VPNLay Setup Guide
Follow one clear setup path from account to client. If you already have an account or subscription, pick up at the relevant step—there’s no need to repeat what you’ve done.
Create an account and save your login details
Open the account creation page in the user dashboard and enter the username and password you want to use. VPNLay doesn’t require an email address; you can create an account with a username and password. Choose a username you’ll remember, and use a password that’s different from the ones you use on other sites. Check your entries before submitting, then save your login details in a trusted password manager so you can access your account from another device.
Once you’re done, follow the on-screen instructions to open your account overview. If you’re taken back to the login page, sign in with the username and password you saved. If you already have an account, select “Log in” in the page header and continue with it. Plans, orders, and subscriptions are tied to the account they were purchased or created under; switching accounts won’t transfer them automatically.
Make sure you can open your account overview before choosing a plan. You can also check the dashboard for the client download link and confirm which platform your device uses. Not seeing any routes yet doesn’t mean the client installation failed: creating an account, downloading a client, and activating a plan are separate steps. You’ll still need to get an available subscription and import it.
Check the data allowance and billing terms
Open the plans section in your dashboard. First, distinguish monthly subscriptions from data packages, then check which allowance suits your typical use. Monthly subscriptions are ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, and ¥28/month for 500GB; data resets monthly from the activation date. Data packages are ¥158 for 300GB, ¥358 for 1000GB, and ¥658 for 3000GB. They don’t expire and remain available until used. Don’t compare only the upfront price—consider whether you want data that resets monthly or a package without a fixed usage schedule.
After selecting a plan, check its name, price, and billing terms on the order page, then pay with Alipay, WeChat Pay, or USDT as prompted in the dashboard. When payment is complete, return to the dashboard and check that the order is marked complete and your plan details have been updated in the account overview. Reaching the payment page doesn’t mean the order has been processed. If the status hasn’t updated, check your order history before trying to pay again.
VPNLay supports unlimited devices and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you upgrade mid-term, the price difference is converted into remaining days; review the amount shown in the dashboard before proceeding. For more details on pricing and refunds, see the full plans page and the Terms of Service. Once the relevant plan appears in your account, continue to the next step to get your subscription.
Get your subscription from the account overview
Return to the account overview in your user dashboard and find the subscription section. If the dashboard offers an import option for your client, you can use it after installing the client. To import manually, copy the subscription link. Before copying, make sure you’re signed in to the account with the active plan so you don’t grab the wrong link after switching between accounts.
The subscription link lets your client retrieve configurations and route lists. It isn’t a regular webpage to open repeatedly in a browser. After copying it, paste it into the client’s “Subscription” or “Configuration” section—not into a username, server address, or password field. If the import screen asks you to choose a subscription format, match it to the client options shown in the dashboard. Don’t edit the link yourself.
Your full subscription link contains account access credentials. Don’t post it in public forums, shared documents, or screenshots. When contacting support, you can share your operating system, client name, and error message without revealing the full link. If you think the link has been exposed, look for a reset option in the dashboard. If you can’t find one, open a support ticket through the support page and don’t share the original link further.
After a successful import, the client saves your subscription on your device. You can usually update it in the client without copying the link again. If no usable subscription appears in the dashboard, check your plan and order status first, then see the FAQ. Once you’ve copied the link, continue with the instructions for your device below.
Import your subscription configuration
Get the VPNLay client for your device from the user dashboard before importing your subscription. This is a network client that supports subscription management—not a browser extension or a link to enter in your system’s VPN settings. Follow any installation or import instructions in the dashboard. Unlimited devices doesn’t mean configurations sync automatically; you’ll need to install the client and import the subscription on each new device.
Windows: Import from a link in the configuration section
Sign in to the dashboard, open the client downloads section, and select the Windows option. Install and launch the client as prompted by your system. Find “Configuration,” “Subscription,” or a similarly named management page, choose the option to add from a link, and paste the full subscription link you copied. Give it a recognizable name, such as VPNLay, then save and update or download the configuration.
When the route list appears, select the configuration and return to the connection page. If your system asks for permission, confirm that you’re using the client downloaded from the dashboard, then grant the permissions it needs. If the import succeeds but traffic isn’t going through the client, check whether system proxy settings or the client’s traffic-routing feature are enabled. Avoid running other tools that handle network traffic at the same time, as they may override each other’s settings.
macOS: Add your subscription and allow required permissions
Choose the macOS client from the user dashboard, install it, then open it from Applications. Go to subscription or configuration management and paste your subscription link using the import-from-link option. Save it and wait for the route list to load. If the dashboard offers direct import, clicking it may prompt macOS to open the client. Confirm the correct app before continuing, then check that the configuration has been added.
If macOS asks to add a network configuration or enable a related component when you connect, follow the client’s instructions. After granting permission, return to the app, select the imported configuration and route, and start the connection. The client may keep running in the menu bar after its window closes. To check its status, open it from the menu bar rather than relying on whether its window is visible.
Android: Import a configuration and connect
Get the Android client from the dashboard and install it as prompted by your device. Open the app, go to “Configuration” or “Subscription Management,” choose the option to add from a link, paste the full address, and save it. Then update the subscription. If you’ve already copied the link, some versions may offer a clipboard shortcut. Confirm only if the contents match this subscription; you can also import it by pasting the link manually.
Return to the home screen, select a configuration and route, and tap Connect. Android usually asks for permission to set up a VPN connection. Confirm the app’s identity, allow the request, and return to the client to check its status. If the connection often drops when the app is in the background, check its background activity and battery permissions in your device settings. Settings vary by device, so search in system settings. Turn off other apps that manage network traffic while testing.
iOS: Add a client configuration from the dashboard
You need an active plan in your account to access the iOS client download. Sign in to the user dashboard, open the downloads section, and use the iOS link provided there to get the client. Install it as instructed in the dashboard. If the link won’t open, check that your plan is active and that you’re signed in to the right account, then review the dashboard’s guidance. Don’t use configuration profiles from unverified sources instead.
After installation, use the relevant import option in the dashboard, or choose to add from a link in the client’s subscription or configuration section. When iOS opens the client, check the imported details and save them. Wait for the route list to load before connecting. The first time you connect, iOS may ask to add a VPN configuration; allow it, then return to the client. The VPN icon in the status bar only indicates the system connection state—verify that access works in the next step.
Linux and subscription updates
Linux users can also get the relevant client from the dashboard’s downloads section. Install it using the instructions provided, then add the link in subscription or configuration management. Proxy settings can vary between desktop environments, so follow the client’s documentation. This guide doesn’t cover system services or command-line setup. For protocol options and how routes work, see the technical reference.
To refresh the route list later, update the existing subscription in the client instead of creating another configuration with the same name. If your subscription link has been reset, the old one may no longer work. Copy the new link from your account overview and replace the old one. If an update fails, keep the error message and follow the connection troubleshooting steps in the FAQ. This is more useful than repeatedly deleting and reinstalling the client.
Connect to a route and verify access
After importing, make sure the selected subscription is the one you just added. Choose a destination from the route list and start the connection. For your first connection, leave settings such as protocol, routing mode, and system proxy unchanged. Start with the client’s recommended defaults and establish a connection you can test. Choose a route based on the region required by the service you want to access. If you’re unsure, see the route selection tips on the global nodes page.
Once the client shows that you’re connected, open the website or app you want to use and try a normal action, such as loading a page, opening the service home page, or reopening content. If the client provides a connection log or activity list, check whether the request used your selected route. A changed Connect button alone doesn’t confirm that every app is using the connection. With smart routing enabled, different requests may take different paths, depending on your current rules.
If the client is connected but the service still won’t load, first make sure your device has a working internet connection. Then check the selected configuration, system permissions, and whether the client is routing traffic. Try another route and reopen the app. Change one setting at a time and note what happens before and after; changing several options at once makes it hard to identify the cause, even if the connection comes back. The service’s account status and regional rules may also affect access—a successful connection doesn’t guarantee that every feature will work.
Once verification succeeds, you can keep the current configuration for everyday use. If something goes wrong after your device sleeps, switches networks, or updates its system, check the connection in the client, update the subscription, and test again. Still stuck? Continue troubleshooting in the FAQ. To contact support, submit a ticket through the user dashboard with your operating system, client name, what you were doing when the issue occurred, and the error message. Hide subscription details in any screenshots.
That’s the end of the setup process. From here, check your plan and data usage in the dashboard, and update your subscription or switch routes in the client. To learn more about direct, relayed, and dedicated routes and how to choose a protocol, see the protocol and routing technical reference. You don’t need to understand every technical detail before connecting for the first time.