If you use only Windows and prefer a familiar interface, WPF is a good place to start. If you want a similar experience across Windows, macOS, and Linux, consider the Avalonia desktop app. The main differences are the UI technology and system integration—not the quality or speed of the proxy protocols. This guide covers package selection, core dependencies, migration, and port troubleshooting to help both new users and those with existing configurations choose the right version.
1. Which Version Should Windows Users Choose?
If your current version is working reliably, there’s no need to switch just for a different UI framework. For a first-time install, start with your operating system, then consider how you use the app. WPF is a Windows-only UI framework. Avalonia supports cross-platform desktop apps, but you still need the package built for your operating system and processor architecture.
WPF: Best for Windows-Only Use
RecommendedA solid first choice for Windows users, especially if your existing workflow, documentation, and screenshots match the WPF interface. This recommendation is about fit—not a claim that WPF delivers faster proxy speeds.
Best for: Windows-only use, keeping an established workflow, or continuing with a stable existing configuration.
Avalonia Desktop: Best for Cross-Platform Use
A similar interface is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it easier to use familiar workflows across desktop devices. Tray behavior, windows, and permissions still vary by operating system, so the apps won’t behave identically on all three.
Best for: switching between desktop operating systems, keeping UI differences to a minimum, and checking which features are available in your current version.
In this article, “desktop version” on the download page refers to the Avalonia version. WPF is also a desktop app, so don’t mistake the different names for “full” and “lite” editions. To see whether a version meets your needs, check the features in the current release—not just the framework name.
2. UI Framework, Client, and Proxy Core: Different Layers
v2rayN manages nodes, subscription updates, settings, and the startup and management of the proxy core. Avalonia and WPF render the windows and handle UI interactions. The running proxy core handles connections, protocol handshakes, and routing.
| Comparison | Avalonia desktop | WPF |
|---|---|---|
| UI framework | Avalonia cross-platform UI framework | Windows Presentation Foundation |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS, and Linux, when builds are available for the platform | Windows, subject to the system requirements of the release |
| Choosing a package | Choose by operating system and processor architecture | Choose by Windows build and processor architecture |
| What determines protocol support | The core version in use and the client’s ability to generate the required configuration | The core version in use and the client’s ability to generate the required configuration |
| System integration | Check tray, permissions, and window behavior on each platform | Check tray, permissions, and window behavior on Windows |
| Performance | Measure under the same conditions; the framework alone is not enough to draw conclusions | Measure under the same conditions; the framework alone is not enough to draw conclusions |
For example, if a node uses VLESS and REALITY, first confirm that the Xray core actually in use supports the required settings. Installing Avalonia is no substitute for that check. Check VMess, Trojan, and Shadowsocks against the core and configuration as well. WPF and Avalonia are UI frameworks, not proxy protocols.
3. Check Your OS, Architecture, and Runtime Before Downloading
Make sure the package will run before comparing interfaces. In Windows, go to Settings → System → About to check your system type. Some Windows versions show this under System Information instead. Distinguish x64 from ARM64; “64-bit operating system” does not necessarily mean you have an x64 processor.
- Check the system requirements. Confirm which Windows versions the current release supports and check the architecture listed for the download. The name WPF alone doesn’t guarantee compatibility with every older system.
- Check the package type. The release may offer an installer, an archive, or packages with different runtime requirements. An executable file doesn’t necessarily include all its dependencies.
- Install dependencies as prompted. If the app reports a missing .NET runtime, install the required version for the matching architecture. If it requires the Desktop Runtime, having another .NET runtime installed may not be enough.
- Keep the two versions in separate locations. Don’t overwrite your existing app directory during initial testing, and don’t let both versions modify the same configuration data.
On macOS, choose a build that matches your processor. On Linux, choose a package that fits your distribution’s package system and processor architecture. Cross-platform support comes from the UI framework and platform-specific builds; a Windows package won’t run directly on another operating system.
Package names, version numbers, and dependencies change over time. Check the client download page and the instructions for the current package. Don’t rely on filenames from outdated guides. This article doesn’t recommend any particular historical version as a permanent download choice.
4. Switching from WPF to Avalonia: Migrate Nodes Before Rules
The goal is to restore the same connection behavior—not to make every switch look identical in both interfaces. The safest approach is to back up your existing configuration, import one known-good node, and test the connection before restoring subscriptions, routing, and startup settings.
Migration plan: Keep the Existing Setup and Test the New Version Separately
Existing version: Keep a rollback option
- Before exiting, note the v2rayN and proxy core versions.
- Back up your configuration data and save any subscription URLs and custom rules you need.
- Note the local listening ports, system proxy status, and current routing mode.
- Turn off automatic startup, exit the app, and confirm the old core is no longer listening on any ports.
New version: Restore settings in stages
- Set it up separately and start by importing one verified node.
- Confirm the core starts correctly, then test access in a browser.
- Restore subscriptions, routing, DNS, and TUN settings you use, one at a time.
- Test again after restarting Windows, then decide which version to keep in automatic startup.
Change only one category of settings at a time. If something goes wrong, reverting one step makes the cause easier to find than moving everything over at once.
You can usually add the same subscription again, but don’t assume custom routing, DNS, shortcuts, window settings, or custom configurations are guaranteed to migrate between versions. If the current version offers an import or restore option, first check which file types and source versions it accepts, then use your backup.
Start with Settings → Parameter Settings to check listening ports and related options. Review subscriptions individually under Subscription Groups. Labels and menu groupings may change between releases. If you can’t find an exact match, look for the setting by purpose rather than repeatedly overwriting the original data directory. Subscription URLs may contain access credentials; redact sensitive information from screenshots and logs.
5. Troubleshooting Port Conflicts and Speed Differences
If you can’t connect after switching versions, first check whether both client processes are running. The manually assigned example ports below illustrate how to check; they are not default values for every version, and they don’t imply that the app always provides separate SOCKS and HTTP ports.
Even with different ports, the two versions may still compete to control system proxy settings. For routine testing, run only one version at a time. In Settings → Parameter Settings, confirm the actual listening port, then check where the system proxy points. A running tray icon alone doesn’t prove traffic is going through the new version.
netstat -ano | findstr :10808
netstat -ano | findstr :10818The command-line example above is for Windows. Check the local address, port, and PID in the output; for TCP listeners, look for the LISTENING state. Then use Task Manager to identify the process that owns the PID. A port being in use doesn’t by itself mean the process is misbehaving—don’t end a process until you’ve confirmed what it belongs to.
- Browser works, but command-line tools fail: Check whether the command-line program uses the system proxy or still points explicitly to the old port.
- Only some sites fail after switching versions: Compare routing rules, DNS, and sniffing settings. Don’t assume a configuration difference is a UI framework issue.
- Node latency is normal, but downloads are slow: A latency test doesn’t measure throughput. Check node load, the network route, and any limits imposed by the destination site.
- Memory use seems higher: Check the UI and core processes separately, comparing them with the same number of nodes, window state, and runtime.
To compare speed, use the same node, download target, core version, and routing settings. Alternate between the two versions for three tests each and record the median. This helps reduce random variation; it doesn’t imply a performance result in advance. Without results from the same test conditions, you can’t claim that one framework makes the connection faster.
6. Version Choice and Migration FAQ
I only use Windows. Should I switch from WPF to Avalonia?
If your current version is stable and has the features you need, there’s no reason to migrate just for a different framework. To try the new interface, set it up separately and check subscription updates, tray exit behavior, system proxy reset, and what happens after a restart. Switch only if it all works the way you expect.
Can I use the same subscription with the Avalonia version?
Add the existing subscription and update it manually, then check the node count and the protocol, port, transport, and security settings for a known node. Importing the list doesn’t guarantee every advanced parameter is applied correctly. If a connection fails, check the current core’s logs.
REALITY worked before, but fails after switching versions. Should I change protocols?
Don’t change protocols yet. Confirm which Xray core version is in use, then check the server address, port, user ID, public key, server name, and any other required settings. Review the generated configuration and startup errors; first rule out missing imported settings or an incompatible core.
After I exit the new version, the old one can’t open web pages either. Why?
In Windows, go to Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy and check that it isn’t pointing to a port used by the exited app. Then start only the version you want to keep, re-enable the system proxy, and test again. If you use TUN, also check that its virtual network interface and routes have been restored.
Can both versions be set to start automatically?
Not recommended. Even if both windows open, the versions may compete for ports, overwrite system proxy settings, or conflict over TUN. After migration, keep only one automatic startup entry. After restarting, check Task Manager and the actual listening ports.
The choice comes down to two things: for Windows-only use and an established workflow, start with WPF; for similar interfaces across desktop operating systems, consider Avalonia. Protocol support depends on the core, connection behavior depends on the configuration, and the UI choice comes down to whether the workflow and system integration meet your needs.