When looking for a Windows VPN, first check whether global proxy mode, split tunneling, and startup options fit your workflow, then compare routes and prices. A browser opening international sites does not mean your games, meeting apps, and command-line tools are using the proxy. Likewise, launching the client at startup does not mean its rules have loaded or the connection is ready.
Choosing a Windows VPN: Understand What Each Proxy Mode Covers
Windows clients often show “System Proxy,” “Global Mode,” and “TUN Mode” together, but these settings do different things. System Proxy tells apps that honor the setting to send requests to a local proxy port. Global or rule-based mode determines how traffic reaching the proxy core is routed. TUN uses a virtual network interface to handle a wider range of IP traffic.
Turning on global mode does not mean every connection on your PC will be routed through the proxy. If a game never sends its traffic to the proxy core, changing the core’s routing mode will not make the proxy apply automatically. Conversely, TUN mode can still use split-tunneling rules to keep local network traffic and specified sites on a direct connection.
| Setting | What it does | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| System Proxy | Sets a proxy endpoint for apps that follow the system setting | Browsers and some desktop apps | Not every app reads this setting |
| Global Mode | Applies one selected policy to requests handled by the proxy core | Temporarily testing a route or troubleshooting split-tunnel rules | Does not capture all traffic on the device; built-in exceptions may still apply |
| Rule-Based Routing | Routes traffic based on domains, addresses, or supported process conditions | Using international sites alongside local services | Rule order, DNS results, and fallback policies affect which rule matches |
| TUN Mode | Uses a virtual network interface to capture traffic that matches routing conditions | Apps that do not follow the system proxy | Depends on the client implementation and may require administrator access or a service component |
When choosing a client, confirm that these features are actually available in its Windows version. Clients with the same name can have different menus, permissions, and traffic-capture methods on other platforms, so mobile app instructions may not apply. If an app supports an explicit proxy setting, you can configure it according to the app’s documentation instead of enabling device-wide traffic capture for just one program.
Rule-Based Routing vs. Global Proxy: Separate Everyday Use from Troubleshooting
When you use local work systems, international research sites, and local network devices at the same time, rule-based routing is usually easier to manage. Well-designed rules send requests that need an international route through the proxy while keeping local resources on a direct connection. More rules are not necessarily better: use trusted rule sources, keep their order clear, and check which rules actually match.
If an app fails in rule-based mode, switch to global mode temporarily and test it over the same route. If global mode works but rule-based mode does not, check whether the domain is missing, a direct-connection rule is matching, or the fallback policy points to the wrong route. If both modes fail, check the route, subscription, and app itself rather than piling on conflicting rules.
For work, also consider your company VPN, internal domains, and private IP routes. Running them alongside a personal proxy can create conflicts over the default route or DNS. Follow your organization’s access requirements and avoid accidentally routing company traffic through a personal proxy. If the two setups conflict, disable one traffic-capture feature first and identify which setting is causing the problem.
Game and Work App Compatibility: Test Each App
For gaming, check transport support—not just browser speed tests
Many games use UDP, while browsing a website usually does not test how this traffic is handled. Check that the client, subscription configuration, and server support the transport required by the game. TUN can help capture traffic, but it cannot add capabilities the server does not support or guarantee lower game latency.
For a useful test, keep the game region and local network the same, then check whether sign-in, matchmaking, joining a match, and ongoing gameplay work as expected. A fast download does not guarantee a good real-time gaming experience: throughput, latency, and jitter are different metrics. Avoid running multiple network-acceleration tools at once, or it will be difficult to identify the actual route and source of a problem.
For work apps, check sign-in, syncing, and session stability
Meeting apps, cloud storage, and developer tools may use different networking components. A successful browser login does not mean the desktop app uses the same proxy settings, and command-line programs may read environment variables instead of the Windows system proxy. If a website works but an app does not, check the app’s documentation and connection logs before assuming the route is unavailable.
- ✅ Browser: Open the target site and confirm that its content loads—not just the homepage.
- ✅ Work apps: Test sign-in, file syncing, and a real session; check that the connection stays up.
- ✅ Developer tools: Check the app’s proxy settings and proxy environment variables. Remove any old settings that point to a closed port.
- ✅ Local network resources: Confirm that printers, shared folders, and internal domains remain accessible as expected.
- ❌ Don’t treat one browser speed test as proof that gaming, meetings, and device-wide traffic capture all work.
Importing a Subscription and Checking Protocol Support
A subscription link retrieves route configurations; it is not a client download link and should not be pasted into the Windows system proxy address field. Get the subscription from the service dashboard, then use the subscription or configuration import option in a Windows client downloaded from a trusted source. Choose a route after the update completes. See the Guides for details.
Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, VLESS, Hysteria2, and TUIC are different protocols. Support depends on the client’s core and version. “Subscription support” does not mean the client supports every protocol in the subscription, and recognizing a protocol name does not guarantee support for every transport or encryption option in its configuration. Check the service’s current configuration and the client’s compatibility notes; a protocol name alone does not tell you its speed or privacy level.
- Check the dashboard for the currently supported Windows clients and import method. Avoid modified clients from unverified sources.
- Copy and import the subscription link, then check that a route list appears. If the list is empty, first check the link, format, and update message.
- Choose a route and enable the appropriate traffic-capture mode. Connect manually first; leave automatic connection at startup disabled for now.
- Test the target app, then save your rules and preferences. After updating the subscription, check that your custom rules are still in place.
Choosing Startup Settings: Separate Launch, Connect, and Recovery
“Start with Windows” usually just launches the client; “connect on startup” loads the configuration and establishes a connection. Some clients also need a background service to work with the required permissions. Check each setting separately: a tray icon does not mean the route is active, and you should not assume a connection can be established before you sign in.
Enable startup and automatic recovery only after a manual connection is stable. Restart the PC, wait for the local network to come online, and check the active configuration, policy group, and target app. Then test waking from sleep, switching Wi-Fi networks, and exiting the client normally. If websites stop loading after you exit, check whether the system proxy still points to a local port that is no longer listening.
Decide what should happen if the network drops: allow a direct connection or block traffic. Automatic reconnection and preventing fallback to a direct connection are different features, so don’t infer traffic behavior from an “automatic recovery” button alone. If you need this control, consult the client documentation and test it. Keep a way to restore your network settings so you can still access local resources if something goes wrong.
Routes and Plans: Choose What Fits Your Needs with YiYiVPN
Route names describe how a connection is delivered, not what performance you are guaranteed. An IEPL route usually refers to a link carried over the corresponding private line; a relay routes traffic through an entry node; a direct route connects from the local network to an overseas node. Actual performance still depends on your local carrier, network path, destination service, and time of day. Route names alone are not enough to rank speeds.
YiYiVPN’s route preview includes Tokyo IEPL, Singapore relay, Hong Kong IEPL, Los Angeles direct, London relay, and Zurich direct routes. Check the server page for route details, then test the route with your target app. If you need content from a specific region, choose that region first and compare its actual connection performance rather than relying on how close a city appears on the map.
YiYiVPN monthly plans cost ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, and ¥28/month for 500GB. Data resets monthly on the activation date. Data packs cost ¥158/300GB, ¥358/1000GB, and ¥658/3000GB; they do not expire and remain available until used. Monthly plans may suit regular use, while data packs are worth considering if your usage varies. There’s no need to choose a larger plan just for data you won’t use.
YiYiVPN has no device limit, but app updates, cloud syncing, and video streaming all use data. You can get started without an email address. “Anonymous, no logs” describes the service’s privacy policy; it does not mean the site cannot identify a user through a signed-in account. You can request a full refund for any reason within 30 days of your first payment. Check the plans and pricing page for complete details.
Verify Your Connection: Check Your Exit IP, DNS, and Apps
After connecting, open the My IP page to check your browser’s current exit IP and compare it with the route selected in the client. Then check whether the target app’s connection matched the expected policy. If the results differ, first check the lookup site’s routing rules, browser-specific proxy settings, old environment variables, and any other network tools running.
Interpret DNS checks in the context of your configuration. Seeing a particular resolver does not necessarily mean there is a leak. Check which domains are meant to resolve locally and which should be handled through the proxy. Your browser’s encrypted DNS settings may be separate from the client configuration, and TUN does not automatically route every DNS request the same way. Make sure traffic capture, DNS resolution, and routing rules are consistent.