Clash Multi-Device Sharing: A Practical Home Network Setup Guide

Choose a sharing model before changing settings

Sharing Clash at home can mean several different things. The simplest option is to run a Clash client on a computer, enable its LAN proxy listener, and enter that computer’s address and port on each phone, tablet, or TV. A second option is to use a small bypass router as a separate Wi-Fi access point or gateway. A third is to run a compatible proxy core on the main router and route selected devices through it.

These setups differ in where the core runs, how much traffic reaches it, and how much network administration they require. A proxy address entered on a phone is not the same as changing the phone’s default gateway. Manual proxy settings usually affect only apps that honor the selected HTTP proxy. A router configured as a transparent gateway can cover more traffic, but requires correct routing, DNS, and firewall rules.

For a first setup, use the computer-based method if the computer stays on while other devices need access. It is easy to test and easy to turn off. Choose a bypass router when you want a separate network for selected devices or a dedicated device that can stay on. Consider running a core on the main router only after confirming that the hardware and firmware support it and that you can restore the router if a configuration change fails.

• PC-based LAN sharing: Quick to try, but the computer, client, active configuration, and network connection must remain available.
• Bypass router: Separates proxy-connected devices from the main Wi-Fi, but adds another device and may require gateway or access-point configuration.
• Router deployment: Can centralize proxy access for a home network, but puts more responsibility on router compatibility, firewall policy, and recovery planning.

Compare coverage, availability, and effort

Before selecting a design, decide which devices need access, whether they must use proxy settings manually, and whether the host can stay powered on. Also check whether devices share the same Wi-Fi or wired LAN. Guest networks often prevent wireless clients from reaching one another, even when they use the same router.

Manual proxy sharing is often the least disruptive option. It does not automatically capture every application’s traffic, and it does not make the host computer a replacement router. A device’s browser might use the proxy while another app continues connecting directly. If you need broader coverage, verify the exact behavior of the client and router rather than assuming that enabling TUN on a computer or installing a proxy core on a router automatically captures all devices.

Availability is a practical part of the comparison. If a desktop sleeps, changes Wi-Fi networks, or shuts down, its LAN address may stop responding. A router is usually designed to stay on, but a router restart or firmware problem can affect the whole network. Decide how important continuous access is before choosing the host.

Share a computer’s proxy with devices on the LAN

For computer-based sharing, the core must listen for connections from the LAN, and the operating system firewall must allow the selected port from trusted devices. In a Clash client, look for an option such as Allow LAN, LAN access, or a listener setting. Menu names vary between clients and versions. Confirm the actual mixed port or HTTP port shown by the running configuration instead of relying on a remembered default.

A mixed port accepts HTTP and SOCKS5 proxy connections on the same listening port. For example, if the client shows mixed port 7890, a phone that asks for an HTTP proxy can use 192.168.50.10 as the server and 7890 as the port. The address is only an example; use the computer’s current LAN address. Do not enter the controller port. The controller is an administrative interface, not the proxy endpoint for phones or TVs.

With a YAML configuration managed directly by the user, the relevant settings may look like this:

mixed-port: 7890
allow-lan: true
bind-address: 192.168.50.10

This is an illustrative fragment, not a complete configuration. Use the address assigned to the computer’s active LAN interface, and do not add duplicate keys if the profile already defines them. Some GUI clients manage these values through their own settings or merge process; editing a subscription file may be overwritten on its next update. Check the effective configuration and startup log if the listener does not appear.

Give the host a stable LAN address

Find the computer’s IPv4 address while it is connected to the home network. On Windows, check Settings → Network & internet → the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, or run ipconfig in Terminal. On macOS, check System Settings → Wi-Fi or Network and open the details for the active connection. On Linux, inspect the active network interface using the desktop network settings or a command such as ip address.

For a home network using 192.168.50.0/24, a computer might have the address 192.168.50.10 and a phone might have 192.168.50.24. The prefix and addresses are examples; your router may use a different subnet. If the computer’s address changes after reconnecting, create a DHCP reservation in the router for that computer, or update the proxy address on each client. A reservation is usually easier to maintain than manually assigning an address that could conflict with another device.

Allow only the connections you intend to use

On the computer, permit inbound connections to the proxy port only on the private network profile and, where possible, only from the home subnet. Avoid a broad rule that allows the port on public networks. On Windows, check the network profile and the firewall rule’s scope; on macOS and Linux, use the platform’s firewall controls. If the computer is connected to a work, hotel, or public network, disable LAN sharing until it is back on a trusted home network.

Connect a test phone to the same non-guest Wi-Fi as the computer. Enter the computer’s LAN address and the port shown in the client. Start with a browser or another app that supports manual HTTP proxy settings. If the request fails, confirm that the core is running, the address belongs to the active interface, the port is correct, and the firewall allows the connection. A successful connection from one browser does not prove that every app on the phone uses the proxy.

Set up and test PC-based sharing step by step

Use this sequence to keep the number of changing variables small. The example uses a computer at 192.168.50.10 and a mixed port of 7890. Substitute the values from your own network and client. Keep the computer and test device on the same trusted LAN while testing.

1. Confirm local proxy service first. On the computer, make sure the Clash client has started its core, the intended configuration is active, and a node works from the computer itself. If local browsing already fails, fix that before enabling LAN access.
2. Record the active listener port. Open the client’s port or configuration settings and note the mixed port or HTTP port. Do not use the external controller port. If the client displays separate HTTP and SOCKS ports, select the one that matches the proxy type supported by the device.
3. Enable LAN access. Turn on the client’s LAN-access option or configure the listener to accept connections on the computer’s LAN interface. If you edit YAML, preserve the rest of the profile and confirm that the client actually loads the changed values.
4. Check the host address. Find the IPv4 address for the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. Confirm that it is on the same home subnet as the test device. Avoid using 127.0.0.1; that loopback address points back to the device where it is entered.
5. Allow the port in the firewall. Add or adjust a rule for the private home network and the selected proxy port. Restrict the rule to the home subnet if the firewall supports a source-address scope. Do not expose the port through the router’s internet-facing port-forwarding settings.
6. Configure one test device. In the device’s Wi-Fi proxy settings, select manual configuration and enter the computer’s LAN IP and proxy port. If the setting asks for an HTTP proxy, use the HTTP-compatible listener or mixed port. Save the setting and reopen the browser.
7. Verify the request at the host. Check the Clash Connections page or logs while loading a test page. A connection appearing there indicates that the request reached the core; inspect the matched rule and selected proxy group to confirm how it was routed.
8. Test failure and cleanup behavior. Turn off the computer proxy temporarily and confirm that the test device no longer reaches the proxy. Then restore it. If you no longer need sharing, disable LAN access and remove any firewall rule created specifically for the test.

Choose a bypass router or deploy on the main router

A bypass router can create a separate proxy network

A bypass router is a secondary device placed between selected clients and the existing home network. It can provide a dedicated Wi-Fi name for devices that should use the proxy, while other devices remain on the main router. The exact design matters: in access-point mode, the secondary router may only provide Wi-Fi access and clients still need proxy settings; in gateway mode, it can become the clients’ network gateway and may apply routing policies.

Do not assume that connecting a second router automatically sends all traffic through Clash. Check which device provides DHCP, which device is the default gateway, whether the two LAN subnets overlap, and whether the secondary router is routing or bridging. If both routers try to provide DHCP on the same network, clients can receive inconsistent network settings. If you only want a manual proxy endpoint, keep the topology simple and confirm that the secondary device’s proxy listener is reachable from the intended clients.

Main-router deployment needs a recovery plan

Running a compatible core directly on the main router can make a proxy available without keeping a computer on. Before installing anything, verify the router’s CPU architecture, available memory and storage, firmware support, and the package’s compatibility with that firmware. A package built for the wrong architecture may not start, and a router with little free storage may fail during installation or updates.

Decide whether the router will provide a manual proxy endpoint or act as a gateway for selected devices. The first approach requires a listening port and firewall access from the LAN. The second may require policy-based routing, DNS handling, and rules that keep local-network destinations direct. Test with one client or a separate Wi-Fi network before applying a rule to the entire home. Save the current configuration, know how to access the router locally if proxy routing fails, and avoid changing WAN, LAN, and DNS settings together.

Router deployments can also involve more than one firewall zone or interface. A listener bound only to loopback will not be reachable from other devices. Conversely, allowing all interfaces without a scoped firewall rule may expose the port beyond the intended LAN. Follow the router platform’s documentation for the installed firmware and verify the active listener and firewall behavior after every change.

Keep local sharing safe and troubleshoot by symptom

A LAN proxy should be treated as an unauthenticated service unless the specific listener and client configuration provide an authentication mechanism that you have verified. Anyone who can reach an exposed proxy port may be able to send traffic through it. Keep the listener on a trusted private network, use firewall restrictions, and avoid sharing the port with guest Wi-Fi or an untrusted device network. Never forward the proxy port from the internet to the computer or router.

Also consider network isolation. Many routers prevent devices on a guest SSID from contacting other LAN devices. That can block a phone from reaching a PC proxy even when both devices have internet access. Check the router’s guest-network settings rather than disabling isolation across the whole network. If you need to connect a guest device, prefer a separate, deliberately scoped rule over opening broad access to all local devices.

When a request appears in the Connections panel, the local path from the device to the core is working. If the request then uses the wrong node or exits directly, investigate the matched rule, proxy group, and DNS behavior. If no request appears, focus on the device’s proxy settings, host address, listener, network isolation, and firewall. These are different failure points; changing a routing rule will not repair an unreachable listener.

For a computer-based setup, the practical starting point is one host, one stable LAN address, one known proxy port, one firewall rule, and one test device. Move to a bypass router or main-router deployment only when the computer’s availability or the required traffic coverage justifies the additional network work. Keep the design limited to devices you trust, document the address and port, and retest after client, router, or network changes.