Download and Install
This article preserves historical NekoRay 3.x instructions and older screenshots; it is not a complete 4.x tutorial. The project was archived on March 17, 2025 and is no longer maintained. Version 4.x removed Xray support, so the core-selection and switching steps below apply only to 3.x. See the official 4.0.1 release notes for downloads and compatibility; 4.x does not support Windows 7 or macOS.
Choosing the Core (Historical 3.x Only)
The following core choices are from historical 3.x versions; 4.x does not offer Xray:
- Xray: An option in historical 3.x versions, removed in 4.x.
- sing-box: The other historical 3.x option; protocol compatibility depends on the bundled core version.
Interface Introduction
- Preferences: Includes group settings, routing settings, tun settings, etc.
- Servers: Node operation settings.
- Promotion: Author’s advertisements.
- Documentation: Relevant usage documentation of the software.
- Updates: The update entry in the old interface. The project is no longer maintained, so further official releases should not be expected.
Adding Subscriptions
Click on Preferences – Groups.
Create a new group at the bottom left, choose subscription type, and fill in the subscription details.
Once added, the subscription list will be displayed. Click on update subscription to synchronize node information.
After synchronization, all nodes will be displayed below.
Selecting and Using Nodes
Right-click on a node – Current group, and select URL Test to test.
Choose a suitable node, right-click – Start to connect, and remember to check “System Proxy” above.
Setting Auto-Start with System
Click on the program in the top left corner and select to start with the system.
Setting Routing
By default, it’s set to global proxy. It’s recommended to set domestic websites to bypass proxy. Select Preferences – Routing Settings at the top. Then select Simple Routing, click Preset at the bottom left, choose “Bypass LAN and Mainland”, and finally confirm.
Switching Cores (Historical 3.x Only)
Only historical 3.x versions that provide this option can switch to Xray as shown below. Version 4.x removed Xray support; do not apply these instructions to 4.x.
