System Proxy vs TUN Mode: Which Should You Use Daily?
Desktop Clash clients offer two ways to get traffic into the core: the system proxy and TUN mode. They are not rivals — they cover different needs.
The core difference
- System proxy: registers an HTTP proxy with the OS; well-behaved apps (browsers) follow it. Lightweight, near-zero overhead
- TUN mode: a virtual adapter swallows every packet; every app is covered, at slightly higher resource cost
Recommended usage
For everyday browsing the system proxy is plenty. Turn on TUN when terminals, games or sync clients must also be routed. Running both at once is fine — the core sorts it out.
Troubleshooting logic
App not proxied? If only the system proxy is on, try TUN. Still wrong under TUN? The rules probably route that domain direct — check them, or flip to Global briefly to confirm.
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