Multi-Provider Subscription Management: v2rayN Subscription Groups and Server Keyword Filtering

When several subscriptions are imported at once, efficiency is usually affected less by the number of nodes than by mixing sources, regions, multipliers, and use cases in one server list. One subscription may include common routes in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan, while another may mainly provide backup routes. Flatten everything into one list and a single update can produce hundreds of similarly named servers, slowing down both manual selection and latency testing.

Create stable groups by subscription source first

The primary purpose of subscription groups is to preserve source boundaries. Node names change, and the number of regions may rise or fall with each update, but it should always be clear which subscription supplied a record. Use a format such as “Provider + purpose,” for example “Cloud A - Daily,” “Cloud B - Backup,” or “Cloud C - Low Multiplier,” rather than “Subscription 1” or “Subscription 2.” Months later, when troubleshooting a dead link, a clear name saves repeated trips to the settings page to verify the address.

Using the v2rayN 7.15 interface as an example, go to “Subscription Groups” → “Subscription Group Settings” and enter an alias, subscription URL, enabled status, and automatic update interval for each source. Do not paste three subscriptions into one address field or create duplicate groups for the same address. Save them, update each group separately, confirm that every group can generate servers on its own, and only then schedule coordinated updates.

Suggested group field values

Narrow the node list with include and exclude keywords

Set keyword filters around naming rules you can verify. Common names contain a region, route number, multiplier, protocol hint, and status text, such as “Hong Kong 03 | Dedicated | 0.5x.” If you mainly use Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan, start with include conditions. If the list contains entries such as “traffic remaining,” “plan expiry,” or “official website,” clean them up with exclude conditions.

In v2rayN versions that provide filter fields, open “Subscription Groups” → “Subscription Group Settings,” select the target group, and edit its filters. Save one ordinary keyword first and update only that group to confirm the scope. When several regions must match at once, use a regular expression. Filtering occurs during subscription parsing, unlike the temporary search at the top of the server list: search only hides non-matching items in the current view, while subscription filters determine which servers are written after an update.

Include conditions: Hong Kong|Singapore|Japan
Exclude conditions: Traffic remaining|Plan expired|Official website|Maintenance|Multiplier 2
Low-multiplier conditions: 0\.5x|0\.5 multiplier|Low multiplier

In a regular expression, the vertical bar means “any one condition,” while a period must be escaped. To match “0.5x,” use “0\.5x” for a more precise result than “0.5x.” Do not add abbreviations that never appear in the server names. Check how the subscription actually names locations before assuming that both “Singapore” and “Lion City” are used.

Test latency after filtering instead of treating latency as the only measure

Run latency tests after shortening the list to make the results easier to compare. Suppose three subscriptions return 126 records in total, then regional and status filters reduce them to 34; the number of test jobs drops by about 73%. In one Windows 11 cleanup session on a gigabit local network, testing 126 servers took about 52 seconds, while 34 took about 16 seconds. The figures vary with the network, core status, and timeout settings, but the benefit of testing a smaller set is consistent.

In v2rayN, filter the server list by subscription group first, then choose “Servers” → “Test server real connection latency.” Real connection latency actually attempts to establish a connection through the node, making it closer to real-world use than a transport-layer response alone. Do not update subscriptions during testing or repeatedly start different batch-test commands, or old results, new results, and timed-out jobs may become interleaved.

1. First stop downloads or sync jobs that are using substantial bandwidth and keep the local network load stable.
2. Select a subscription group, run the real connection latency test, and record the success rate and response time.
3. Test each candidate three times, about 30 seconds apart, rather than choosing based on a single best result.
4. Among nodes with similar average latency, choose the one with fewer errors and smaller fluctuations across repeated tests.
5. Enable the system proxy only after choosing, then verify the connection with real web or application requests.

For example, node A records 88, 94, and 91 ms across three tests, while node B records 61, 248, and a timeout. Although B produced a lower number, A is more consistent and better suited as a daily node. If node C records 130 ms but transfers large files reliably, it can belong in a “High-volume” group instead of being deleted simply because its latency exceeds 100 ms.

Keep mobile groups clear in v2rayNG

v2rayNG works best when each subscription remains an independent configuration source. Open “Subscription Group Settings” from the top-left menu, add a remark and subscription URL for each entry, save, and update the relevant group. Button placement may vary slightly between versions, but the principle is the same: one provider per subscription entry, with remarks matching the desktop names so the same source is not labeled differently across devices.

Android has less screen space than desktop, so controlling the number of visible nodes matters even more. Switch to the required subscription group first, then use the filter or search function in the configuration list to view a target region. If the current version lacks persistent include and exclude fields, treat search as a filter for the current list only, not as a permanent change to the subscription. Check again after the next update to see whether informational nodes have returned.

• Keep remarks consistent: use “Cloud A - Daily” on desktop and Android alike; do not shorten it to “A.”
• Update by group: when backup routes are needed, update only the backup group instead of refreshing every subscription.
• Core distinction: v2rayNG uses the Xray core; Android clients using the v2fly core use v2flyNG. Name their subscription sources separately.
• Local port: the common local SOCKS port is 10808; use the value configured under “Settings” → “Parameter Settings.”
• Check updates: after an update, verify the numbers added and removed and the currently active configuration—not just the “Update successful” message.

Planning automatic updates and failover

Multi-subscription management does not require every group to refresh at the same time. A safer approach is to stagger the schedules: update the primary subscription every 6 hours, the backup every 12 hours, the low-multiplier subscription every 8 hours, and disable automatic updates for the temporary test subscription. This keeps frequently used lists current without making multiple addresses request, parse, and rewrite the server panel simultaneously.

Watch how the node count changes before and after updates. If a group normally has 30 to 40 records but suddenly drops to 2, do not immediately clear the old list and redo everything. Open “Subscription Group Settings” to confirm the address is complete and the filter is not too narrow, then check the system time and current network egress. A single full-width character or incorrectly escaped expression can also sharply reduce matches.

Failover order

1. First switch within the current group to the second candidate that was stable in the most recent test.
2. If several nodes in the same group fail, update the current subscription once and test again.
3. If the subscription update also fails, switch to an available node already saved in the backup group.
4. After the backup connection recovers, check the primary subscription URL, filter fields, and automatic update settings.
5. Switch back only after confirming that the primary subscription is stable again; do not repeatedly delete and re-import during an outage.

Common questions about managing multiple subscriptions

After cleanup, the server panel should answer three questions: which subscription supplied the current node, what purpose it serves, and where to switch first if it fails. With stable group names, reviewable filter rules, and sensible update intervals, multiple subscriptions become a connection set maintained by source and purpose instead of an ever-growing node list.