clash-for-windows.org · Complete Setup Guide
Complete Mihomo (formerly Clash Meta) installation, configuration, and usage guide
This guide follows the real sequence of work: verify the source and device, complete the smallest working loop, then enable advanced options one at a time.
Understand the project relationship and intended users
Mihomo is a proxy core, not a complete graphical client. Desktop users commonly manage it through clients such as Clash Verge Rev, while server and router environments may run the core directly.
Verify the release source, not just the “latest” label
Confirm the project owner and release tag through the repository, formal release page, or platform store. A mirror can change delivery speed, but the filename, version, signature, or hash should match the release record. Search snippets labeled latest may be stale.
- Confirm project owner and release tag
- Check system, architecture, and package format
- Compare filename, date, and file size
- Calculate and compare a hash when supplied
- Keep the release page and verification result
Complete three checks before installation
Close old instances, back up required configuration or recovery information, and confirm free disk space, system time, and network access. Before an upgrade, note the old version and data directory so a program change can be separated from a configuration change.
Installation steps and permissions
Run only a package traceable to a verified release. Grant required permissions through normal system prompts and do not permanently disable protection. Launch once and confirm the interface, version, and data directory open normally.
- Download the correct platform and architecture build
- Back up configuration, data, or recovery information
- Close old instances and install
- Prepare one known-good configuration or account
- Validate one explicit function
- Enable advanced options individually
Configuration, sign-in, or recovery failure
Confirm whether the package is a graphical client or a raw core. A client imports configuration and enables a proxy; a raw core also needs a correct configuration path, listening ports, and management method.
Validate with a real outcome, not a colored button
Test an explicit outcome such as opening the app, loading a configuration, reaching one target, or sending a test message. A status indicator alone is not evidence; compare logs with real application behavior.
Enable advanced settings one at a time
Change one advanced option at a time and record the result. If a fault appears, the last change can be reversed without deleting all data.
Updates, backup, and rollback
Back up before updating, then check client, core, and configuration state separately. Preserve logs and return to the last known-good release if necessary; repeated reinstalls often remove useful evidence.
Sensitive information and privacy
Subscription URLs, recovery phrases, private keys, endpoint credentials, and full debug logs may contain secrets. Redact them before screenshots and never upload them to unknown checking sites.
Related pages
Useful guides already on this site
- Clash for Windows open reference — 30 practical guides
- Trust boundaries between Clash clients, cores, configurations and routes | Clash Meta
- Clash for Windows project history and the ecosystem after maintenance ended | Clash Meta
- Clash and privacy: understanding each trust layer | Clash Meta
- Clash Verge Rev beginner guide: download to first connection | Clash Meta
- Import a mihomo configuration: YAML, paths and validation | Clash Meta
- AMD64, ARM64, ARMv7 and Apple Silicon explained | Clash Meta
- Fake-IP vs Redir-Host: behavior and compatibility | Clash Meta