Fix DeepSeek Not Working: Troubleshooting Clash Rules and TUN Mode

Why DeepSeek AI Fails with Clash

DeepSeek has rapidly become one of the most powerful LLMs globally, but its infrastructure is unique. Unlike OpenAI or Anthropic, which primarily use US-based CDNs, DeepSeek uses a global distribution network that can be sensitive to asymmetric routing. When you use Clash, your traffic might be split: the initial API handshake goes through a proxy, but subsequent WebSocket or streaming data packets might attempt a direct connection, or vice versa. This desynchronization leads to the dreaded "Connection Timeout" or "Network Error" in the middle of a chat session.

Another common issue is DNS pollution. Since DeepSeek's main domains (deepseek.com and chat.deepseek.com) are frequently subjected to DNS interference in certain regions, a standard system proxy might not be enough to resolve the correct IP address. If Clash is only handling HTTP traffic, the underlying DNS query might still be poisoned by your local ISP, leading to a connection attempt to a non-existent or blocked IP.

Finally, DeepSeek's API endpoints often use different subdomains than the web interface. If your Clash rules only cover chat.deepseek.com but miss api.deepseek.com or their internal CDN hostnames, the AI agent will fail to load its reasoning models or provide streaming responses.

ℹ Pro Tip: Always check the Clash "Connections" tab. If you see deepseek.com appearing as "DIRECT" while you are having trouble, your rules are likely missing or being bypassed.

Updating Rule-Providers for DeepSeek

Static rules are the enemy of modern AI tools. DeepSeek frequently adds new subdomains for its R1 and V3 models. To ensure 100% uptime, you should use Rule-Providers that update automatically. This ensures that as DeepSeek scales its infrastructure, your Clash client stays aware of the new IP ranges and domains.

You need to ensure that your configuration includes specific rules for the following domains: deepseek.com, chat.deepseek.com, and api.deepseek.com. Relying on a generic "AI" category might not be enough if the provider hasn't updated their list to include the latest DeepSeek infrastructure.

Open your Clash configuration YAML file.
Locate the rule-providers section.
Add a dedicated DeepSeek provider or update your existing AI proxy group.
Ensure the behavior is set to domain for faster matching.

Enabling TUN Mode for Global AI Traffic

Standard system proxy modes (HTTP/SOCKS5) often fail to capture all traffic, especially UDP packets or requests from command-line tools and AI agents. DeepSeek's web interface uses complex streaming protocols that sometimes bypass standard browser proxy settings. This is where TUN Mode becomes essential.

TUN mode creates a virtual network interface at the OS level. This means all traffic, regardless of the application, is intercepted by Clash. For DeepSeek users, this solves the "Network Error" that occurs when the browser tries to establish a background connection that the standard proxy misses.

"TUN mode is the most robust way to ensure AI tools like DeepSeek, Claude, and ChatGPT function without regional interference, as it handles DNS and TCP/UDP traffic at the kernel level."

To enable TUN mode in Clash Verge, Clash Verge Rev, or Clash for Windows, you must run the application as Administrator. Without elevated privileges, the virtual network adapter cannot be created, and Clash will revert to system proxy mode, leaving your DeepSeek connection vulnerable to drops.

Solving DNS Poisoning Issues

DNS is often the silent killer of DeepSeek connections. If your Clash is set to fake-ip mode, it usually handles DNS well, but if you are in redir-host mode or have a misconfigured dns section, the real IP of DeepSeek might be blocked before Clash even sees the request.

You should configure Clash to use Remote DNS for AI-related domains. This forces Clash to resolve deepseek.com using an encrypted DNS provider (like Cloudflare or Google) through your proxy, bypassing any local ISP interference.

Recommended DNS settings for AI

dns:
  enable: true
  enhanced-mode: fake-ip
  nameserver:
    - 1.1.1.1
    - 8.8.8.8
  fallback:
    - https://dns.cloudflare.com/dns-query
    - https://dns.google/dns-query

Example YAML Configuration Block

To fix DeepSeek permanently, you should add a specific Proxy Group and corresponding Rules. This allows you to select a high-quality node specifically for AI traffic, separate from your general browsing or streaming nodes.

DeepSeek Specific Rule Block

proxy-groups:
  - name: DeepSeek-AI
    type: select
    proxies:
      - High-Speed-Node-1
      - High-Speed-Node-2
      - DIRECT

rules:
  - DOMAIN-SUFFIX,deepseek.com,DeepSeek-AI
  - DOMAIN-KEYWORD,deepseek,DeepSeek-AI

By placing these rules at the top of your rules: list, you ensure they take precedence over more general rules. This prevents DeepSeek from accidentally being routed through a "Final" or "Global" group that might be using a slow or blocked node.

Optimizing Proxy Group Logic

Not all proxy nodes are equal when it comes to DeepSeek. Some nodes might be flagged by DeepSeek's security system (Cloudflare or internal WAF), leading to frequent CAPTCHAs or "Access Denied" messages. To optimize your experience:

Avoid using "Data Center" IPs if possible; "Residential" or "Static" IPs have higher reputation scores.
Use nodes in regions where DeepSeek has high-speed edge nodes, such as Singapore, Japan, or the US West Coast.
Set up a url-test group for DeepSeek to automatically switch to the lowest latency node.

If you still encounter issues, try switching your TLS version in the Clash settings. Some older nodes use TLS 1.2 which might trigger security alerts on DeepSeek's modern infrastructure. Forcing TLS 1.3 can sometimes improve connection stability.

⚠ Compliance Reminder: Always ensure you are complying with your local laws and the Terms of Service of both DeepSeek and your proxy provider. Using Clash for unauthorized access or bypassing organizational security policies is not encouraged.

Conclusion and Wrap-up

Fixing DeepSeek issues in Clash usually boils down to three things: Domain rules, DNS integrity, and TUN mode. By ensuring that deepseek.com is handled exclusively by a high-quality proxy and that DNS queries are resolved remotely, you can eliminate 99% of "Network Errors."

Compared to other proxy tools that lack granular rule control, Clash V.CORE provides the surgical precision needed to keep AI tools running smoothly while keeping the rest of your traffic local. If you are tired of manual configuration, switching to a modern GUI that supports automatic rule-provider updates is the best long-term solution.

→ Download Clash V.CORE now to experience a more stable and faster AI chat experience with our pre-optimized DeepSeek rules.

Fix DeepSeek Not Working: Troubleshooting Clash Rules and TUN Mode (2026)