Portable vs installer builds, and migrating between them

The releases page usually offers both an installer and a portable build (filename contains "portable"). Functionally identical; they differ in where data lives:

• Installer: the program goes into a system directory; user data (subscriptions, settings, cache) lives in %USERPROFILE%\.config\clash;
• Portable: unzip and run; all data stays in the data folder next to the executable. Deleting the folder is a complete uninstall — great for USB sticks or machines you do not want to touch.

Migrating

Both directions are just a matter of moving the data directory:

1. Quit the running Clash (tray icon → Quit);
2. Copy the old data directory (.config\clash or the portable data folder) to the corresponding location of the new setup;
3. Launch the new build — subscriptions, node choices and Mixin settings should all be intact.

Same trick when changing computers: take that directory with you and you take your whole setup. Note that .config under the user directory is hidden — enable "Show hidden items" in Explorer if you cannot see it.