v2rayN vs v2rayNG: Which One Should You Use?

If this is your first time using a V2Ray client, seeing the names "v2rayN" and "v2rayNG" might naturally make you think they're different versions of the same software, or interchangeable options. That's not the case at all — they're separate clients built for different operating systems. The similar names are just genuinely confusing:

• v2rayN: A GUI client for Windows (Linux is also supported). The trailing "N" doesn't have any special meaning — it's just a naming convention for the project.
• v2rayNG: A GUI client for Android. The trailing "NG" stands for "New Generation" — it was redesigned specifically for mobile.

In other words, think of them as two members of the same family, each responsible for a different platform — not two competing options on the same platform. You don't actually need to choose between them; your operating system has already made the decision for you.

The rule is simple — it just depends on your device:

1. Using a Windows PC

   Use v2rayN. Head to the download page to get it — see the full installation guide for detailed steps.

2. Using an Android Phone or Tablet

   Use v2rayNG. Head to the download page to get it — see the full installation guide for detailed steps.

3. Using Linux

   Also use v2rayN — it's available for both Windows and Linux, with basically the same interface and workflow.

If you have both a Windows PC and an Android phone, it's fine to install both clients — there's no conflict between them, they just each manage the connection on their own device.

If you see another option called "v2flyNG" for Android on the download page, that might add to the confusion. Simply put: v2flyNG and v2rayNG are two optional clients for the same platform (Android) with the same underlying core, maintained by different teams — v2rayNG is updated more often and has more community resources, while v2flyNG is a fork maintained directly by the official v2fly team. Pick either one; beginners should default to v2rayNG.

Setting the platform aside, many people also wonder: since they're all part of the "v2ray family," is one stronger and the other weaker feature-wise? In practice, v2rayN and v2rayNG are highly aligned on core functionality — both support subscription import/update, node speed testing, global/rule mode switching, log viewing, and other standard features. Any differences in day-to-day experience come mainly from platform-level constraints, not from feature cuts in the software design:

• Different interface styles: v2rayN uses a desktop window plus system tray, suited for mouse input; v2rayNG has a touch-first mobile app interface, designed around how you'd naturally use a phone.
• Different ways of taking over the system proxy: desktop typically works through system proxy settings, while mobile relies on Android's VPN permission mechanism to create a local virtual network adapter. This is a difference in the underlying platform mechanisms, not a difference in feature strength.
• Different background-running behavior: v2rayNG runs persistently in the background on your phone, and may be restricted by the system's battery optimization policy. If it disconnects automatically after sitting in the background for a while, add it to your battery optimization whitelist in system settings.

So strictly speaking, there's no such thing as "which one has more features" — the choice is entirely determined by your device type, and you don't need to worry about "losing" any features by picking the wrong one.

Many users need internet access on both a computer and a phone. In that case, both clients get installed and each manages its own connection independently, without interfering with each other — you can connect with v2rayN on your computer while v2rayNG connects separately on your phone, with no conflict. The one thing to keep in mind: if you're using the same subscription link, just add and update it separately in each client. There's no "config sync" mechanism, and you don't need one — that's the normal design, not a missing feature. If you ever get a new phone or reinstall your OS, just reinstall the client and paste the same subscription link again to get back up and running — no complicated data migration involved.

Since the names look alike, many people still second-guess themselves after downloading: "Did I get the right one?" There are a few quick ways to verify this yourself — no guessing required:

• Check the installer file name: The Windows installer file name usually contains v2rayN, while the Android apk file name contains v2rayNG or v2flyNG. A quick glance at the file name after downloading is usually enough to confirm you got the right one.
• Check the interface after installing: If you see a desktop window with a menu bar that can minimize to the system tray, that's v2rayN. If it's a full-screen touch interface on your phone with a node list and a large connect button, that's v2rayNG/v2flyNG. The interfaces look very different, so a mismatch is easy to spot.
• Check the version/about info in the client: Most clients show the software name and version number in Settings or an "About" page. If the name shown doesn't match what you expected (e.g., you wanted v2rayN but see v2rayNG), you likely downloaded the wrong file — reinstall with the correct one.

If you've confirmed the version is correct but still can't connect, the issue is usually no longer about picking the wrong client — it's more likely your subscription link or node itself. Check the Connection Troubleshooting guide to work through it by symptom; there's no need to keep reinstalling the client.