes

Normally, an app sends a request through the device’s network and local connection to the destination website. When the client is on, requests covered by its current proxy rules are routed through the selected route. The destination service may then see a different egress region, but your device’s Wi-Fi connection hasn’t changed. This is why switching egress routes won’t fix a disconnected local network, an incorrect system clock, or a website undergoing maintenance. To check whether the connection is working, consider the device’s internet access, the client’s status, and the destination app’s response together.

VPNSize highlights military-grade encryption as a security feature. In practice, an encrypted connection should still be paired with a trusted client, an up-to-date system, and careful handling of account details. A network connection doesn’t replace a website’s own identity checks, or remove your responsibility to assess files, permission prompts, and payment pages. Be especially alert to certificate warnings and suspicious sign-in pages on public networks; don’t ignore them just because the client is connected. For details on how personal information is handled, see the Privacy Policy.

Set your goal before choosing a route

You might need access to work files, AI tools, or media that varies by region. Each use case has different requirements: general browsing depends on requests completing successfully, interactive tools also rely on account access and persistent sessions, and video streaming uses data continuously. VPNSize covers 90+ countries and 150+ routes, giving you options. That doesn’t mean every website will accept every egress location or that content will always be available in any particular region.

Before you begin, prepare an internet-connected device, your username and password somewhere you can find them again, and the app you intend to use. First, check your basic connection with a familiar everyday website, then choose a plan. Keep that baseline in mind when checking the connection later so you can tell whether a change came from your local network or the client. There’s no need to install several similar tools and try them all; overlapping network-control apps can make it difficult to identify which one is managing the system proxy, routes, or DNS.

Choose a data plan to fit your usage

Start by choosing between monthly billing and a data pack

When choosing a plan, consider how regularly you’ll use it, then look at the data options. A monthly plan suits ongoing use if you’re happy to keep an eye on your allowance each month. A data pack works well if your usage is less predictable and you want unused data to remain available for later. The key difference is how your data carries over, not how you install the client. Whichever you choose, check the active benefits in your panel before getting your subscription configuration. See the Plans page for full pricing and the purchase link.

Monthly plans are ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, and ¥28/month for 500GB. Data resets monthly on the day your plan began, not necessarily at the start of a calendar month. When checking usage, look at both the reset time and remaining data in the panel rather than just the month you paid. Mid-cycle upgrades are prorated by the remaining days. Before proceeding, review the upgrade details shown in the panel and make sure they’re what you expect; don’t try to estimate the final order by subtracting the listed prices yourself.

Data packs are ¥158 for 300GB, ¥358 for 1000GB, and ¥658 for 3000GB. They can be used until the data runs out and never expire. This applies to the data pack’s usage terms; it doesn’t promise that other account benefits won’t expire or that the same allowance will be added each month. If the panel shows benefits from different products, check which plan is active and how usage is deducted. Don’t assume products combine automatically, are used in a particular order, or can be exchanged at a set rate.

Estimate usage from what you do, not from speed

Reading documents, sending and receiving work files, streaming video, and syncing cloud files can use very different amounts of data. Video quality, viewing time, file size, and background updates all affect usage, so the number of days you’ll use the service isn’t enough to choose the right plan. If you’re new to it, note which apps you use regularly and distinguish continuous data transfers from brief visits. If you already have usage history, the actual changes in your panel are a better guide than network bandwidth or a client’s momentary speed reading.

VPNSize supports unlimited devices, but that doesn’t mean each device gets its own separate data allowance. When planning usage, consider activity across all devices linked to the same account, especially background sync and large file transfers. Device count and route speed are also different things: more devices can mean more simultaneous requests, while your local network and destination services still affect performance. Before deciding whether to change your data plan, identify what’s using the most data and allow for both work and personal use.

Check what’s included before paying

This service offers a 14-day money-back guarantee. See the Refund Policy for the application process and full terms. The guarantee doesn’t mean a free data allowance or free usage period has been advertised; refer to the plan details and your order in the panel. Before paying, check the data allowance, billing terms, account, and selected plan. In particular, don’t mistake a monthly plan’s price for the price of a data pack. Once you’ve chosen, continue to the next chapter to set up your account and order. There’s no need to look into protocols or advanced routing options yet.

Set up your account and check your order

Save your account details before moving on to payment

VPNSize doesn’t require an email address; you can create an account with a username and password. Open the user panel and fill in the current form, taking care not to mix up the username and password fields. Before submitting, check your keyboard input mode, spaces, and letter case. Consider saving your password in a trusted password manager, and don’t reuse passwords from other sites. Once your account is created, make sure you can sign in to the panel and save your login details before choosing a plan. This helps prevent losing track of your account after payment.

Not requiring an email address means you need to keep your account details safe yourself rather than relying on your inbox. Don’t assume every account can be recovered by email. If you forget your credentials, use the recovery options and support process actually provided in the panel; never send your password to a stranger for help. If you’ve created separate accounts in different browsers, check which one you’re signed in to before paying or looking up an order. Plan benefits are linked to a specific account and won’t automatically appear in another account just because you’re using the same device.

Place an order through your plan—don’t pay repeatedly

In the Plans section of the panel, choose the option you checked earlier, review its billing terms and data rules, then continue to checkout. VPNSize supports Alipay, WeChat Pay, and USDT; the payment page shows which options are currently available. Check the order amount, currency, and payment instructions. Don’t continue to payment through links in unrelated chat messages. For orders paid with digital assets, follow the current checkout page’s network and payment instructions precisely; don’t rely on old screenshots or experience with other sites.

After payment, return to the panel to check the order and plan status. A successful message in your browser and an updated plan in the panel are separate steps. If the panel hasn’t updated yet, refresh it and check your order history before paying again. If the payment provider shows a charge but the panel still hasn’t updated, save the order ID, payment result, and relevant details for support to review. Creating another order can make it harder to match the payment and doesn’t replace checking the original order.

Use the status to decide what to do next

To determine whether you can get your subscription, check the plan status in the panel, not just an old payment screenshot. Confirm that the selected product matches your expectations, the data allowance is showing, and the monthly plan’s dates are clear. If you only see the account welcome page and no plan benefits, return to the order section to check where the process stands. If a plan appears but its name or allowance is wrong, pause setup and resolve the order issue first. That way, you won’t mistake a billing issue for a client connection problem.

If you need help, open a support ticket in the panel. Describe the status shown for your account, the product you selected, and what happened after payment. Before sharing a screenshot, hide your password, subscription URL, and any unnecessary personal details in payment records. Include only what’s needed to investigate; never provide your full account key. For a refund request, clearly state that you’re requesting a refund and refer to the Refund Policy. Disconnecting the client doesn’t submit a refund request, and deleting a local configuration doesn’t cancel an order.

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to sign in again and match your order to the active plan. Consider signing out and back in with the same browser to confirm your credentials work, then open the subscription and download sections. That way, you can return to the panel to get your configuration even if you change devices, clear browser data, or reinstall the client. On a shared computer, don’t leave the panel signed in. Sign out when you’re done and check that downloaded files or clipboard contents don’t retain sensitive information you no longer need.

Get your subscription and prepare the client

A subscription is a configuration link, not a regular web bookmark

Once your plan is active, get the configuration for your account from the subscription section in the user panel. A subscription lets the client retrieve routes and related rules; it isn’t for everyday browsing in a web browser. Use the panel’s copy button to avoid missing characters when selecting text manually. If the client supports importing from a link, paste the content into the corresponding field—not into a route name, username/password field, or local file path. Each import option accepts a different type of content, and choosing the wrong one can cause a format error.

Treat your subscription URL like sensitive account credentials. Anyone who has it may gain access to capabilities associated with your configuration, so don’t post it on public forums, in screenshot comments, or in shared documents. Don’t send it to an unfamiliar online conversion service just to try another import format. If you need a different format, first check whether the panel offers an option for your client. Only convert configurations if you understand what the conversion does and the risks involved. For everyday use, there’s no need to edit URL parameters at random to try to improve speed.

Downloading and importing are separate steps

Get the VPNSize client for your device’s operating system from the client section of the panel. On Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux, you can download the client by signing in; an active paid plan isn’t required. The iOS download option requires a currently active plan in the panel. Downloading the app doesn’t provide routes, and installing it doesn’t connect you. Install a client from a trusted source first, then return to the panel for your subscription. This avoids repeated import attempts when the app isn’t ready and you’re not sure where the configuration went.

When you use one-click import, your browser may ask whether to open an external app. Check that the app named in the prompt is the client you intend to use before allowing it to open. If nothing happens, open the client and make sure it’s installed and has completed any required first-run setup, then try again from the panel. If the link still won’t open, use the client’s manual subscription import option. You don’t need to keep reinstalling the app to fix a browser association. A browser that won’t open an app and an invalid subscription are separate issues; check them separately.

Import the original configuration before making changes

After importing for the first time, give the configuration a recognizable local name, such as VPNSize everyday connection. This is just a label on your device; it doesn’t change your plan or route benefits. Confirm the configuration has refreshed and the route list is visible before choosing a region. If the list is empty, check whether the client reports a download failure, unsupported format, or account issue. Don’t guess at server details and add them manually to an empty configuration. The subscription in your panel is the source of your configuration; articles and route information pages aren’t substitutes for it.

Refreshing a subscription retrieves configuration; connecting uses that configuration to establish a network path. They’re separate actions. If you already have a configuration and the route list has changed, refresh the subscription before trying to connect. If the client can’t retrieve the configuration at all, check your basic network, copied content, and panel status. Use clear local names so you don’t accidentally select an old configuration among duplicates. Before deleting any copies, confirm which one was imported and used successfully, then remove the ones you no longer need.

If you think your subscription may have been exposed, first check whether the panel offers a reset option and read its instructions. After a reset, you may need to import the new URL on each device, so note which devices are affected before proceeding. Don’t reset a subscription as a routine way to improve speed, and don’t delete every record before confirming that the replacement works. Before moving on, make sure you can find your subscription and open the right client, and know how to use manual import if one-click import fails.

Import and authorize the connection on each platform

Windows: check system proxy settings after importing

On Windows, download the client from the panel and install it. The first time you launch it, read the system prompts and confirm the app matches the source you downloaded it from. Open the subscription or configuration manager and use one-click import from the panel, or paste the copied URL into the client’s link import field. Wait for the route list to appear, select the configuration, choose a route, and connect. If the client offers system proxy and other network-control modes, start with its recommended standard option. Don’t enable unfamiliar advanced settings at the same time.

If your browser works after connecting but a particular app still doesn’t, check whether that app follows the system proxy before assuming the route has failed. When you’re done, disconnect in the client and exit it normally so the system doesn’t retain proxy settings that point to a closed app. For more installation and startup guidance, see Windows VPN Setup for Beginners. Before enabling startup at boot, make sure manual startup and normal shutdown both work as expected.

macOS: distinguish app permissions from network extension permissions

On macOS, install the VPNSize client according to the panel instructions, launch it, then import your subscription. If the system asks to allow a network configuration or related extension, verify the app’s identity and follow the prompt. Installation permissions, signing in to the panel, and network access permissions serve different purposes; repeatedly entering your account password won’t resolve every permission issue. If macOS blocks the app from opening, read the specific reason and check the file against the official download source. Don’t blindly disable system-wide security settings based on forum posts.

After importing, check the active configuration and route name before connecting. If ordinary websites still won’t load after you quit the client, check whether a proxy or other network-control setting remains in your system settings, and first restore a working internet connection. Work devices may be managed by an organization, which can restrict network permissions; follow your device administrator’s requirements rather than repeatedly installing different apps to work around them. macOS client menus may move, but the goal remains the same: check the configuration, route, and connection status.

iOS: check download eligibility, then approve system access

Get the iOS client through the App Store link in the panel; an active plan is required. Whether the app appears in the store may also depend on your account’s region. If it’s unavailable, check the instructions on the page and don’t install substitute profiles from unfamiliar sources. Once the client is ready, import your subscription from the panel. When iOS asks to add a VPN configuration, confirm it belongs to the right app and approve it. After a successful import, you should see routes in the client—not just a new configuration name in Settings.

After connecting, return to the target app and check that it works. A connection indicator only shows that the network feature is on; it doesn’t guarantee access to the content you want. If a browser redirect didn’t pass the configuration to the client, make sure the app is running and try one of its supported import methods. For more on App Store regions, configuration profiles, and shortcuts, see Using a VPN on iPhone. Get a manual connection working first, then consider a shortcut.

Android: check network permissions and background limits

On Android, sign in to the panel to download the client, install it, then import your subscription. The first connection will usually prompt for system VPN access; confirm the app’s name before approving. If another network-control app is connected, stop it before using the VPNSize client to avoid competition for the system’s connection slot. When the route list appears, choose a region and make sure you’re using the configuration you just imported—not an old empty configuration or test entry.

If the connection works in the foreground but drops when you lock the screen or switch apps, check whether the system is restricting the client’s background activity. Settings names vary by device, so follow the system prompts to adjust battery or background permissions for this app rather than granting unrestricted permissions to every app. Check the client’s status again after switching from Wi-Fi to another connection. Don’t assume every background drop is caused by the egress route; first see whether it consistently happens when the screen locks, the device sleeps, or the network changes.

Linux: check your desktop environment and proxy scope

On Linux, choose a client in the panel that suits your system, install it according to the download section, launch it, then import your subscription. Package formats, desktop environments, and permission systems vary, so don’t copy installation commands from another distribution without checking. If the client needs additional network permissions, understand what the prompt is for before following the instructions. There’s no need to switch a working graphical import process to the command line just to seem more advanced, or to run all your everyday apps with elevated privileges.

On Linux, distinguish your desktop’s system proxy from proxy settings used by terminal processes. A browser that connects successfully doesn’t guarantee that command-line tools use the same settings, and a failed terminal request doesn’t necessarily mean the subscription is broken. Verify the browser first, then check which proxy options the specific tool supports. After quitting the client, check whether regular internet access has returned. If environment variables or manual proxy settings remain, restore them one at a time to their original values; don’t delete system network files before understanding their purpose.

Check the connection, egress, and target app

Record a baseline before checking what changes

Start connection checks with a simple scenario you can repeat. With the client off, open a familiar everyday website to confirm your local network works. Then turn the client on and visit the target site in the same browser. This avoids changing the browser, network, and route all at once and losing track of what affected the result. A connected status in the client is a starting point, not the final check. Confirm that the request reaches the destination, the page loads, and the action you need—such as signing in or playing video—actually works.

Use this site’s IP check to see your current egress information and compare it with the selected route’s region. Results depend on the lookup source, which apps use the proxy, and how IP location data is assigned; a location label alone doesn’t prove something is wrong. If the check page can’t return a result, follow its instructions rather than assuming no websites are accessible. More useful evidence includes which apps changed, which didn’t, and whether they use the same proxy path.

Separate network access from service eligibility

If a page loads but sign-in fails, the cause may be account status, session verification, browser cache, or the destination service’s requirements. AI tools may also make different decisions based on account, region, and service policies; a network route can’t replace those eligibility requirements. Check the service’s own message before deciding whether to switch routes. Repeatedly changing egress locations and trying to sign in may trigger additional checks. If identity verification is required, follow the service’s normal process rather than using random route changes as a substitute for account verification.

For streaming, distinguish access to the app, its content catalog, playback authorization, and uninterrupted playback. Being able to open a page doesn’t mean every title will play; seeing content from one region doesn’t guarantee it will always be available. Choose an egress route for the target region, reopen the app or end the old session, then check the specific content. See the Streaming page for more scenarios, or read Japanese routes and streaming platforms for tips on Japanese content.

Narrow down the cause by symptoms, not guesswork or repeated route changes

If neither ordinary websites nor your target site work, disconnect the client first and check whether basic internet access returns. If it does, review the active configuration, proxy mode, and route. If access still fails with the client off, investigate the local connection, leftover system proxy settings, or conflicts with other network tools. If only one service fails, keep everything else the same and compare with a route in the relevant region. Change just one factor at a time so you can tell whether the issue is more likely the route or the destination service.

Keep DNS resolution and network transport in mind as separate issues. A browser saying it can’t find an address is different from a connection timeout. The former warrants checking the URL and whether the client has the expected configuration; the latter may involve routing or the destination service’s response. Don’t jump straight from an error message to changing system DNS. First test with the client’s default settings. Only change DNS if you understand the current resolution path and what you’re trying to fix, and note the original value so you can restore it.

When you’ve finished checking, keep a brief local record of the device, network, configuration name, route region, apps that work, and apps that still have problems. There’s no need to include your subscription URL or share your real egress details publicly. The point is to give yourself a reference if something changes, not to collect extensive speed-test data. First get a stable, reproducible setup. Then decide whether to enable auto-start or advanced rules; automating an untested setup only makes troubleshooting harder.

Keep track of usage, subscriptions, and renewals

Check the panel regularly, not just client statistics

For everyday maintenance, start with your plan and data status in the panel. The client’s local usage statistics may only cover the current device, process, or time period, so don’t use them as a substitute for account billing information. On multiple devices, one device may appear to use very little even while activity on others changes your total. To check whether you have enough data left, rely primarily on the account status in the panel and consider recent file transfers, video streaming, and background sync.

Monthly plan data resets each month on the plan start date, so check the reset time alongside the plan dates. Running out of data, a change in billing period, and an outdated client configuration can cause similar connection symptoms, but each has a different fix. If something seems wrong, check the panel before clearing the client or reinstalling it. Data packs can be used until they run out and never expire; they aren’t topped up monthly. If you haven’t used the service in a while, check your account and remaining data before opening the client, then refresh the subscription and connect.

Check the product again before renewing or upgrading

When you need to keep using the service, check the currently available plans, order details, and payment methods in the panel. Don’t infer what will happen now from an old screenshot. Monthly plans remain ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, and ¥28/month for 500GB. Data packs remain ¥158 for 300GB, ¥358 for 1000GB, and ¥658 for 3000GB. These prices aren’t a substitute for checking your order. Before proceeding, confirm the account, selected option, and billing type—especially when monthly plans and data packs have similar names.

Mid-cycle upgrades are prorated by the remaining days. Review the changes shown in the panel before deciding whether to continue. Don’t assume an upgrade preserves all old benefits and adds a full new billing period, or that different products can be exchanged. If the result in the panel doesn’t match your understanding, stop before submitting and ask through a support ticket. After payment, keep the order record and check that your benefits have updated before returning to the client to check the subscription. Most billing questions need to be resolved through your account status, not a local proxy switch.

Schedule configuration and app updates separately

A subscription refresh retrieves changes to routes and configuration; a client update maintains the app itself. Before refreshing, make sure your network can reach the panel’s configuration link. Afterward, check that the route list looks right instead of assuming the update worked just because you clicked the button. Get app updates from the panel’s download link and review any system permission prompts. If you rely on the device for important work, note your working configuration and connection steps before maintenance. Avoid changing the app, system, and rules all at once when you need a reliable connection.

When setting up a new device, repeat the download, import, permission, and verification steps. A working setup on another device doesn’t guarantee this one will work. VPNSize supports unlimited devices, but system permissions, proxy modes, and network conditions differ on each one. When you stop using an old device, sign out of the panel, remove subscriptions and account credentials you no longer need, then prepare the device for handoff. For notes you use across devices, save setup steps and configuration names—not sensitive subscriptions in general-purpose notes.

If the service doesn’t meet your needs, review the 14-day money-back guarantee policy and submit a request through the panel. Disconnecting, uninstalling the app, or deleting a configuration isn’t a refund request. Maintenance notes can also help support investigate: say when it last worked, what you changed afterward, and what the panel shows now. There’s no need to overstate the extent of the problem. Keep account, order, and connection details separate so you can start from the right place when renewing, changing devices, or troubleshooting.

Advanced rules and troubleshooting you can undo

Understand what rule modes affect

Once you’ve confirmed the basic connection works, consider rule modes and broader network-control options. Rule modes typically route requests based on domains, addresses, or app-specific conditions, which can avoid forwarding traffic that doesn’t need it. A broader proxy mode can help temporarily test whether a rule affects a particular app. Neither option adds data to your plan or changes account benefits. Before switching modes, define the app problem you’re trying to solve; after testing, return to the mode that suits your normal use.

Some apps don’t follow the system proxy and may need another network-control option supported by the client. Check the current client for available features rather than assuming a particular technical feature exists on every platform. Before enabling anything that affects routes, virtual network interfaces, or additional permissions, close other apps that perform similar functions and note the current settings. Business networks, remote desktop sessions, and locally shared devices may depend on existing routes, so test only when you can roll back. Don’t make blind changes during an important remote session.

Understand route types without ranking their speed

Route descriptions may include labels such as IEPL, relayed, or direct. These describe how a connection is arranged, not how it will perform for every user at every time. First choose a route for the target region, then compare how your app actually works. Your local carrier, current network, and destination service all affect the result. See Global Routes for route details and selection tips. The routes available to you are listed in your account subscription; don’t assume examples on the information page are available on your device.

Compare results by changing one thing at a time

Keep a known-working website as a control when troubleshooting. Hold the device and network constant and change only the route; then hold the route constant and compare the browser with the target app. If all apps fail, check the account, basic network, and whether the client is running. If just one app fails, check whether it follows the proxy, has an old session, or displays a specific restriction from the destination service. Don’t reset the subscription, change DNS, switch modes, and reinstall the app all at once. If things start working again, you won’t know which change fixed the problem.

Logs can help identify an error type; they aren’t proof of a connection to share publicly. Look for messages such as subscription retrieval failure, DNS resolution errors, connection refused, or destination request timeouts, then compare them with what you were doing at the time. Before sending files to support, hide subscription details, account credentials, and unnecessary browsing records. Avoid putting a subscription URL directly in a command that may be saved in shell history. Before testing from a terminal, check whether the tool reads proxy environment settings. A regular network test doesn’t automatically represent the client’s request path.

Make every change reversible

Before advanced changes, note the current configuration name, mode, and any system settings you changed manually. Change only the option relevant to the problem. If it doesn’t help, restore the previous setting rather than layering on more changes. If ordinary internet access stops working afterward, stop the client and other proxy apps, check whether the system proxy and routes have been restored, then start again. There’s no need to erase account details because one website is having trouble. You can retrieve a local configuration again; keep your account and order records safe.

Once setup is complete, everyday use can follow a simple routine: check your plan in the panel, refresh the subscription if needed, choose a suitable route, connect, and verify the app you want to use. For a closer look at data-minimizing claims, read the No-Logs Claims Checklist. For questions about devices and data usage, see the VPN Beginner FAQ. Advanced use doesn’t mean turning on more switches; it means understanding the connection path, identifying the type of problem, and knowing how to restore a working setup when a change doesn’t help.