WebDAV is for snapshots before a machine swap—not a replacement for saving your subscription URL. Keep the URL and Merge text somewhere else too. Sync folders that watch the live config directory invite conflicts; see config location and backup & migrate.
My order: fill URL, account, path → run one manual backup → confirm a new file on the server → only then enable auto. Skipping the manual check makes later failures harder to read.
Before you configure
- The provider’s WebDAV root (https, plus any path prefix it requires).
- The account; many clouds need an app password, not your login password.
- A dedicated folder such as
clash-verge-backup.
Store app passwords in a password manager with the path and client version noted. If you can’t find the WebDAV UI, it usually sits under Settings → Backup; the menu label moves slightly between versions.
Failure modes and what they mean
| Symptom | Likely cause | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Connect fails | Typo’d URL, 443 blocked, or you need a proxy first | Open the same URL in a browser or another WebDAV client |
| Certificate errors | Self-signed or intercepting device | Prefer real certs; don’t disable verification on public Wi‑Fi |
| Connects, files don’t refresh | Wrong path, read-only folder, full quota | Check cloud timestamps; prune old snapshots |
| Empty backups | Folder already exists on a non-standard server | Try a clean subfolder (improved in v2.5.2) |
See system proxy if the local proxy itself is broken and blocking the WebDAV connection.
Auto backup and multiple PCs
Don’t hammer auto backup—configs rarely change hourly. Sharing one path across PCs means last write wins; pull a copy before big edits. If you only need the subscription text offline, export URL + Merge—no cloud required.
Restore gotchas
A snapshot restores ports, rules, and extension state from that day. Reconcile mixed ports with browser extensions (ports). If you only need subscription text offline, export URL + Merge—no cloud required.
Backup is usable when
Manual backup creates a new cloud file; restore on another path/PC brings subscriptions back and proxy still starts; auto jobs run without errors. Until then, don’t treat WebDAV as your only copy. Start from getting started.