Choosing a Windows VPN means looking beyond whether the client says “Connected.” The right option for your PC depends on whether your browser, games, and work apps use the intended route—and whether your settings recover after a restart. This guide offers repeatable comparison steps without presenting uncollected speed or connection data as rankings.
Choosing a PC Setup: Separate the Client from the Service
The client imports configuration, matches rules, and establishes the connection; the subscription service provides routes, data, and account benefits. Switching clients may improve rule control or system compatibility, but it cannot remove congestion at the service's exit point. Likewise, choosing a service with more destination regions does not mean every program on your PC will automatically use the proxy.
If you mainly browse the web, start with a client that has clear controls and well-defined behavior when it exits. If you use mainland China work tools alongside international websites, pay close attention to split tunneling. If an app does not use the system proxy, check whether virtual network adapter mode can take over its traffic. Similar feature names do not guarantee identical behavior; check the current client documentation and connection logs.
Also check the software source, update channel, subscription format, and protocol support. Protocol names such as Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, and VLESS do not replace compatibility checks: a client may support a protocol without supporting every transport option in a subscription. This article does not infer which protocol MHZVPN currently uses; refer to the options actually provided in the panel and client.
Global Proxy vs. Rule-Based Split Tunneling: Comparing Traffic Coverage
“Global” usually describes how traffic is routed after entering the proxy core, while “system proxy” describes how an app sends requests to the proxy. They are controls at different layers. If only the system proxy is enabled, apps that ignore it may still connect directly. Switching rule mode to global does not automatically expand which apps the system proxy captures.
| Setting | Main function | Use case | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global proxy | Usually sends captured traffic through the selected proxy exit, subject to any rules retained by the client | Temporarily check whether split-tunneling rules are causing an issue | Whether the request reaches the core and uses the expected exit |
| Rule-based split tunneling | Uses rules such as domain, address, or process to choose proxy, direct, or reject | Using mainland China and international apps together | Matched rule, rule order, and final route |
| System proxy | Provides a proxy entry point for apps that follow system settings | Browsers and software compatible with this setting | Whether the app reads the setting or has its own proxy |
| Virtual network adapter mode | Captures more traffic through a virtual network interface and routing | Apps that do not follow the system proxy | Routing, DNS, UDP support, and conflicts with other networking tools |
Rule-based split tunneling is often more practical for everyday use: work requests to mainland China can connect directly, while requests that need an international route use the proxy. Default rules cannot account for every business need, however. Corporate intranet domains, local network devices, and specialized login endpoints may need separate handling. Check the matched-rule logs before making changes; avoid hiding the real issue behind increasingly broad rules.
Hands-on Testing on Your PC: Control Variables Before Comparing
Compare using the same PC, local network, route, and target app. First record the state before connecting, then compare global proxy and rule-based split tunneling. Do not change routes and DNS at the same time: even if the result improves, you will not know which setting made the difference.
- Establish a baseline. Turn off the proxy features being compared. Record the public exit shown by a browser lookup, whether the target page opens, and whether work software is functioning as usual. If the local network is already having problems, address those first.
- Test the global proxy. Enable the system proxy entry point and global routing supported by the client, then reopen the test page. Check the connection log to confirm the target domain reaches the core, and verify the exit lookup. Do not rely on the connection button’s color alone.
- Switch to rule-based split tunneling. Keep the same route and revisit the target page and mainland China work services. Record which rule matched the target domain and whether proxy and direct connections were used as expected.
- Test independent apps one at a time. Keep the browser result as a reference, then open a game launcher, chat app, or development tool separately. If the browser works but an app fails, check that app’s proxy settings and the client logs.
- Test virtual network adapter mode if needed. Enable it only if the software supports it and permissions allow. Check whether previously missed apps now appear in the connection logs, then check for effects on the local network, work resources, and DNS.
- Restore and test again. Turn off the proxy and confirm that the system network returns to normal, then reconnect under the same conditions. Save your settings and observations; do not treat one successful attempt as proof of long-term stability.
Your notes can use fields such as “target app, entry method, matched rule, selected exit, success or failure, and error message.” Keep separate records for evening and other time periods rather than combining them into one conclusion. This article has no collected test data, so it makes no claims that any client has a higher connection success rate or fewer disconnections.
Games and Work Apps: Check Compatibility by App
The browser works, but the game does not
Browsers are generally more likely to use the system proxy. Games may use their own network stack and depend on UDP, region matching, or specific login endpoints. A successful launcher download does not mean the game session is also captured. Test launcher sign-in, content updates, and actual gameplay separately, and note where the failure occurs.
Virtual network adapter mode may help capture traffic, but the client, protocol configuration, and server must all support the relevant transport. Do not assume the entire connection path supports UDP just because the interface has a UDP switch. Account region, platform rules, and anti-cheat restrictions are not automatically changed by switching routes.
Work apps work, but intranet resources do not
A global proxy may send corporate domains that should connect directly through an external exit, affecting single sign-on, intranet documents, or shared resources. With rule-based split tunneling, first check how those domains and private addresses are handled, then consider adding exceptions. A corporate VPN and personal proxy may also compete over routing and DNS; follow your organization’s support process to troubleshoot.
Development tools may also use their own proxy settings, environment variables, or certificate settings. Changing the Windows system proxy may not be enough. If an error mentions certificates or authentication, do not “fix the connection” by disabling certificate checks. Verify the proxy path, system time, and your organization’s certificate requirements instead.
Launch on Startup and Keep Running in the Tray: Check the Recovery Path
Starting the client at boot, automatically connecting to a route, and restoring the system proxy are separate actions. Some programs start only in the tray; others need a background service running before they can capture network traffic. Read the options in your current version one by one. “Launch at system startup” does not necessarily mean all traffic is captured as soon as the PC boots.
- ✅ After restarting and signing in to Windows, confirm the client process has started and new requests appear in the connection log—not just that the tray icon is present.
- ✅ Check that the selected route and rule mode have been restored, then test your browser and usual work apps separately.
- ✅ After waking from sleep or switching local networks, check that the connection can be re-established and that DNS resolution and target apps work.
- ✅ Distinguish between closing the window, minimizing to the tray, and exiting the program; check whether each action keeps the background connection running.
- ❌ Do not mistake a system proxy left behind after an unexpected client exit for a complete failure of the local network or service routes.
If most websites stop opening after you exit, check the network proxy page in Windows Settings for a proxy address left by the client. Change it only if you have confirmed that your personal client added it and it is not managed by your organization. For virtual network adapter mode, use the client’s normal shutdown process and avoid manually deleting routes you do not recognize.
Exit and DNS: Verify It Works, Not Just the Region
A public exit lookup only shows where the request used for that lookup went out; it cannot prove that every app on the PC uses the same route. With rule-based split tunneling, different websites showing different exits may be expected. Match the lookup target to the connection logs, and check whether the app uses its own proxy or a browser extension.
DNS lookups may also take a different path from web requests. Browser encrypted DNS, the system resolver, and the client’s DNS module may all be involved. If a DNS check shows a local resolver, first compare the result with your configuration and expectations. A resolver appearing to be in another region does not, by itself, prove there is a leak.
DNS leakage means queries that should be handled through an expected, controlled path are instead sent to an unintended resolver. First identify which component is resolving the query, then check whether the client captures DNS and whether the browser overrides it. Avoid changing system, browser, and client settings at the same time, or it will be difficult to pinpoint the difference.
Routes and Plans: Check Costs and Terms Last
Once you have chosen a client, compare service routes. An IEPL dedicated line describes a particular transport method; “relay” usually means forwarding through an intermediate entry point, while “direct” usually means the client connects to a service entry point directly. Labels may be defined differently, so you cannot infer end-to-end speed from the name alone. Exit load, local network conditions, the destination service, and routing policy can all affect the experience.
MHZVPN provides access to the Windows client; log in to the panel to get it. If you use a subscription import process, paste the subscription address into the relevant field or use the import feature shown in the interface. After updating, check that the route list appears. If import fails, first check that the link is complete and the format is compatible; do not guess server parameters.
Verifiable service details include coverage in 120+ countries, 240+ routes, and unlimited simultaneously connected devices. Monthly plans are ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, and ¥28/month for 500GB. Monthly subscription data resets each month on the activation date; when you upgrade mid-cycle, the price difference is converted into the remaining days. Unlimited devices does not mean unlimited data, so include desktop background syncing and downloads in your usage estimate.
For occasional use, compare the data bundles that never expire: ¥158/300GB, ¥358/1000GB, and ¥658/3000GB. You can request a full refund for any reason within 60 days of your first payment. Choose based on your usage records and frequency of use. Check prices and full details on the plans page.