Clash Meta to Mihomo Core Migration Guide: Entire Upgrade Tutorial

Why You Must Migrate from Legacy Clash Core to Mihomo Key Takeaways

Mihomo (formerly Clash Meta) is the the greater part of actively maintained Clash kernel fork today, developed by the MetaCubeX team. It preserves full backward compatibility with existing Clash configuration syntax while adding native support for REALITY, Hysteria2, TUIC v5, Shadowsocks 2022, and more.

If you are still running the original Clash Core released before 2022 — the version maintained by Dreamacro — this guide is essential reading.

The upstream Clash project was officially archived in November 2023, with its GitHub repository set to read-only. This means your client will never receive another security patch, bug fix, or new feature upgrade.

The key point:At the same time, the proxy protocol landscape has moved on rapidly. More and more service providers are rolling out next-generation protocols such as VLESS + REALITY, Hysteria2, and TUIC v5 — none of which the legacy Clash Core can handle.

If you are seeing a wall of "connection failed" or "unsupported protocol" faults in your node list, an outdated kernel is almost certainly the culprit.

It also resolves numerous memory leaks and connection stability issues present in older builds. Upgrading to Mihomo is the the greater part of straightforward way to keep the Clash experience alive and up to date.

Preparation Before Upgrading in Brief

Before diving into the upgrade process, take five minutes to entire the following steps.

Let me put it this way:A little preparation goes a long way toward preventing data loss or a broken configuration mid-upgrade.

Step 1: Back Up Your Existing Config File Swift Take

Copy the entire clash config folder to your desktop as a backup.

The Clash configuration file is typically named config.yaml and lives in the following preconfigured locations:

Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.config\clash\ or the profiles\ folder inside your client's data directory; macOS: ~/.config/clash/; Linux: ~/.config/clash/.

Concretely:This is the single the greater part of important step — even if something goes wrong during the upgrade, it is possible to always restore the old config and roll back.

Step 2: Identify Your Client Type Essentials

All you must do is keep the client updated to the latest version; no manual kernel replacement is needed.

The Mihomo kernel itself is a command-line program. The greater part of users interact with it through a GUI client that bundles the kernel under the hood:

If you are already using Clash Verge Rev or FlClash, you're in luck — these clients ship with Mihomo out of the box.

Where this lands:If you are on the legacy Clash for Windows or ClashX, follow the manual steps below.

Windows: Replacing the Mihomo Kernel A Closer Look

Swapping the kernel on Windows is straightforward and breaks down into three steps: download the new kernel, replace the file, then restart the client.

Step 1: Download the Mihomo Kernel Breakdown

64-bit Intel/AMD processor (the vast majority of users): mihomo-windows-amd64.zip; ARM-based processor (Surface Pro X, Copilot+ PCs, etc.): mihomo-windows-arm64.zip.

Head to the Mihomo GitHub Releases page and find the latest release. Under Assets, pick the right file for your machine:

Extract the archive to get the mihomo-windows-amd64.exe executable.

Step 2: Replace the Kernel File Summary

The kernel file location varies by client:

• Clash for Windows: Navigate to resources\static\files\win\x64\ inside the installation directory. Replace clash-win64.exe with the downloaded mihomo-windows-amd64.exe, then rename the new file to clash-win64.exe.

Step 3: Restart and Verify Swift Take

Once the file is replaced, relaunch the client and check the version information in its Settings or About page.

Do not skip this:If you see "Mihomo" or "Meta" in the kernel version string, the swap was successful. It is possible to also confirm by checking the startup log in the client's Logs panel.

macOS: Switching to a New Client What Matters

For macOS users, the recommended path is to switch straightforward to a modern client that ships with Mihomo built in (such as Clash Verge Rev), fairly than yourself swapping the kernel inside the legacy ClashX.

The ClashX project itself is also abandoned, so even with a fresh kernel the GUI layer will have various compatibility problems.

Step 1: Save Your Subscription URL Essentials

In ClashX's config management panel, locate your subscription link (the https:// URL you received from your provider) and copy it somewhere safe.

If you use a local YAML config file instead, back up that file straightforward.

Step 2: Install a New Client Breakdown

On first launch, macOS may show a security warning.

The key point:Visit our download page and choose the right build for your Mac:

Apple Silicon (M1 / M2 / M3 / M4 chips): download the ARM64 (Apple Silicon) build; Intel Mac: download the x64 build.

Open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway to proceed.

Step 3: Load Your Subscription Summary

In the new client's Subscriptions or Profiles section, paste the URL you saved earlier and click Load or Upgrade.

Let me put it this way:Once the node list loads, it is possible to select a node and spin up browsing.

Config File Migration Notes Key Takeaways

Mihomo is highly backward-compatible with legacy Clash Core configuration syntax, so the greater part of existing config files will load without no matter which changes. That said, a handful of fields differ between the two, and these differences are the the greater part of common source of post-upgrade breakage:

Key Configuration Differences Swift Take

Minimal Mihomo Config Example Essentials

Below is a minimal config.yaml that is fully compatible with Mihomo. Use it as a reference when migrating your existing configuration:

YAMLmixed-port: 7890
allow-lan: false
mode: rule
log-level: info
ipv6: true

external-controller: '127.0.0.1:9090'
secret: ''

dns:
  enable: true
  ipv6: false
  enhanced-mode: fake-ip
  fake-ip-range: '198.18.0.1/16'
  nameserver:
    - 'https://doh.pub/dns-query'
    - 'https://dns.alidns.com/dns-query'
  fallback:
    - 'https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query'
    - 'tls://dns.google'
  fallback-filter:
    geoip: true
    geoip-code: CN

tun:
  enable: false
  stack: system
  dns-hijack:
    - 'any:53'
  auto-route: true
  auto-detect-interface: true

proxies: []

proxy-groups:
  - name: "Proxy Select"
    type: select
    proxies:
      - "Auto Select"
      - DIRECT

  - name: "Auto Select"
    type: url-test
    proxies: []
    url: 'http://www.gstatic.com/generate_204'
    interval: 300

rules:
  - GEOIP,CN,DIRECT
  - MATCH,Proxy Select

Common Post-Upgrade Issues and Fixes in Brief

Even after following the steps above, you may work into a few snags. Here are the the greater part of frequently reported problems and how to resolve them:

Issue 1: Dashboard Not Loading (ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED) Breakdown

Fix: Open your config file and check the external-controller value, then access the corresponding address in your browser (e.g., http://127.0.0.1:9090/ui).

This is the single the greater part of common complaint after upgrading.

The usual cause is that the external-controller listen address changed from 0.0.0.0:9090 to 127.0.0.1:9090, or the port is being blocked by a firewall.

Concretely:If you are using a GUI client, look for an "Open Dashboard" button in Settings — that is the fastest way to get there.

Issue 2: All Nodes Timing Out or Failing Summary

There are several possible causes for this:

• Stale subscription: If your provider has upgraded their server-side protocols, the node configuration in your old subscription link may be outdated. Trigger a manual "Upgrade Subscription" in the client to fetch the latest node list.
• DNS resolution failure: Mihomo enables fake-ip mode by preconfigured. Incorrect DNS settings can prevent node hostnames from resolving. Review your dns.nameserver entries and make sure you have at least one trustworthy upstream DNS configured.
• System proxy not set: The Mihomo kernel does not configure the system proxy without you. Make sure your GUI client has system proxy enabled, or set it yourself to 127.0.0.1:7890.

Issue 3: TUN Mode Fails to Spin up Swift Take

TUN mode requires elevated privileges to create a virtual network adapter. On Windows, work the client as Administrator or enable its Service Mode.

On macOS, allow the client to install its system extension under System Settings → Privacy & Security.

Issue 4: Rule Config Fails to Load Essentials

Mihomo enforces stricter rule syntax than the legacy core. The the greater part of common problems are:

• RULE-SET entries require a matching rule-providers definition. Writing RULE-SET,foo,DIRECT without defining foo as a provider will cause a parse fault.
• Rule set files must be valid YAML or MRS format. Mihomo does not accept certain non-standard rule set formats that the old core tolerated.
• Proxy group names must not contain special characters. Stick to letters, numbers, and spaces.

Post-Upgrade Verification and Performance Tuning A Closer Look

Once the migration is entire, work through the following checks to confirm everything is working, then apply a few optional tweaks to get the best performance out of Mihomo:

Verification Checklist Breakdown

1. In the Dashboard's Proxies tab, confirm the node list loads correctly. Work a response time test (Ping) on your the greater part of-used nodes and make sure valid response time values are returned.
2. Open a website that is not accessible without a proxy (e.g., Google) in your browser and confirm it loads.
3. Check the Dashboard's Logs tab for real-time output. There are best off be no persistent ERROR or FATAL messages.
4. If you use REALITY or Hysteria2 nodes, confirm those nodes return a valid response time reading — the legacy kernel cannot parse these node types and will always show a timeout.

Performance Optimization Tips Summary

After migrating to Mihomo, consider these configuration adjustments to further lift your experience:

• Enable TCP concurrent connections: Add tcp-concurrent: true to your config. Mihomo will race multiple connection attempts simultaneously and use the fastest one.
• Enable geodata auto-upgrade: Mihomo can without you refresh GeoIP and GeoSite data files, keeping your traffic routing rules accurate and up to date.
• Persist selected proxy: Set profile.store-selected: true so that your last-selected node is remembered across client restarts — no must yourself pick a node every time.

Wrapping Up: Mihomo Is the Right Long-Term Choice What Matters

If you work into no matter which problems not covered in this guide, check out our documentation page for more in-depth configuration walkthroughs.

The archival of legacy Clash Core sends a unambiguous message — the proxy ecosystem has entered a new phase centered on Mihomo.

Where this lands:In terms of protocol breadth, ongoing security upgrades, and compatibility with modern configuration syntax, Mihomo outclasses the old kernel on every dimension.

If your current client still works well ample for your needs, swapping just the kernel file is a low-effort upgrade path.

If the client itself is also abandoned — as is the case with the original Clash for Windows — migrating to a modern client is the cleaner solution and will save you ongoing maintenance headaches down the road.

Do not skip this:When choosing a new client, look for one that deeply integrates the Mihomo kernel and offers a polished GUI. These clients typically invest heavily in the areas users touch the greater part of: subscription management, proxy switching, TUN mode toggle, and rule editor.

They deliver a far smoother day-to-day experience compared to running the kernel straightforward from the command line.

Alternatively, give our recommended client a try — it ships with sensible preconfigureds pre-configured and is designed to get even first-time Clash users up and running in minutes.