YouTube slideshows or Netflix home-without-video aren’t always “Clash is broken.” Check the Connections page while playing: no matching domains means the browser never hit the proxy; records present but no playback means region, bandwidth, or DNS next.
Low latency ≠ 4K headroom. Judge with real bitrate or a large download, not ping alone (slow speed).
Split the failure mode first
| What you see | Where the fault lives | Next move |
|---|---|---|
| No matching domains in Connections | Browser never reached the proxy | Fix system proxy / app routing |
| Domains present, no playback | Region, bandwidth, or DNS | Swap in-region node; review DNS |
| Home loads, scrubber stuck | CDN DIRECT’d by mistake | Review streaming rules |
| Evenings only | Congestion, not a proxy bug | Try hotspot / off-peak |
YouTube failure modes
Home loads, scrubber stuck: CDN domains DIRECT’d by mistake, or DNS pointing to the wrong place. Review streaming-related rules (routing) and DNS / fake-ip. Ad blockers and extra proxy extensions muddy the test—disable and retry. Ad removal is unrelated to the proxy; skip shady “YouTube booster” packs.
Netflix: account, region, node
Region mismatch often yields browse-but-no-play. Don’t gamble with Global + a random node—use provider nodes marked for that library, then swap siblings in-region. “Premium line” vs normal is a vendor claim about bandwidth/unlock, not magic in Clash.
Tun, devices, shared bandwidth
Browsers on system proxy may not need Tun; set-top boxes and casting apps might (Tun). Evening congestion isn’t a proxy bug. IPv6 weirdness: toggle IPv6/DNS for an A/B test. Hotel/school QoS: try a hotspot.
Fake “streaming” problems
Browser decode / hardware acceleration and subtitle tracks can look like stalls. If Discord voice dies too, chase UDP/nodes (IM proxy).
Acceptance and stop-loss
Connection records appear during play; a non-144p segment finishes; node swaps change results. If not, return to system proxy + one known-good node and stop editing rules/DNS/Tun together. Use download center builds.