Setting up a VPN on a Mac starts with checking that the client supports your subscription. Then grant the necessary permissions and verify that traffic is actually using your chosen route. Seeing “Connected” does not prove that your browser, work apps, and DNS queries are all taking the expected path. Follow the steps below to set things up from scratch and identify where problems occur.
WeiVPN supports macOS and allows unlimited devices. Its privacy policy is described as “anonymous, no logs.” No email address is needed to create an account; just choose a username and password. These service details are separate from the client’s specific interface. This guide covers general setup; check the download instructions in your account panel and your current client for exact button names, available protocols, and permission prompts.
Before you install: check your Mac, download source, and subscription compatibility
Open About This Mac to check whether your device has an Apple chip or an Intel processor. If the download page offers installers for different architectures, choose the one that matches your Mac. If it provides a universal installer, follow the release notes. Don’t assume an app is compatible just because its filename includes “Mac,” and don’t weaken macOS security settings to run an installer from an unknown source.
Get installation instructions from the client download section in your account panel. Before installing, verify the download source, app name, and publisher. Search results for similarly named apps, installers shared in chat groups, and attachments from old tutorials should not be assumed to be official. If the publisher provides verification details, use them to check the file’s integrity.
Keep your VPN account separate from your subscription configuration. Your account username and password are usually for signing in to the service panel; the subscription link lets a compatible client retrieve nodes and rules. Unless a client explicitly asks you to sign in with your service account, don’t enter your account credentials in a node authentication field or use your subscription link as a browser extension login address.
- ✅ Check that the processor architecture matches the installer requirements.
- ✅ Download the client from a trusted source and read the current release notes.
- ✅ Make sure the client supports the subscription format and protocols offered in your account panel.
- ✅ Pause other proxy tools so they don’t interfere with connection checks.
- ❌ Don’t submit your full subscription link to an unknown online conversion site.
Install the client: app installation and network permissions are separate steps
If you downloaded a disk image, open it and follow the instructions to move the app into the Applications folder, then launch it from there. If you downloaded an installer, review its steps and permission requests. Avoid running the app from a temporarily mounted image long-term; updates, path detection, or helper component installation may not work as expected.
The first time you open a downloaded app, macOS may ask you to confirm its source. This is separate from adding a VPN configuration or installing a network extension. Continue through the normal system flow only after confirming that the source is trustworthy and the app matches the download instructions. If macOS reports a damaged file, an invalid signature, or a security risk, stop and verify the source rather than disabling security protections.
Clients work in different ways. A client that only configures the system proxy may not need a network extension. A client using tunnel mode or a network extension may ask to add a VPN configuration, enable an extension, or install a helper service. The system authorization dialog may require approval from a Mac administrator. This requires your Mac authorization credentials, not your WeiVPN account password.
| Prompt or symptom | Possible cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm the source when opening the app for the first time | App source verification | Verify the publisher, then follow the system prompts. Stop if the source looks suspicious. |
| Prompt to add a VPN configuration | System network configuration | Make sure the request comes from the client you’re using, then allow it. |
| Network extension is disabled | Extension authorization | Open System Settings as prompted and allow the extension from the corresponding publisher. |
| Proxy mode works, but tunnel mode fails | Helper service or tunnel permissions | Check the client’s error message and confirm that required components are installed and allowed to run. |
| Settings can’t be changed on a managed device | Organization management policy | Contact your device administrator. Don’t bypass your organization’s network or security requirements. |
The names and locations of settings in macOS change between versions. If you can’t find a menu shown in an older guide, search System Settings for “VPN,” “Extensions,” or a keyword from the client’s prompt. Don’t delete configurations for other work apps just to match a screenshot, and don’t remove organization management profiles without permission.
Import a subscription: it’s more than a bookmark
Find the subscription link for your account in the service panel and copy the full address. Subscription links often contain access credentials, so anyone who gets one may be able to retrieve the associated configuration. Treat the link as sensitive information: don’t post it publicly or expose it in screenshots, QR codes, or configuration files when asking for help.
- Open the client’s subscription, configuration, or profile page and choose the option to import from a link. The wording varies between clients.
- Paste the full address from the panel. Check that there are no extra spaces, line breaks, or punctuation added by your chat app.
- Download or update the configuration, then wait for the client to confirm that it succeeded. Give it a name that’s easy to recognize on your device.
- Select the configuration you just imported to make it active. Adding it to the list without enabling it usually won’t change your current connection.
- Check that the node list appears, then choose a route and connection mode. Keep the default rules for now so you don’t change too many settings at once.
“Subscription imported” means the client retrieved and parsed the configuration; it doesn’t mean every node can connect. If you see a format error, first check whether the panel offers a subscription type compatible with your client. If the download fails, check that the link is complete, your account is active, and your current network can reach the subscription endpoint.
Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, VLESS, Hysteria2, and TUIC are different proxy protocols or protocol suites; changing their names won’t convert one into another. Whether a client can use a configuration depends on its core and version. Don’t assume that “supports subscriptions” means “supports every protocol,” or that WeiVPN offers every protocol listed here. Check the configurations actually available in your panel.
If a subscription link is exposed, deleting the chat message does not invalidate it. If the panel lets you reset the subscription link, follow its instructions and import the new link. If you can’t find the option, contact support. You may also need to update the link on any other devices after resetting it.
Connection modes: system proxy, tunnel, and routing rules
A system proxy adds proxy settings to the relevant macOS network configuration. Apps that follow the system proxy usually use it, but some have independent network settings or ignore the system proxy. So a working browser connection doesn’t mean every app follows the same route. Command-line tools may also need separate configuration; don’t use a browser test as a substitute for checking them.
Tunnel mode typically uses a virtual network interface or system network extension to handle a broader range of traffic. Whether it handles DNS, excludes local network traffic, or supports specific types of traffic depends on the client and its configuration. Enabling a tunnel won’t automatically fix every app compatibility issue, and there’s no need to grant extra permissions if a standard proxy already meets your needs.
Routing rules determine whether a request connects directly, goes through a proxy, or is handled by another policy. Node selection determines which exit route proxy requests use. Rule-based routing works well for directing traffic by destination. Global proxy mode can help briefly when troubleshooting rule matching, but its coverage is still limited by what the client can handle. Don’t assume it covers every network activity on your device.
For your initial setup, start with the mode recommended by the client and test the apps you need. If internal work systems, local network devices, or printers stop working, check whether they need direct access to your local network and follow your organization’s requirements. Don’t route all work traffic through an external connection without checking first.
Verify your connection: check the exit IP, target apps, and DNS separately
Before connecting, use the IP check page to note your current network’s exit details. Then connect to your chosen node and run the check again. A change in the exit IP means the test request took a different route, but it doesn’t prove that background apps, other browsers, or every network interface follow the same path. Geolocation databases can also be inaccurate, so don’t diagnose a route problem based only on the city shown.
Next, open the app you actually want to use and test a login, page load, or other task. If the browser test works but an app doesn’t, check whether the app follows the system proxy, has its own proxy settings, or is excluded from the proxy by a client rule. A site’s access restrictions, account region, and device status can also affect the result.
Check DNS separately. A DNS leak generally means that domain lookups that should follow the expected route are instead being resolved another way. Your web traffic may use a different exit while DNS requests still take an unexpected path. Use a trusted DNS test and compare its results with the client’s DNS configuration, your browser’s secure DNS settings, and your network interfaces.
A resolver listed by a test page isn’t the same as your VPN exit, and an unfamiliar name alone doesn’t prove a leak. Browser encrypted DNS, system caching, and the client’s built-in resolver can all affect results. If something looks inconsistent, first find out which resolver handled the request instead of repeatedly switching public DNS servers. If IPv6 traffic may not be covered by your current configuration, check the client’s documentation too; disabling a system feature shouldn’t be treated as a required step in every case.
Common issues: narrow down the cause by symptom
Permission denied, but the client keeps asking for authorization
Disconnect first, then check the relevant VPN configuration, network extension, or helper service in System Settings. Follow the client’s instructions to request authorization again, and confirm that the publisher matches the app you installed. Some changes require you to quit and reopen the app or restart your Mac as prompted. Don’t delete all network configurations without checking; you could disrupt your existing work setup.
No nodes appear after import, or updates keep failing
Check whether the newly imported configuration is selected, then review the update error. An expired link, changed credentials, an incompatible subscription format, and a failed network request each require a different fix. Don’t paste your subscription into a public tool to “repair” it. If you need help, share the client name, macOS version, and redacted error details—not the full subscription link.
The client says it’s connected, but websites won’t load
Disconnect and make sure your regular network connection works. If you’re on public Wi-Fi that requires a web sign-in, complete that process first. Then use only the current client and rule out other proxy tools changing system settings. Check the node, matching rules, and DNS separately, and see whether all sites fail or just one. Change one setting at a time so you can tell what fixed the issue.
The network stops working after quitting the client
In some cases, an unexpected client shutdown can leave the system proxy pointing to a local address even though the process is no longer running. First reopen the client and use its normal disconnect and quit options to restore your settings. If the issue persists, check the proxy configuration for the current network service. Remove only settings you can confirm the client added; don’t overwrite proxy settings managed by your organization.
Ongoing maintenance: update your configuration and check service status
Updating the client and updating the subscription are separate tasks. A client update affects the app, its core, and system compatibility; a subscription update retrieves current nodes and rules. If new permission prompts appear after a macOS upgrade, check the release notes again. If a subscription update fails, start by checking the link and account status. Don’t reinstall the app repeatedly instead of troubleshooting, and don’t look for unofficial “patched” versions.
WeiVPN monthly plans: ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, and ¥28/month for 500GB. Data resets monthly on the activation date; if you upgrade mid-cycle, the price difference is prorated by the remaining days. Data add-ons cost ¥158 for 300GB, ¥358 for 1000GB, and ¥658 for 3000GB. They remain available until used and never expire. To check your current selection, see the plan details and your account panel.
WeiVPN offers a 14-day no-questions-asked refund. Before choosing a service, consider the price, data rules, and client compatibility together; route coverage doesn’t guarantee a successful connection on your device. If you’re still having trouble after following these steps, continue troubleshooting with the diagnostic guide or visit the support page.