For a first install, start with the Avalonia desktop edition that matches your operating system and processor architecture. If WPF is already working well on Windows, there’s no need to switch just for a different interface. This guide explains the differences between the UI framework, proxy core, and system traffic routing, then covers where each edition fits, how to check dependencies, and how to test the new version without losing your existing settings.
1. What Avalonia and WPF Actually Change
Avalonia is a cross-platform .NET UI framework. WPF, short for Windows Presentation Foundation, is a desktop UI framework for Windows. In v2rayN, these names describe how the windows, lists, menus, and interactions are built—not two proxy protocols or types of server plans.
v2rayN manages server configurations, subscriptions, routing, and core processes. The selected core handles protocol connections. Whether protocols such as VMess and VLESS work depends on the node configuration and whether the selected core and its version support it. Avalonia doesn’t make a node faster, and WPF doesn’t limit you to older protocols.
| Layer | What it handles | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| UI framework | Windows, fonts, menus, and list interactions | The desktop or classic WPF download on the download page |
| Proxy core | Protocol handshakes, transport, and routing rules | Core selection, startup logs, and core version in the client |
| Node configuration | Server address, port, authentication, and transport settings | Server editor and subscription import results |
| Traffic routing | Sending app traffic through the local proxy | System proxy, in-app proxy, or TUN settings |
For example, whether a browser can reach a website through a local HTTP proxy depends both on the core running and on the browser using the right port. A change in window design won’t fix a misconfigured port. Troubleshooting the right layer is more effective than repeatedly switching UI editions.
2. Choose Based on Your Platform and Workflow
Choose a download in this order: operating system, processor architecture, then UI edition. Windows users can choose between the two interfaces. macOS and Linux users should download the Avalonia desktop edition for their platform; the Windows WPF app won’t run there simply by copying it over.
Avalonia Desktop Edition
RecommendedA good starting point for a first install. Choose the package for Windows, macOS, or Linux to follow a similar configuration workflow across desktop systems. Check the download page for the architectures currently available.
Best for: first-time installs, switching between operating systems, and users who want a consistent workflow.
Classic WPF Edition
Designed for Windows. If you’re already familiar with its node list, tray menu, and settings, and your current install works well, you can keep using it. It isn’t a compatibility option for macOS or Linux.
Best for: Windows users with a stable setup who want to keep their existing workflow.
Check the processor architecture separately. On Windows, find “System type” under Settings → System → About. On macOS, check the chip under Apple menu → About This Mac. On Linux, use the command below to check the machine architecture. x86_64 usually means x64, while aarch64 usually means ARM64. If you picked the wrong architecture, download the right package rather than changing your subscription.
uname -mBottom line: Match the platform first, then compare interfaces
On macOS and Linux, choose the Avalonia package for your platform. For a first install on Windows, start with the desktop edition. If WPF is already working well, keep it and test the other edition in a separate folder before deciding whether to switch.
3. Check UI Differences and System Requirements
The two editions may differ in menu layout, dialog design, font rendering, and tray behavior. A feature’s absence isn’t implied just because a tutorial screenshot looks different. When looking for a setting, search by its function—such as subscription groups, system proxy, local listening port, or routing—not by button color or window position.
Before Installing: Windows and Cross-Platform Systems
Windows: Check the Package Requirements
- Distinguish between an installer and a portable archive. Extract archives fully; don’t copy only the main executable.
- If you see a missing .NET error, note the runtime name, major version, and architecture mentioned in the message.
- WPF apps may require a matching .NET Desktop Runtime. The standard runtime or developer tools aren’t necessarily a substitute.
- If the package includes its own runtime, don’t install an unrelated runtime just because the other edition requires one.
macOS and Linux: Check System Integration
- Make sure the package matches your processor architecture, then launch it as described in the release instructions.
- If macOS blocks the app on first launch, confirm where the file came from, then check System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- On Linux, check the distribution’s graphics dependencies, desktop environment, and tray support. Opening the window and showing a tray icon are separate things.
- System proxy and TUN have different permission requirements. Don’t confuse what’s needed to launch the app with the permissions needed to route network traffic.
Bottom line: Determine missing dependencies from the package documentation and the specific error—not from whether the app uses Avalonia or WPF.
If the main window opens but the core fails immediately, check the logs for the executable path, permissions, and port conflicts. If no window appears at all, first check that the package was fully extracted and the runtime matches. These failures have different troubleshooting steps; reimporting a subscription usually won’t fix an app that can’t launch.
4. How to Switch Without Losing Your Settings
Both editions can manage subscriptions, but that doesn’t mean you can copy any configuration folder between versions. Client settings may include database formats, core paths, and platform-specific options. After a newer version writes to a configuration, an older version may not be able to read it as before. The safer approach is to make a full backup first, migrate settings that are portable, and then check system traffic routing.
- Document your current setup. Note the client and core versions, and record your servers, routing mode, listening address, and port. Subscription URLs are sensitive—don’t include them in public screenshots or shared documents.
- Back up before testing. Exit the old client and make sure its tray process has stopped, then back up the configuration folder it actually uses. Put the new package in a separate folder instead of overwriting the old app files.
- Import portable settings first. In the new version, check the groups and URLs under Subscription Groups → Subscription Group Settings, then update the subscription. Menu labels may vary by version. For manual nodes, use the client’s export and import options rather than retyping authentication details.
- Check ports and routing. Go to Settings → Parameter Settings to review local listening options, then check routing, DNS, and core selection. Don’t assume a new install will inherit every setting from the old version.
- Use only one instance to route traffic. First test the local listener with an in-app proxy. Then, from the tray’s System Proxy menu, choose Set system proxy automatically. Keep the version you’ve exited closed after testing so two processes don’t overwrite system settings in turn.
After switching, test the proxy path with the same destination. For example, send a request to https://example.com, check whether the corresponding request appears in the client logs, and confirm the routing behavior. Loading one page proves only that request worked; it doesn’t show that all apps are routed through the system proxy or TUN.
5. How to Compare Speed, Memory, and Features Fairly
“Is Avalonia or WPF faster?” can mean at least two things: how responsive the UI feels and how stable the proxy connection is. UI responsiveness depends on rendering, list size, and the desktop environment. Connection stability is mainly affected by the server route, core configuration, DNS, routing, and network conditions. A single page load isn’t enough to judge a UI framework.
- Keep network conditions constant: Use the same computer and network, with the same node, transport settings, core version, and routing rules. That way, changes in the server route aren’t mistaken for differences between editions.
- Track UI and network tests separately: For the UI, record startup time until the app is ready and whether filtering nodes causes lag. For network tests, record whether the same destination connects and review the relevant logs.
- Include the core in memory measurements: In your system’s task manager, monitor both the UI process and the core process it launches. Looking only at the main window can miss a significant part of the resource usage.
- Repeat the tests: Test each edition three times under the same conditions and record the range, not just the best result. Three runs are a suggested test method, not a performance benchmark from this site.
If only TUN mode fails while the in-app HTTP proxy works, check permissions, routing, and DNS before blaming the UI framework. The system proxy mainly affects apps that follow system proxy settings. TUN uses a virtual network interface and takes over routing; it isn’t just another name for the same switch.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
WPF works fine on Windows. Do I need to switch?
There’s no need to switch just because the interface has a different name. First, consider whether you have a practical reason, such as using multiple operating systems or preferring a workflow in the desktop edition. To try it, back up the old folder, close the old instance, and launch the new version from a separate folder so you can roll back easily.
Will my existing subscription work in Avalonia?
You can usually add the subscription again, but the import result depends on its format and what the current version supports. Check the URL under Subscription Groups, then update the subscription. If the node count or fields differ, review the update log and node editor instead of overwriting the old database to hide an import problem.
The new version opens, but why can’t my browser connect?
First, make sure an active server is selected and the core starts successfully. Then check the local listening port. If you’re using the example port 10808, the in-app proxy and the client’s listening port must match. Finally, check that the tray’s System Proxy menu is set to Set system proxy automatically, and make sure another instance isn’t still changing the system proxy.
I’m seeing a .NET error. Can I install any runtime?
Match the runtime type, major version, and architecture to the error message. The desktop runtime required by WPF isn’t interchangeable with the standard runtime. Read the current package’s requirements, install the matching runtime, restart the client, and check whether the error is gone.
Can switching UI editions fix a VLESS connection problem?
Not necessarily. Compare the core versions, server port, TLS, SNI, and transport settings. If the node uses REALITY, check the relevant authentication parameters too. Consider the edition itself only after confirming the configuration is identical and the problem appears to be specific to one client implementation.
The choice can be straightforward: match the platform and architecture, install the required dependencies, confirm the features you need work, and keep your existing settings safe. The UI edition changes how you use the client; connection quality still depends on the core, node, and local network settings.