OpenWRT router
How to connect an OpenWRT router to CreateYourVPN with Nikki — add one subscription link and your panel's split-tunneling rules apply to the whole home network automatically.
Connecting a router puts your whole home behind the VPN — every phone, TV and laptop uses it without any per-device setup. On OpenWRT this is the smoothest path of all: you add one subscription link, and the router pulls both the server and your panel's split-tunneling rules from it. Change the rules in your panel, and the router picks them up on its next refresh.
We use Nikki — a lightweight OpenWRT app built on the mihomo (Clash.Meta) core.
Nikki needs OpenWRT 24.10 or newer (25.x and SNAPSHOT work too). OpenWRT 23.05 is not supported.
What you'll need
- A router running OpenWRT ≥ 24.10 with internet access.
- A few minutes and access to the router (LuCI web interface or SSH).
Step 1. Install Nikki
Nikki isn't in the default OpenWRT feeds — it ships from its own package feed.
Follow the official instructions — they keep the feed URL and commands current:
Run the feed script from the project, then install the packages — typically opkg install nikki luci-app-nikki (plus a language pack such as luci-i18n-nikki-en). On SNAPSHOT/main images the package manager is apk, so it's apk add nikki … instead — the project's feed script picks the right one for you. The mihomo core is pulled in automatically.
Open LuCI (the OpenWRT web interface) and go to Services → Nikki.
The first time Nikki runs, mihomo downloads the geo databases (used by country/category rules), so the router needs internet on first start.
Step 2. Add your subscription link
Open your account, go to the Connection area and switch on Router support. Open the OpenWRT tab and copy the subscription link (or scan its QR code). It ends in /clash.
In Services → Nikki, add a new subscription and paste that link. Save and update it — Nikki fetches your node and your split-tunneling rules.
Enable Nikki and start it. Pick a working mode if asked (TPROXY is a good default); Nikki handles the firewall rules for you.
The subscription link is a secret — anyone who has it can use your VPN. Don't share it or post it anywhere.
Step 3. Check that it works
On any device connected through the router, open a site that should go through the VPN and confirm your visible location changed. Sites you set to bypass the VPN in the panel should still open directly. When you later change split-tunneling rules in the panel, the router applies them on its next subscription refresh (you can also trigger an update in Nikki manually).
Helpful references
- OpenWrt-nikki (official repo) — installation and configuration.
- Nikki wiki — subscriptions, modes, profile editor.