How to Install and Set Up ClashFX on macOS

Published on 2026-03-01 · Last updated 2026-11-11

System Requirements

Before installing ClashFX, verify that your Mac meets the following requirements:

• Operating System: macOS 12 Monterey or later (fully compatible with macOS 13 Ventura, macOS 14 Sonoma, and macOS 15 Sequoia)
• Architecture: Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) or Intel 64-bit processor
• Disk Space: Approximately 50 MB for the application bundle and runtime configs
• Privileges: Administrator privileges are only required on first activation of Enhanced Mode (TUN)

ClashFX is distributed as a Universal 2 binary. A single application package runs natively at full speed on both Apple Silicon and Intel hardware without requiring Rosetta 2 translation.

Downloading ClashFX

You can obtain the official, verified release of ClashFX directly from our website:

• Download ClashFX DMG

Always verify that you are downloading from the official source to protect your system security and avoid tampered builds.

Installation Steps

Step 1: Open the Disk Image (.dmg)

Locate the downloaded ClashFX.dmg file in your ~/Downloads folder and double-click to mount the disk image. A Finder window will appear displaying the application icon and a shortcut to your Applications folder.

Step 2: Drag to the Applications Folder

Drag the ClashFX icon and drop it onto the Applications folder shortcut. Finder will copy the application to /Applications. Once the copy operation finishes, you can eject the mounted disk image.

Step 3: Resolving macOS Gatekeeper Prompts

Because ClashFX is distributed directly outside the Mac App Store, macOS Gatekeeper may display a security alert when you first open the app:

“ClashFX cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified.”

To grant permission:

1. Click Cancel on the initial alert.
2. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
3. Navigate to Privacy & Security.
4. Scroll down to the Security section.
5. You will see a notification: “ClashFX was blocked from use because it is not from an identified developer.”
6. Click Open Anyway, authenticate with Touch ID or your macOS user password, and click Open on the confirmation dialog.

This permission is stored permanently by macOS; subsequent launches will start immediately without prompts.

Step 4: First Launch & Menu Bar Controls

Launch ClashFX from your Applications folder or Spotlight (Cmd + Space). ClashFX operates primarily as a lightweight menu bar utility. You will see the ClashFX icon in the top-right corner of your macOS menu bar.

Clicking the menu bar icon reveals the main operational controls:

• Set as System Proxy: Toggles macOS system-level HTTP and HTTPS proxy settings.
• Outbound Mode: Select between Rule (smart routing), Global (route all through one node), or Direct (bypass proxy).
• Enhanced Mode (TUN): Activates system-level network-layer interception (requires one-time admin approval).
• Proxy Groups: View, test latency, and manually switch proxy nodes.
• Config: Select, reload, and edit local YAML configurations.
• Remote Config Management: Add, update, and manage remote subscription URLs.

Adding Your First Proxy Configuration

To route network traffic, ClashFX requires a valid proxy configuration. You can import configurations using three convenient methods:

Method 1: One-Click URL Scheme (Recommended)

Many proxy providers provide a one-click import button that uses custom URL schemes supported by ClashFX:

clashfx://install-config?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fsub&name=MySubscription
clash://install-config?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fsub&name=MySubscription

Clicking a matching link in Safari or Chrome prompts macOS to open ClashFX, automatically downloading and loading your subscription profile.

Method 2: Remote Subscription URL

1. Click the ClashFX menu bar icon.
2. Choose Remote Config Management → Manage.
3. Click Add (or +).
4. Enter a descriptive Name (e.g., Primary-Sub) and paste your subscription URL.
5. Set an auto-update interval (e.g., every 24 hours) and click Save.
6. ClashFX will fetch the configuration and activate it.

Method 3: Local YAML Configuration File

If you have a customized YAML configuration file:

1. Click the ClashFX icon and select Config → Open Config Folder (~/.config/clashfx).
2. Copy your .yaml file into this folder.
3. In the ClashFX menu, select Config → select your file name to switch to it.

Verifying Network Connection

Once your configuration is loaded:

1. Click the ClashFX menu icon and select Set as System Proxy.
2. Under Outbound Mode, ensure Rule is selected.
3. Under Proxies, choose your preferred node and click the latency test button (lightning icon or ping test) to confirm node connectivity.
4. Open your browser and navigate to an external IP check website or international services to confirm traffic routing.

Next Steps

• Learn how to enable Enhanced Mode (TUN) to capture terminal tools (curl, git, docker) and UDP traffic.
• Explore Remote Subscription Management for managing multiple service providers.
• Resolve any startup or routing issues with our comprehensive Troubleshooting Guide.