How to Enable TUN Mode in Clash Verge Rev on Windows

What TUN Mode Does in Clash Verge Rev

Clash Verge Rev can send traffic through a proxy in more than one way. With the Windows system proxy enabled, applications that read the operating system’s proxy settings can use Clash. This works well for many browsers and desktop apps, but it does not cover every program. Games, command-line tools, update services, and some apps with their own network stacks may connect directly because they do not check the system proxy at all.

TUN mode addresses that gap by creating a virtual network interface in Windows and routing selected traffic through the Clash core. Instead of asking each application to use a proxy, the operating system sends eligible network packets to the TUN interface, where Clash applies the active profile’s routing rules. That is why TUN can help with applications that ignore the system proxy and with traffic that otherwise bypasses the desktop client.

TUN mode is not the same thing as choosing a proxy node, nor does it make every connection automatically use a remote server. Your profile still determines whether a destination is routed through a proxy, connected directly, or rejected. If a rule matches a destination to DIRECT, TUN can capture the traffic but the connection will still go out directly. If it matches a proxy group, the selected group and node determine the next hop.

It is also useful to set realistic expectations: TUN mode is a traffic-routing feature, not an encryption guarantee for every application. The proxy protocol and remote server determine how traffic is protected beyond your device. Keep your profile, proxy subscription, and Windows security settings in mind when diagnosing a connection.

Check the Requirements Before Enabling TUN

Before changing settings, make sure Clash Verge Rev is installed and can run a working profile. TUN mode adds a system-level network component, so a profile that already loads and has at least one usable proxy makes troubleshooting much easier. If the client has no active configuration, first import your provider’s Clash-compatible subscription and confirm that proxy groups and nodes appear in the interface.

Depending on the release and the state of your Windows installation, the TUN option may ask to install or start a service, request elevated permission, or confirm a driver-related operation. These prompts are expected for a feature that needs to create and manage a virtual network interface. Read each prompt before approving it, and only grant permission to the client you intentionally installed.

Close or pause other VPN and proxy clients while testing. Two tools can compete to install routes, filters, DNS settings, or virtual adapters. This does not mean they can never coexist, but it adds variables that make a first test unreliable. If you use security software with network inspection, note its current state so you can identify whether it is blocking the adapter or service rather than changing several settings at once.

Finally, identify a simple test application. A browser can be useful, but some browsers use their own secure DNS or proxy settings. A command-line request or an application known to ignore the Windows proxy can provide a clearer comparison. Record whether the test works before TUN is enabled; that baseline helps separate a profile or node problem from a tunnel problem.

Enable TUN Mode and Install the Service

The exact labels and menu placement can vary between Clash Verge Rev releases. Look for the TUN control in the application’s settings or system/network section. The key is to enable the feature inside the client, approve any administrator prompt, and verify that its service is running. Do not edit unrelated profile values just because the interface wording differs slightly from these steps.

1. Open Clash Verge Rev. Confirm that the intended profile is selected and that the core is running. If the client reports a configuration error, resolve that first; TUN cannot compensate for an invalid profile.
2. Open the TUN settings. Find the TUN mode switch. Some builds expose additional options such as stack type, auto-route, strict-route, or DNS handling. Begin with the client’s default or recommended values unless you have a specific network requirement.
3. Approve the service or elevation prompt. If the client offers to install or start its service, allow the operation only when the publisher and application are the ones you expect. Windows may show a User Account Control prompt because the operation changes system networking.
4. Turn on TUN mode. Wait for the status to update. A successful toggle should not immediately be followed by a core crash, a service error, or a loss of all connectivity.
5. Check the system proxy separately. TUN and the Windows system proxy are distinct mechanisms. You may leave the system proxy enabled if your workflow needs it, but avoid assuming that the system-proxy indicator proves TUN is active.
6. Test one application at a time. Try a destination that your profile should proxy, then inspect the client’s connection or log view to see which rule and outbound were selected.

Service installation and service operation are not quite the same thing. Installation registers the component Windows needs; the client may still need to start it when TUN is enabled. If a prompt was cancelled, the service is unavailable, or an earlier installation became inconsistent, the interface may show a failed state even though the switch appears selected. Turn TUN off, restart the client, and use the service-management action offered by your build before trying again.

When you change a profile or TUN setting, give the core a moment to reload and re-establish the interface. Rapidly toggling the feature can leave a stale adapter or route during diagnosis. If the client reports that TUN is on but the connection view shows no traffic from your test application, verify that the application actually produced a new connection; existing sessions may remain open and need to be restarted.

Verify the Virtual Adapter and Traffic Routing

A successful TUN setup should be visible in more than one place. The client’s status is useful, but checking Windows and the connection log gives you stronger evidence. Windows may label the interface with a name associated with the client or its tunnel implementation; the precise display name can differ by release. Do not rely on a particular adapter name as the only test.

1. Open Windows Settings, go to Network & internet, and open the advanced network settings or adapter list. Confirm that a relevant virtual interface appears while TUN is enabled.
2. Check the client’s service or TUN status. Look for a running state rather than an installation-only message or an error indicating permission, driver, or service failure.
3. Generate fresh traffic from an application that normally bypasses the system proxy. Use a destination that you know should match a proxy rule in the active profile.
4. Open Clash Verge Rev’s connections or logs. Find the new connection and inspect its matched rule, policy, and outbound. The expected result depends on your profile, so compare it with the rule you intended to test.
5. Repeat with a destination that should be direct, if your profile has a clear direct-routing rule. This helps confirm that TUN is capturing traffic while the rules still make the routing decision.

For a quick comparison, you can inspect the route table in a terminal opened with suitable permissions. Use Windows networking tools to display active routes and interfaces, then compare the results with TUN on and off. Avoid deleting routes manually as a first troubleshooting step: Windows may recreate them, and removing the wrong route can interrupt access to your local network or gateway.

Also check whether the application is making a new connection. A long-running game, sync client, or browser tab may keep an existing socket alive, so changing TUN state will not necessarily move that session immediately. Close and reopen the test app, or use a new destination, then check the connection log again. A fresh connection is easier to trace than a session established before the tunnel was enabled.

DNS deserves a separate check. A TUN interface can affect how DNS requests are routed, but the exact behavior depends on the client, profile, and DNS settings. Browser DNS-over-HTTPS, an application’s built-in resolver, or another network tool can use a different path from Windows DNS. If the log shows the application connection but the hostname fails to resolve, investigate DNS and the profile’s resolver settings instead of repeatedly reinstalling the adapter.

When all checks agree—the client reports TUN active, Windows shows the interface, and a fresh test connection appears with the expected policy—you have a practical confirmation. If only some checks pass, note exactly which layer is missing. That observation narrows the next step far more effectively than switching multiple routing options without a baseline.

Fix Common Clash Verge Rev TUN Problems

The TUN service will not start

First, fully exit and reopen Clash Verge Rev, then try enabling TUN again and read the complete error message. If Windows requests administrator approval, make sure the request was accepted. Check that the client is not blocked by a security prompt and that another installation of the same client is not still running in the background. If the interface provides a service install, repair, or restart action, use that instead of manually editing Windows services or deleting driver files.

If the service fails after a Windows update or after changing client versions, restart Windows once and test again before making deeper changes. A pending reboot can leave driver or service changes incomplete. If the problem persists, update to a trusted current build, consult the release notes for known Windows compatibility issues, and capture the exact service error for further diagnosis.

The virtual adapter is missing or disconnected

Turn TUN off before checking the adapter list, then enable it again and refresh the Windows view. Some interfaces appear only while the tunnel is active. If no relevant adapter appears, check whether security software has blocked installation and whether the client service is running. Do not disable Windows security protections broadly; if you need to test a filter conflict, change only the product’s network-control setting temporarily and restore it after the test.

Multiple virtual adapters from older VPNs or network utilities can complicate route selection. Temporarily disconnect unused VPNs and quit other proxy clients, then repeat the test. If that resolves the issue, re-enable tools individually to identify the conflict. This is safer than removing adapters at random, particularly on a work computer with managed networking software.

TUN is on, but traffic still goes direct

Start with the profile rules. In the connection log, check whether the test destination matched a DIRECT rule, a proxy group, or another policy. If the connection is recorded as direct, the tunnel may be functioning correctly while the profile is making a direct-routing decision. Select the intended proxy group if needed, and review rule order and domain matching before changing Windows routes.

If no connection appears at all, confirm that the test app created a new connection and that it is not using a separate VPN or network adapter. Some applications use IPv6, their own DNS resolver, or a specialized network stack. Test a second application and compare results. A single app’s behavior does not establish that the TUN interface is broken.

Internet access stops after enabling TUN

Disable TUN to restore your previous baseline, then confirm that the profile and proxy node work without it. If ordinary browsing returns, re-enable TUN with the default settings and test a single destination. Check the client logs for DNS failures, unavailable proxy groups, or repeated connection errors. A dead node, invalid profile rule, or unreachable DNS resolver can look like a tunnel failure even when the adapter was created successfully.

If the whole computer loses connectivity, verify that the default route and local gateway remain available and that another VPN is not holding a competing route. Rebooting can clear temporary networking state, but avoid manually changing adapter metrics, DNS servers, or firewall rules until you have identified a specific cause. For a managed or corporate device, ask the administrator before changing network components; endpoint controls may intentionally restrict virtual interfaces.

Some alternative proxy applications offer only a per-application proxy toggle or depend on each program respecting Windows proxy settings. That can be convenient, but it leaves gaps for software that bypasses those settings and can make behavior difficult to audit. Clash Verge Rev combines a Windows TUN interface with profile-based routing, visible connection logs, and selectable proxy groups, so you can check both what was captured and where it was sent. If those controls fit your setup, you can Download Clash for free and test TUN mode with a profile you trust.