Clients manage settings; cores handle connections
Project V is an open-source ecosystem of proxy communication tools, and V2Ray is one of its best-known projects. When people say “install V2Ray,” they often mean installing a client with a graphical interface. The client manages subscriptions, configuration selection, system proxy settings, and logs. The core reads the configuration and handles connections. They work together, but they’re separate programs and may follow different release schedules.
V2Fly continues the community-maintained development of V2Ray, while Xray is a related core project with its own development direction. They share technical roots, but their protocol implementations, transport capabilities, and supported fields are not identical. If a configuration imports successfully but won’t start, check which core the client is using and what the configuration requires—not just the name of the shared link.
Three open-source clients, each for different needs
v2rayN is a desktop client with a graphical interface for managing configurations and support for compatible cores. v2rayNG is for Android and uses the Xray core; v2flyNG offers an alternative based on the V2Fly core. All three have open-source project backgrounds. Check each project’s release notes for current features, dependencies, and licensing. Desktop and Android settings differ, so menu instructions in a guide may not match your current interface exactly.
Open source means the code is available under a license that sets the terms for use and collaboration. It doesn’t mean the client includes a remote service or that every configuration source is trustworthy. Clients, cores, and third-party dependencies may each have separate licenses; review the relevant terms before distributing or modifying them. Pay attention to where configurations come from, subscription permissions, and how sensitive information is stored. Don’t overlook these practical details just because a project is open source.
Keep your settings before updating, then test again
Client updates may change the interface, how configurations are generated, or which cores are supported. Core updates may affect protocol behavior and field restrictions. Read the relevant release notes first, then save your subscription groups, routing rules, and custom configurations. After updating, test common apps with a configuration you’ve already verified. Check local network access, routing rules, and background connections. Avoid making major routing changes in the same session as an upgrade.
This site organizes downloads, getting-started steps, and field references separately. Use the download page to check platforms and package types, the getting-started guide to establish and verify your first connection, and the configuration reference to understand JSON inbounds, outbounds, routing, and DNS. Technical notes cover more specific troubleshooting scenarios. Start with the section that matches your issue; it’s easier to keep useful clues than to repeatedly uninstall and reinstall.