VPN Client Setup Guide
Get your subscription ready, then import it on your device. Follow the steps in order for your first setup, or jump to your platform if you already have a subscription link.
Create an account and save your login details
Open the account creation page in the user dashboard, enter a username and password, and follow the on-screen instructions. PaoVPN does not require an email address; your username and password are what you’ll use to sign in to the dashboard. Choose a password you don’t use on other sites and save it in a trusted password manager rather than relying on your browser’s temporary memory.
Once you’re done, open the account overview and make sure you’re signed in to the account you just created. If you’ve previously signed in to another account in this browser, check the username before choosing a plan. Your client subscription is linked to your dashboard account, so switching accounts can make a paid subscription appear to be missing.
Your account lets you manage orders, plans, subscription links, and support tickets. Creating an account does not connect a device. You can explore the account overview and client downloads now, but you’ll need to confirm a plan and import your subscription before testing the connection. Before leaving the dashboard, make sure you’ve saved your login details.
Choose a plan and check your order status
Open the plans section of the dashboard and choose a billing option based on how often you expect to use the service. If you regularly work, browse, or stream, compare the monthly subscriptions. If your usage is less predictable, consider a permanent data plan. Check both the price and data allowance so you don’t mistake a data plan for a subscription that resets monthly.
Monthly subscriptions: ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, or ¥28/month for 500GB. Data resets monthly on the day your plan starts. If you upgrade mid-cycle, the price difference is prorated for the remaining days. Permanent data plans: ¥158 for 300GB, ¥358 for 1000GB, or ¥658 for 3000GB. Data does not expire and can be used until it runs out. All plans support unlimited devices, but keep an eye on your account’s remaining data when using multiple devices.
After choosing a plan, check the plan name, price, and data allowance on the order page, then pay with Alipay, WeChat Pay, or USDT as prompted. Once payment is complete, return to the dashboard and check the order result and plan status in your account overview. If the payment page shows success but the dashboard hasn’t updated, check the order again before placing another one. If you need help, submit the order details in a support ticket.
PaoVPN offers a 30-day no-questions-asked refund policy. To compare all plans or read the refund terms, visit the plans and pricing page and the refund policy. Once your plan is confirmed, continue to the next step to get your subscription.
Get your subscription link and prepare to import it
Return to your account overview and find the subscription section. If the dashboard has a “Copy subscription link” option or similar, use it to copy the link. If it offers a direct import option for your client, make sure the client is installed before opening it. Copying the link is a flexible option that lets you add it to your client manually.
A subscription link is not a regular website URL or a link to the plans page. It lets your client retrieve the route configuration available to your account. Don’t paste this guide’s URL or the dashboard sign-in page into the import field. If the client says the format is invalid, copy the link again from the dashboard and check for extra text, line breaks, or spaces.
The link below is an example format only and cannot be used to connect. Use the link from your own dashboard, not the example, when setting up your subscription.
https://example.com/sub?token=YOUR_TOKENTreat your subscription link as private account information. Don’t post it in forums or share it in public chats. When contacting support, describe the error and the steps you took instead. Hide your full subscription link and other sensitive account details in screenshots. If you think the link has been exposed, check the dashboard for a reset option or ask support through a ticket.
Import your subscription by platform
First, check the client downloads section in the dashboard for a client and instructions suited to your system. Non-iOS clients are available after you sign in; check the dashboard for the current iOS requirements. Downloading a client is just the first step—you’ll also need a valid subscription and must select a route to connect.
The sections below cover desktop, Android, and iOS. Clients may label the relevant option “Configuration,” “Subscription,” or “Remote Configuration.” If it uses your personal subscription link to load routes, that’s the import step. After importing, make sure the route list appears before connecting. Don’t keep toggling the connection when the list is empty.
Windows: Add a subscription in the desktop client
Install the Windows desktop client provided in the dashboard and open its main window. Go to configuration or subscription management, then choose “Add subscription,” “Import from URL,” or a similar option. Paste your personal subscription link and give it a recognizable name. The name is only for identifying the subscription on your device; it won’t change your plan.
Save the subscription, then update or refresh it and wait for the route list to load. If the client lets you select an active configuration, make sure the subscription you just imported is in use rather than an older one. If your system prompts you to allow network access, verify the app’s source and follow the instructions. For features that require administrator access, follow the current client documentation; there’s no need to change system settings for modes you aren’t using.
macOS: Import a configuration and allow network access
Choose a desktop client for macOS from the dashboard. If there are options for different chip types, check “About This Mac” in your system settings and select the right version. Install and open the client, find subscription management or configuration, and add your personal subscription from a link. Save it and update the route list.
The first time you connect, macOS may ask you to allow a VPN configuration or network extension. Follow the system prompt to open the relevant settings, verify that it’s the client you just installed, and grant permission. Then return to the client and try connecting again. If the configuration imported successfully but you still can’t connect, check whether a permission prompt is waiting instead of repeatedly deleting the subscription. You can adjust advanced Apple service and routing rules after confirming that the basic connection works.
Android: Add a subscription and allow background activity
Install the Android client provided in the dashboard, following the system prompts. When you open it for the first time, go to configuration, subscriptions, or add settings. Choose the option to import from a link, paste your personal subscription link, and save it. If the dashboard offers one-tap import, your system may ask which app to use. Choose the client you just installed and that matches the dashboard instructions.
Once the route list loads, choose a route and connect. Android will show a VPN connection request; check the app name and allow it. After connecting, test access in your browser, then return to the client to check its status. If the connection drops only when you switch apps or lock your screen, check the system’s battery management and background activity permissions, and allow the client to keep running. There’s no need to change settings unrelated to the issue.
iOS: Get a client and add your subscription using the dashboard instructions
First, read the iOS setup instructions in the dashboard and use the client they recommend that supports subscription imports. The dashboard has the latest iOS requirements and download options; this page does not provide an installation package or direct App Store link. Once the client is ready, look for Add Subscription, Import from URL, or Remote Configuration in the app. Enter your personal subscription link in the subscription URL field, not the server address field for an individual route.
Save and refresh the subscription, then check that the regional routes appear before choosing one and connecting. If the system asks to add a VPN configuration, verify the app and allow it, then complete any device authentication prompts. Return to the client to check its connection status and test in your browser. If another VPN app is already connected, disconnect it before testing this client so you don’t mistake the other app’s status for the result.
Linux: Follow the system instructions in the dashboard
PaoVPN also supports Linux. Get the client and subscription through the dashboard, and follow its current instructions for installation and permissions. Desktop environments and distributions vary, so this guide doesn’t cover command-line setup. For more detailed instructions, see the complete user guide.
Connect to a route and test access
Choose a route suited to the region you want to access, connect, and wait for the status to change from disconnected to connected. For your first test, keep the client’s default or recommended mode. Avoid changing the route, routing rules, and system network settings at the same time. That way, if something goes wrong, you can tell whether the issue is with the import, permissions, or route selection.
A connected status is only the first check; you’ll also need to test access. Open a website you can normally reach to confirm your device is online, then try the international site or tool you want to use. To check your exit region, use an IP lookup page you trust. In rule-based routing mode, some sites may still use your local network, so the result from one ordinary website won’t tell you whether all requests are using the selected route.
If the target page loads and requests that should use the route behave as expected for the selected region, the basic test is complete. When using AI tools or streaming services, keep in mind that each platform has its own account, region, and content requirements. Connecting through a particular region doesn’t guarantee access to all content on every platform. Quantum encryption is PaoVPN’s primary security message; as always, keep your account password and subscription link safe.
If you can’t access the site, first check that the subscription has loaded, your plan is active, and system permissions are granted. Then try refreshing the subscription or choosing another route. Change one thing at a time and reload the target page. If only one site is affected while other requests work, note the site name, selected region, and error message. There’s no need to immediately reinstall the client or place another order.
To use PaoVPN on another device, get the subscription using the same account, then import and test it on that device. Unlimited devices doesn’t mean they’re configured automatically. Keep an eye on your plan status and remaining data in the dashboard. Monthly subscriptions reset on the day your plan starts; permanent data plans last until the data runs out. If your route list doesn’t change after switching plans or updating your configuration, refresh the subscription in the client.