Setting up CompassVPN on Windows

This guide will help you set up CompassVPN on your Windows device using v2rayN, a popular client application for the V2Ray/Xray protocol.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you’ll need:

• A configuration link or QR code from your CompassVPN server
• A Windows PC running Windows 7 or later
• The .NET 8 Desktop Runtime installed (unless you download the SelfContained version below). (Download the appropriate installer for your Windows architecture - x64, x86, or Arm64 - under the “.NET Desktop Runtime” section on the linked page).

Step 1: Install v2rayN

1. Download the latest release of v2rayN from the official GitHub repository
2. Under the Assets section, download the appropriate .zip file for your system:
   • For most 64-bit Windows PCs: Choose v2rayN-windows-64.zip. This requires the .NET 8 Desktop Runtime listed above.
   • Easier Option (Larger File): Choose v2rayN-windows-64-SelfContained.zip. This includes the .NET runtime and does not require a separate installation.
   • For Windows on ARM64 devices: Choose the corresponding arm64 version (v2rayN-windows-arm64.zip or the self-contained arm64 variant if available).
3. Extract the ZIP file to a location on your computer (e.g., C:\v2rayN)
4. Navigate to the extracted folder and run v2rayN.exe
5. You may see a Windows security alert - make sure to allow access for v2rayN.
6. Note: On first run, v2rayN might prompt you to download the required V2Ray/Xray core if it wasn’t included. Allow it to do so.

Step 2: Import Configuration

1. Copy the configuration link provided by your CompassVPN server.
2. In v2rayN, you can either:
   • Press Ctrl+V on your keyboard while the v2rayN window is active.
   • Or, click on the Server menu and select Import bulk URL from clipboard (or similar wording depending on the version).
3. The app should automatically detect and import the configuration from your clipboard.

Step 3: Connect to CompassVPN

1. After importing, you’ll see the server configuration in the list.
2. Right-click on the configuration and select Set as active server.
3. Click on the v2rayN tray icon (usually a blue ‘V’) in the system tray (bottom right of your screen).
4. Select a System Proxy mode to route traffic through the VPN. The two main options are:
   • Global Mode: Routes all your internet traffic through the VPN.
   • Whitelist Mode: Uses pre-configured routing rules (often suitable for users in China) to send specific traffic (e.g., international sites) through the VPN, while allowing other traffic (e.g., domestic sites) to connect directly (bypass the VPN). You can customize these rules further (see below).
5. A checkmark next to the selected proxy mode indicates that the connection routing is active.

Step 4: Test Your Connection

1. Once connected, open your web browser.
2. Visit browserleaks.com/ipp .
3. Verify that your IP address has changed to the VPN server’s IP.

Advanced Features

System Proxy

v2rayN can configure your system proxy settings automatically:

1. Right-click on the v2rayN icon in the system tray.
2. Under System Proxy, select one of the following options:
   • Not Set: v2rayN doesn’t change system proxy settings.
   • Whitelist Mode: Selectively routes traffic based on rules (configured under Settings -> Routing Setting). v2rayN often includes pre-made rules optimized for common scenarios (like users in China needing to access international sites via VPN while keeping domestic traffic direct). This allows you to bypass the VPN for specific domains or IP addresses. You can customize these rules to fit your specific needs (see below).
   • Global Mode: Routes all internet traffic from applications using the system proxy through the VPN.

Routing Rules

This section (Settings -> Routing Setting) is where you customize how traffic is handled, especially when using Whitelist Mode. You can create rules based on domains, IP addresses, or even applications to specify whether traffic should:

• Direct: Bypass the VPN and connect directly.
• Proxy: Go through the active VPN server.
• Block: Be blocked entirely.

This allows for fine-grained control over your connection routing.

Auto Startup

To make v2rayN start automatically when Windows starts:

1. In the main window, click on the Setting menu
2. Select Basic Setting
3. Check the box next to Start with Windows

Recommended Settings

For optimal performance and compatibility, consider applying the following settings within v2rayN:

1. Core: Basic Settings (Settings -> Core: Basic settings...)

• UDP: Check Enable UDP.
• Sniffing Type: Set to http, tls, quic.
• Default TLS Fingerprint: Set to chrome.
• User-Agent: Set to chrome.

2. v2rayN Settings (Settings -> v2rayN settings...)

• Look for an option like Enable Hardware Acceleration (if available) and check it.

3. DNS Settings (Settings -> DNS settings...)

• v2ray DNS Settings: Replace the existing content with the following JSON code:

  {
    "servers": [
      "1.1.1.2"
    ]
  }
• Other DNS Options:
  • Check Use system Hosts.
  • Set Outbound DNS Address to localhost.

Security Best Practices

1. Keep your device updated: Ensure Windows has the latest security updates
2. Regular updates: Keep v2rayN and cores updated to the latest version (click Check Update on the application)
3. Firewall configuration: Ensure Windows Firewall allows v2rayN to access the network