Mihomo (formerly Clash Meta) for Linux: download, install, and first run

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 operating system and CPU architecture

Record distribution, version, desktop environment, and CPU architecture. Debian/Ubuntu commonly uses DEB, Fedora/RHEL uses RPM, while other distributions may prefer AppImage or archives.

Read package formats and filenames

Match the package to the package manager. Review dependencies; AppImage needs execute permission; an archive requires manual shortcuts and updates.

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. Do not run unknown installer scripts as root. Grant system-service or network capabilities only when documented, and keep the command output.

1. Download the correct platform and architecture build
2. Back up configuration, data, or recovery information
3. Close old instances and install
4. Prepare one known-good configuration or account
5. Validate one explicit function
6. Enable advanced options individually

Complete the smallest first-run loop

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.

Status looks normal but the feature fails

Common causes include missing shared libraries, Wayland/X11 differences, absent desktop entries, execute permission, and systemd service state.

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.

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