Answers on Features, Accounts and Client Setup
Everything here sits in one of three groups: what the client can do, how accounts and plans work, and how to configure each platform. The split between streaming and work is explained step by step, and support answers the rest.
The client covers four systems: Support covers Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Work through it in this order:
Smart mode: preset rules decide, so only the sites that need it get proxied
Global mode: the whole computer sends its traffic through the proxy
On mobile:
Smart mode: preset rules decide, so only the sites that need it get proxied
Global mode: every bit of traffic travels through the proxy
On desktop:
Work through it in this order:
Network conditions differ from region to region. Choose the line that matches the region holding the site or game you want, and go with the lower latency one.
Work through it in this order:
LightXtreme VPN does not cap your data usage. Just remember that without any internet connection on the device itself, no VPN program can run.
Work through it in this order:
Turn global mode off and go back to smart mode.
Yes. Three things make it secure: 1. Encryption - Shadowsocks, Vless and WireGuard combined with AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20-Poly1305, plus tunnelling that guards the whole path from device to server.
2. Anonymity - a virtual IP replaces yours, DNS queries run through the tunnel, and the service keeps zero logs of what you do online.
3. Access and surveillance - geo-blocks and ISP monitoring are bypassed, and public Wi-Fi sessions are encrypted so nothing can be snooped.
Work through it in this order:
1. Check antivirus and firewall settings: security software sometimes blocks VPN connections, so try disabling it temporarily and reconnect. 2. Contact cover: if the issue persists, open the app, go to My page and tap contact cover, including a detailed description and screenshots so our technical team can help.
Work through it in this order:
Here is how to confirm your real IP is hidden:
1. Note your current IP: before connecting, open a browser and search 'my IP address'. 2. Reach and check again: once connected, search 'my IP address' once more — if the address changed, your real IP is hidden. 3. Clear the cache: if it did not change, the browser may show a cached result. Clear the cache, restart the browser or try another one.
Work through it in this order:
To make sure you download the genuine LightXtreme VPN, please use these official channels:
1. The official site: https://shanlianvpn.xin/
2. The official Google Play page: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shanlian.pro
3. The official Apple App Store page: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6476379983?pt=127146343&ct=officialwebsite&mt=8
Please ignore other sites claiming to be LightXtreme VPN. Their software is not authorised by us, so quality is not guaranteed, your privacy may leak, the app may not work at all, and you risk losing money.
On top of that, our team keeps working to protect long-standing users by reporting counterfeit builds and pulling them off the app stores.
Please also send us a report about fake apps through our official email ([email protected]).
Work through it in this order:
1. Open LightXtreme VPN and go to My > Settings > VPN settings.
2. Locate the dedicated line forwarding switch and switch it on in mainland China, off everywhere else.
3. Restart the application so that the new setting applies.
Work through it in this order:
1. Tap the person icon at the bottom of the home screen to open My account.
2. Open My devices and remove the device you no longer use, or tap Sign out at the bottom of the page to leave the current account.
Work through it in this order:
Tap the person icon at the bottom of the home screen, open My account and choose Delete account to remove your information. (This option is only available in the Android and iOS apps.)
Work through it in this order:
The slots are handed out at random, like a draw, so not every attempt lands. Keep trying and your odds improve.
Work through it in this order:
Payment by Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, credit card, PayPal, Google Play or Stripe is all possible.
Work through it in this order:
This applies to every subscriber:
Every subscription carries a 30-day money-back guarantee.
LightXtreme VPN works on a subscription basis, comes with a free trial and friendly plan pricing, and can be tried through the official channels.
Here is what is not allowed:
This applies to every LightXtreme VPN user:
When you first download and add the app, the system registers you automatically and you get a 30-minute free trial. Linking your email adds another 30 minutes.
Want a longer trial? There is more than one way:
A special agent referral code unlocks 1-3 days of free trial. Invite a friend to download and sign up and you also collect extra trial time or a generous commission.
Work through it in this order:
To keep the account safe, standard plans are for one person only. Please do not pass yours on; losses from sharing are yours to handle.
Work through it in this order:
It is the number of devices that can be online at the same time. You can add our client on as many devices as you like, and every plan covers three devices online simultaneously.
Work through it in this order:
1. Tap the My icon at the bottom of the home screen, open My account and choose Switch account to see the account name and password of the current account. If that does not show them, tap the Cover button and we will provide your account details.
2. To reset a forgotten VPN password, tap Forgot password if your account has an email address and reset it by email. Without a linked email, send your order screenshot to cover ([email protected]) and we will reset it once the account is verified.
Work through it in this order:
1. If you paid with PayPal and the membership did not activate immediately, PayPal's risk system is most likely reviewing the order, which can take 1-3 business days. Please be patient.
2. If you subscribed through iTunes, first make sure you are signed in with the same Apple ID on your iOS device. Then open the app, tap My and check My orders to confirm the purchase.
3. When you paid with Alipay, UnionPay, Google Pay or another method and the membership is still not live, reach us through the live chat on the official site. Add your account details and an order screenshot so we can sort it out faster.
Work through it in this order:
Subscribers on Google Play or iOS get 7 days free and may ask for a refund inside 30 days.
Refunds are not offered on third-party payments right now. If a long plan feels risky, buy a short, small package to test it first.
Work through it in this order:
Every option on the LightXtreme VPN settings screen is explained below, together with the extras that only exist on Windows and macOS.
1. DNS settings for your local network
⦁ Description: chooses which DNS resolves domestic domains. Matching your ISP's DNS usually makes local pages open faster and more steadily.
⦁ Recommended if other local services on your LAN cannot be reached: set local DNS to 'local' so devices on the network resolve local addresses first and external DNS does not get in the way.
2. DNS settings for remote lookups.
⦁ Description: sets the DNS resolver for international domains such as Google. An international resolver (Google DNS or Cloudflare) usually improves connection rate and resolution efficiency.
⦁ Recommended when you visit international sites often: remote DNS improves both rate and stability.
3. New protocol
⦁ Description: enables or disables the newer encryption protocol (such as VLESS) for stronger security and more consistent connections.
⦁ Recommended: leave the new protocol on for stronger privacy, and switch it off only if connections start behaving strangely or refuse to work.
4. Cut every connection whenever you switch
⦁ Description: cuts the current connection as soon as you change server, so nothing keeps flowing through the previous IP and each session takes on a new address.
⦁ Recommended: keep it enabled, so every server change refreshes your IP and your privacy stays intact.
5. Enable IPv6
⦁ Description: picks the protocol DNS uses for lookups. Switched off it works with IPv4 only; switched on it resolves IPv4 and IPv6 together.
⦁ Recommended: switch it on where IPv6 is available for quicker access, and switch it off on networks that are flaky or restricted.
6. Back to China in a single tap
⦁ Description: opens Chinese content such as Youku, iQIYI and Tencent Video for users who are outside the country.
⦁ Recommended when Chinese sites are blocked abroad: switch it on to get past the regional limits and enjoy better playback.
7. Sending BT traffic through the proxy
⦁ Description: sends BT downloads through the proxy, so P2P traffic is encrypted and blocked networks are no obstacle.
⦁ Recommended: switch it on for BT on restricted networks, or whenever you would rather keep your downloads private.
8. Direct-reach domains
⦁ Description: the listed domains bypass the VPN and connect directly, ideal for common local domains that do not need proxying.
⦁ Recommended: list the sites you use every day, banks and payment pages, so they open faster and stay safer.
9. Proxying selected applications
⦁ Description: lets specific applications reach directly without the VPN, which suits lighter usage.
⦁ Recommended: add local or non-proxied apps to the list to save data and rate up connections.
10. Options that only exist on Windows
TUN mode
⦁ Description: sends all system traffic through the VPN using a virtual network adapter, which strengthens security and leak protection.
⦁ Recommended: worth it when privacy matters most or you are on a public network, though it does use more system resources.
Proxy mode
⦁ Description: applies to the apps or browsers you select, routing just that traffic through the proxy server instead of everything.
⦁ Recommended: handy if you only need to rate up or protect one browser, with less overhead while still keeping some privacy.
11. Options that only exist on macOS
On M-series Macs the VPN can be started through a system extension. In that mode per-application proxying stops working, since the extension cannot see which app produced the traffic.
Work through it in this order:
1. When is it worth changing local DNS?
If other services on the local network cannot be reached, set local DNS to 'local' so devices resolve local addresses first and access problems disappear.
2. When should the new protocol be adjusted?
Usually the new protocol stays on, since it protects security and privacy better; if connections turn unstable, give turning it off a try.
3. Proxy mode or TUN mode on Windows?
Should the network break once TUN mode is on in Windows, move back to proxy mode: it touches only the apps or browsers you select, uses fewer resources and still pushes the traffic you care about through the VPN.
Together these options let you tune rate, privacy and stability for whatever network you are on.
Work through it in this order:
Try disabling QUIC in Chrome: open chrome://flags/#enable-quic and click Disable.
Work through it in this order:
Gaming platforms: Steam, Ubisoft Connect, Apple App Store, Google Play Store plus other game stores.
Forums: Discord, Reddit, Quora, Stack Exchange, V2EX and other well-known forums.
LightXtreme VPN gets websites and services working in any region, and these are the ones it can unblock:
Streaming sites: TikTok, Netflix, Disney+, HBO, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Spotify, AbemaTV, Apple TV+, Tencent Video, iQIYI and the rest, watchable from any country.
AI platforms: ChatGPT (OpenAI), Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Google AI, DALL-E, BigGAN and a good number of other AI sites.
Social platforms: Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Discord, Tumblr, Pinterest, WeChat, WhatsApp, Telegram, Line and other networks.
Work through it in this order:
360 Security sometimes treats LightXtreme VPN as dangerous and removes it. It is not: the client carries an international security certificate, so this is a false alarm.
Whitelisting LightXtreme VPN in 360 keeps it working normally:
1. Open 360 Security;
2. Choose Trojan detection from the main menu;
3. Then open the Trusted Zone panel on the right;
4. Click Add file, select LightXtreme VPN and open it;
5. Confirm the prompt by ticking it;
6. Press OK when you are done;
Note: other versions of 360 Security may place the Trusted Zone somewhere else, yet the steps do not change.
LightXtreme VPN receives regular updates so it can follow network policies as they change around the world. Each update replaces the previous build and therefore clears the whitelist, so add the entry again after every update and the app keeps running.
Work through it in this order:
1. Launch the LightXtreme VPN app, go to My > VPN settings and turn off TUN mode in the proxy settings. Then return to the home screen, tap Enable and connect.
2. If it still happens, uninstall LightXtreme VPN, download it again from the official website and try connecting once more.
If the problem persists, tap My > Cover inside the app and our team will help you online.
Work through it in this order:
1. Open LightXtreme VPN and confirm your network connection works.
2. Head to My > Settings > VPN settings > Proxy settings and turn TUN mode on.
3. Go back to the main screen, disconnect, and start the app again.
Work through it in this order:
1. Bring LightXtreme VPN up to the newest version, reinstalling it if that is easier, then connect once more.
2. If it still drops with TUN mode, open your computer's network connections and look for a virtual adapter named 'tun0' or 'LightXtreme VPN'. If it is missing, reset the network and restart the computer, then turn LightXtreme VPN on again with TUN mode selected.
If neither step helps, tap Cover on the My page of the app and we will assist you directly.
A failed iOS purchase with this message usually means the Apple ID region is mainland China, where the app is not available.
Sign in with a Hong Kong or overseas Apple ID and the purchase will go through.
A search that finds nothing usually means the app is not listed for the region your Apple ID belongs to.
Switch to a Hong Kong Apple ID, register a new one, or use our shared account to install it.
The usual cause is network jitter. Rapid switching between networks leaves requests unfinished, which looks like images not loading and messages not sending.
Pick a lower-latency line and keep the network stable.
On some models iOS 16 produces network anomalies that affect LightXtreme VPN as well.
Reset network settings once: Settings - General - Transfer or Reset iPhone - Reset - Reset Network Settings.
'Unavailable' most often means the Apple ID region is mainland China, or that a recent region change is still being processed.
Sign out, log in with a Hong Kong Apple ID and download again.
Verification usually fails because the download and the update were made under different Apple IDs.
Remove the current version and reinstall it with the same Apple ID.
If you see this message, check whether an old version of LightXtreme VPN is still installed - it clashes with the store version.
Delete it and reinstall.
When the store says the item is no longer available, first check whether an old version of LightXtreme VPN remains on the device - that is a common source of conflict.
Remove it and reinstall.
When the system reports the app is no longer offered, check for an old version on the device - it may be the cause.
Delete it and reinstall.
An incorrect account message usually indicates that download and update happened under different Apple IDs.
Go back to the original Apple ID and update, or remove the app and reinstall it with the current one - save your login details first.
1. Confirm the app is in the Applications directory; if it is elsewhere, drag it in and reconnect.
2. Test with Safari. When Safari is fine and another browser is not, a proxy or ad-blocking extension in that browser is usually to blame; turn it off.
Work through it in this order:
Open your phone settings or device manager, let LightXtreme VPN run in the background, and give it the related rights such as auto-start and starting with other apps.
Work through it in this order:
Samsung phones:
Open Smart Manager > App management, tap Manage auto start-up and set LightXtreme VPN to Allow background running;
Reason: a system default is usually to blame. Android ends background apps by default, so LightXtreme VPN can be killed after a while and the connection drops. Change these settings to put an end to it:
Open your phone settings or device manager, let LightXtreme VPN run in the background, and give it the related rights such as auto-start and starting with other apps.
Huawei phones:
Open Settings, search for Battery optimisation, select LightXtreme VPN and exclude it from battery optimisation;
Open Settings > App management, select LightXtreme VPN, tap Energy consumption and switch on Allow background activity;
Xiaomi phones:
Open Settings > More apps, select LightXtreme VPN, tap Power saving strategy and set it to No restrictions;
Open Settings > Special features, select Game turbo and turn it off;
OPPO phones:
Open Settings > App management, select LightXtreme VPN, tap Energy saving protection and disable all the options there;
Vivo phones:
Open Settings > Battery, tap Background high power consumption and allow LightXtreme VPN to keep running;
Meizu phones:
Open Settings > App management, select LightXtreme VPN, tap Permission management > Background management and choose Allow background running;
OnePlus phones:
Open Settings > Battery, tap Battery optimisation and set LightXtreme VPN to No optimisation;
First: open the official site's download page in the phone browser and get the Android APK.
Second: head to Huawei AppGallery and install Zhuoyitong.
Third: open Zhuoyitong and import the APK through File Transfer.
Fourth: tap the APK, choose Install anyway, and when it finishes open the app and tap Enable to connect.
Work through it in this order:
1. Open your phone's Settings and search for VPN apps.
2. Open Other VPN apps and turn off Always-on for each one.
3. Restart LightXtreme VPN so that the new settings take effect.
This one needs a device-specific build. Reach support through the LightXtreme VPN app or the official website, tell us the model, and a matched installer will be provided.