Thinking you need two installs
Install the client only. The core is bundled inside it.
Basics
Clash Meta vs Clash
What each name refers to: Clash as an earlier project name, Clash Meta as a family of configurations and cores.
Content reviewed · Nov 3, 2026
Who it is for
People who see Clash, Clash Meta, and Mihomo side by side and cannot tell what to install.
Before you read
- No software installation required
- Understand that project, core, and client are three different things
Key ideas
- 1
Clash is the name of the original project, whose repository is no longer maintained.
- 2
Clash Meta was a community fork that continued development and supported newer core features.
- 3
That fork was later renamed Mihomo, which is the core name used today.
- 4
The three sit on a timeline: Clash, then Clash Meta, then Mihomo.
Common confusion
Running an old build from search results
The original Clash stopped receiving updates. Skip those old packages.
Next step
Open the client directory and pick one that is still maintained.
Read next：Why Clash Meta became Mihomo