The Ultimate Guide to Clash for Android (CFA)

Welcome to our in‑depth guide to Clash for Android (CFA), the most powerful rule‑based proxy client on Android. If you want granular control, smart routing, and a feature‑rich dashboard, this is the tool for you. We’ll cover everything—from first setup to advanced rule management.

Step 1 — Download and Install Clash for Android

From the Official GitHub Releases (Recommended)

Download the APK from official releases for integrity and timely updates.

Choose the APK for your device CPU (e.g., arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a).
Open the APK and follow Android prompts to install. If blocked, enable “Install unknown apps” for your browser/file manager.

From Google Play Store

You can also install via Google Play. GitHub is typically updated faster.

Step 2 — Importing Your First Profile (Subscription)

Copy your Clash subscription URL provided by your service.
Open CFA and go to the bottom tab: Profiles.
Tap the + (top‑right) → select URL → paste your subscription → tap the save icon.
Tap your newly added profile to select it. Then tap the three‑dot menu ⋮ next to it and choose Update.

Step 3 — Understanding the Dashboard & Starting the Connection

The Main Dashboard Explained

Start/Stop Button: The main switch to activate Clash.
Proxy Tab: Where you control routing, policy groups, and nodes.
Traffic Monitor: Real‑time upload/download speed.
Profile Info: Shows the active profile name.

Activating the Service

Tap the Stopped button at the top. It will switch to Running, and you’ll see a VPN/key icon in the Android status bar. Grant VPN permissions if prompted.

Step 4 — Mastering the “Proxy” Tab (The Core of Clash)

Understanding Policy Groups

In Proxy, you’ll see Policy Groups like Streaming, Gaming, or Auto‑Select. These are smart groups of proxies. Instead of picking a single server globally, you choose per task.

Switching Nodes within a Group

Tap a policy group (e.g., Streaming). Test nodes with the lightning icon ⚡ and select the lowest‑latency option.

Routing Modes: Rule vs. Global

Rule (Recommended): CFA’s rules engine automatically routes traffic to the right policy group. It’s the smart mode.
Global: Forces all traffic through one manually selected group.

❗ Troubleshooting Common CFA Issues

Profile download fails or shows an error: Ensure you’re using a Clash‑compatible subscription URL. Check your network connection.

Running, but IP hasn’t changed: In the Proxy tab, select a valid node for the active policy group and confirm you’re not in Direct routing mode.

Need a Fast, Working Route?

Use our smart proxy finder to scan and recommend fast, available routes for your region.

Launch a Scan