FAQ
These answers cover common setup and everyday questions, checked against HypoMux 2.7.0. Start with Quick start for your first session, or look up an HM-E**** notification in Error codes.
Browse by topic: Installation and updates · Aggregation and performance · Networks and data usage · Modes and routing · Tools and new features · Troubleshooting, privacy, and support.
Installation and updates
Which systems are supported? Must I keep running as administrator?
The official desktop installer targets Windows 10 / 11. The desktop interface runs with standard user privileges. A separate Core / Windows service handles privileged TUN, WFP, routing, DNS, and network recovery operations; the interface does not need to stay elevated.
Follow the installer prompts for initial installation and service setup. See Install and verify.
Where can I download safely?
Use the official download page to reach GitHub Releases or Tencent CNB Release. Both official channels distribute the same installer, named HypoMux_Setup_*.exe.
Before running it, open Properties → Digital Signatures and verify that the signature is valid and the publisher is SignPath Foundation. A matching filename does not prove authenticity. If verification fails, download again from an official channel. See Verify the publisher.
How do I update? Does returning to Stable downgrade automatically?
Check for updates on the About page, or download the official installer. Read the changelog, export your routing rules, stop aggregation, and exit the app before installing. Afterwards, verify the version, adapter selection, rules, and connectivity. A rule export is not a full application backup; a normal update does not require deleting the configuration directory.
Stable is the default channel; Preview also checks Beta / RC releases. Switching back to Stable does not automatically downgrade: wait for a stable release with the same base version or a newer one. For locked files or an unchanged version after installation, see Upgrade troubleshooting. See Stable and Preview for channel details.
Aggregation and performance
Can HypoMux make one download connection faster?
It does not split one TCP connection across multiple networks. HypoMux chooses an adapter when each new connection starts. It can improve total throughput across concurrent connections, making it useful for multi-connection tasks such as Steam, IDM, and game updates.
A download manager may open several connections for one file, so check connection count rather than file count. A single connection remains limited by its own path. See How aggregation works.
Why is the speed lower than the sum of my networks?
Adding up separate speed tests gives a reference, not a guaranteed result. Source-server limits, too few connections, Wi-Fi conditions, tethering limits, disk writes, and CPU capacity can become bottlenecks. Adapters sharing one broadband or campus internet connection also compete for the same capacity.
Test each network separately, then compare sustained speeds for the same concurrent download with and without aggregation. A speed test that opens only one connection cannot represent aggregation capacity. See Speed troubleshooting.
How can I tell whether aggregation is working?
- Run Network Check for the selected adapters and confirm that each can access the internet independently.
- Start HypoMux, then start a fresh download so the app creates new connections.
- In Active connections, check whether connections use multiple selected adapters. Compare the download app's total speed with HypoMux session traffic.
If only one adapter carries traffic, check authentication, connection count, whether the app uses the selected mode, and whether a rule pins its exit. Connections established before aggregation generally need to reconnect to participate. See the Interface guide.
Why do adapter weights differ from actual traffic?
Weights control the relative share of new connections, not an instant byte ratio, bandwidth cap, or data allowance. Connection duration, source-server speed, and path health can all change the actual traffic ratio.
Version 2.7.0 offers four strategies:
| Strategy | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed first (default) | Distributes new connections in rotation for an initial comparison; its name does not mean automatic speed testing |
| Weighted scheduling | Manually controls relative shares, such as 3:1; only this strategy uses manual weights |
| Adaptive speed | Adjusts gradually using sustained throughput and new connections; needs sufficient concurrency and observations |
| Low latency first | Selects paths using latency, jitter, and packet loss; verify actual app performance |
Strategies and weights can change while running, but existing TCP connections do not migrate. See Scheduling for setup and limitations.
Why does my broadband plan use Mbps while downloads show MB/s?
They are different units: Mbps means megabits per second; MB/s means megabytes per second. 8 Mbps = 1 MB/s. A 1000 Mbps line converts to about 125 MB/s before protocol overhead and server or device limits.
Use the same units when comparing aggregation results. If an app displays MiB/s, it uses binary byte units, which require a different conversion. Do not directly add values expressed in different units.
Will downloads or games switch seamlessly if a connection goes down?
That is not guaranteed. An existing TCP connection stays on the path selected when it started; HypoMux cannot move it seamlessly to another adapter. The app may need to reconnect through an available exit. Also check rules pinned to the disconnected adapter.
Under specific UDP failure conditions, the latency strategy may rebuild an upstream path, but a changed exit can still require a game to reconnect. Prefer a stable path for important sessions. See Scheduling limitations.
Networks and data usage
Can I use HypoMux on a campus network?
Yes, depending on authentication, bandwidth limits, and whether multiple devices can remain online. Where limits apply separately to devices or adapters, multiple authenticated paths may improve total concurrent download throughput.
Authenticate every participating adapter and verify independent internet access. Signing in over Ethernet does not automatically authenticate Wi-Fi:
- Stop HypoMux and temporarily disconnect other networks, leaving the adapter you want to authenticate.
- Sign in through the school's portal or client and verify internet access.
- Repeat for the other adapters, reconnect them all, and confirm they remain online simultaneously.
- Run Network Check, select working adapters, and start aggregation.
Speeds cannot simply be added if bandwidth is capped per account, a new login disconnects an existing device, or the shared campus exit is saturated. HypoMux does not replace authentication; follow your school's network rules.
Can HypoMux improve speed on a single broadband line?
It may, if the line has spare capacity and the bottleneck is one connection to your computer. For example, suppose a line provides 1200 Mbps but the computer uses one gigabit Ethernet port. Ethernet plus Wi-Fi may use some additional capacity across concurrent connections if the modem-to-router link and router can also exceed gigabit throughput. This is a conditional example, not a claim that a gigabit plan always provides 1200 Mbps.
Two adapters on one router still share one broadband line's total capacity. More adapters cannot overcome the provider's total cap or a gigabit modem-to-router bottleneck. With only one participating adapter, there is no multi-adapter aggregation benefit.
Can I use Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and a mobile hotspot together?
Yes, if those connections can remain active simultaneously in Windows, access the internet independently, and pass Network Check. Common setups include Ethernet plus Wi-Fi, or broadband plus phone USB tethering.
Adapter count is not the same as independent broadband count: Ethernet and Wi-Fi on one router still share an exit. Confirm that the connections can stay online together, then select the participating adapters on the home page. See Quick start.
Will a mobile hotspot use my mobile data allowance?
Yes. If the phone shares cellular data, traffic assigned to that adapter uses your allowance and remains subject to tethering rules, speed limits, and charges. A low weight still uses data and is not a data cap.
To remove that path from aggregation, stop aggregation, deselect the phone's adapter, and restart. In TUN, pinned-adapter rules can control specific apps, but Direct follows the system route and does not guarantee avoiding the hotspot. To prevent the computer from using that cellular connection entirely, disconnect tethering as well: other system traffic could still use it.
Modes and routing
Should I use System Proxy or Virtual Adapter mode?
| Mode | Best starting point for | Verify first |
|---|---|---|
| System Proxy | Browsers, IDM, Steam, and other apps that follow the system proxy or allow manual proxy setup | The app actually uses the local proxy; restart it if needed |
| Virtual Adapter (TUN) | Non-proxy-aware apps, broader TCP/UDP coverage, manual routing, and rule sets | Core and network components work; another TUN / VPN is not taking over the default route |
Try System Proxy first for downloads. Use TUN for manual rules, rule sets, or the aggregation hotspot. See Operating modes.
Why is my download app missing from aggregation in System Proxy mode?
It may ignore the Windows system proxy or keep using connections established before startup. Restart the download, and restart the app if needed. If HypoMux system proxy takeover is disabled, configure the proxy manually in the app.
The default local address is 127.0.0.1, with HTTP/HTTPS port 10801 and SOCKS5 port 10800; use the current values shown in Settings. Start HypoMux before the app connects. For apps without proxy support, consider TUN. See System Proxy mode.
Can I use HypoMux with a VPN, proxy, or game accelerator?
It depends on how the other tool controls traffic. Two programs should not compete for the Windows system proxy. Disable another TUN / VPN's default-route takeover before starting HypoMux TUN.
HypoMux attempts to identify common local proxies and accelerators and route them directly to avoid loops, but compatibility is not guaranteed for every tool or version. If connectivity fails or traffic behaves unexpectedly, verify HypoMux on its own, then follow Third-party proxies and accelerators.
Is aggregation a good choice while gaming?
Game downloads and live matches have different needs. Try aggregation for updates. For matches, voice, and meetings, prioritize stability: use Direct or a stable pinned-adapter rule in TUN, or temporarily stop HypoMux.
Low latency first uses probes to choose paths, but it does not guarantee lower latency or uninterrupted sessions. Direct does not automatically improve upstream NAT either. For matchmaking or connectivity issues, see NAT detection.
Why do saved routing rules have no effect?
First confirm TUN mode is running. Manual rules and rule sets are loaded by TUN. Saving them in System Proxy mode does not mean an app is routed directly, pinned, or rejected.
Rules affect new connections. Reconnect the app, then check the process name, domain/IP, exit availability, and match order. The default type order is process → domain → IP. Subscriptions also have priorities and restart requirements: adding a subscription, changing its exit, or enabling one that is not loaded requires restarting TUN. See Manual rule order and Subscription reload behavior.
Does Direct always use Ethernet? How do I pin an adapter?
Direct bypasses aggregation scheduling and follows Windows system routing. It does not guarantee Ethernet or avoidance of mobile data. To pin an app, select a specific adapter in a TUN routing rule and verify that it is online and can reach the required service.
Recheck rules after an adapter disconnects or is replaced. You can temporarily disable invalid rules and enable them again after recovery. See Outbound policies and Rule management.
Does importing a backup append rules? Does it back up every setting?
Import replaces the entire manual rule set; it does not append. Export current rules first, review the file and confirmation prompt, and reselect pinned adapters when moving to another computer.
A rule backup is not a full configuration backup and should not be assumed to include subscription settings or caches. Current exports use format version 3 and can import older formats; app versions v2.5.9 and earlier cannot import version 3. See Rule import and export for steps and downgrade considerations.
Tools and new features
Why does Steam optimization show no speed improvement?
Steam optimization is experimental, off by default, and available in both modes. It must identify supported downloads, validate candidates, and try them. Enabled, Waiting for engine, or a switched-connection count alone does not show a speed gain.
Confirm that Steam traffic enters HypoMux, pause and resume to create new connections, then inspect transferred connections and sustained throughput. Compare the same game and download region. Turn the feature off if it does not help. See Steam optimization.
Can I share aggregated internet with a phone or tablet?
Try Toolbox → Aggregation hotspot. This experimental feature depends on Windows mobile hotspot support and its driver. The computer must first run TUN aggregation; System Proxy mode cannot provide this sharing. Connected devices do not need their own HypoMux client or proxy settings.
Hotspot ready / Exit pending verification does not prove traffic uses aggregation. Check the shared-exit state and test browsing and downloads on the phone. Stop the hotspot before TUN. Shared traffic can use domain/IP rules, but desktop process names cannot identify phone apps. Cellular upstreams still use mobile data. See Aggregation hotspot for requirements and troubleshooting.
Do I need AI to use HypoMux? Can AI incur charges?
No. The AI assistant is optional; aggregation, routing, and tool pages work without configuring a model. To use AI, configure a protocol, endpoint, and model supported by your provider, then test tool calling.
Conversations and tool-call tests request your configured model service and may be billed under its terms. Successful chat does not prove correct tool calling. See Model configuration.
Can AI change my network directly? Does Stop undo its actions?
It can perform supported operations, and not every change asks first. Ordinary rule edits, startup, and some settings may execute directly. Stopping aggregation, sharing, and repairs follow the app's confirmation requirements; external MCP writes require confirmation in HypoMux. For diagnosis only, explicitly ask: “Read only; do not start, stop, or change configuration.”
Stop further actions ends subsequent model steps. It does not undo completed changes or stop the network service. Check tool results and application state to verify execution. See Assistant actions and confirmation.
Does MTU detection change my adapter automatically or guarantee faster downloads?
No. Detection probes the selected adapter's path to one IPv4 target. It does not automatically modify the adapter and is not a bandwidth test. Only confirming Apply recommended value changes settings. A timeout or missing recommendation does not mean you should lower MTU.
Stop the network service before testing. Applying a value may briefly interrupt connectivity. Restore original value on the same adapter if needed. The current version only changes active IPv4 configuration; a system restart returns to system configuration. See MTU detection and recovery.
Troubleshooting, privacy, and support
What should I check if an adapter is unavailable or TUN cannot start?
Stop aggregation, verify each network independently, and run Network Check for IPv4, gateway, DNS, and source-address binding. Select only working paths. On campus networks, also verify that authentication has not expired.
For TUN startup failures, keep the HM-E**** code and notification details, check for another TUN / VPN takeover, and inspect Network components and TUN compatibility in Settings → Advanced network. Stack comparisons mainly help when TUN already works but specific apps fail. See Troubleshooting.
What if internet access fails after stopping or a crash?
If the app is still running, click Stop and wait for completion. After a crash, reopen HypoMux so it can attempt to restore previous settings, then exit normally and test connectivity.
In System Proxy mode, check whether Windows still points to a stopped local proxy. Establish which app owns that setting before restoring its original value. If ownership is unclear or the issue involves TUN, keep the state and logs and follow Network recovery. Avoid blindly clearing an organization proxy or resetting all networking.
Does HypoMux collect my data?
HypoMux does not upload telemetry by default. Traffic forwarding, updates, connectivity tests, subscriptions, and Steam node probes generate their corresponding network requests.
When you enable AI and send a message, conversations and necessary tool results go to your configured model service and may include adapter names, processes, and rule values. Manually entered text is not automatically redacted. External MCP returns tool data to its client. Local API keys and history are encrypted for the current Windows user, but that does not keep data sent to external services on the computer. See AI data and privacy.
Where can I find logs and get help?
Open the data directory from Settings → Configuration and startup → Configuration file location, then look for logs/app.log. The default directory is .hypomux under the current Windows user; use the location shown in Settings. Log retention is limited, so preserve the relevant time period promptly. If no log exists, start with notification details and reproduction steps.
Include HypoMux / Windows versions, operating mode and strategy, adapter setup, shared broadband exits, error codes, steps to reproduce, and whether stopping restores connectivity. Remove public IPs, usernames, passwords, and tokens; do not upload the whole configuration directory. Use the report template and log guidance, file a GitHub issue, or visit the community.