This article solves the practical problem of “how to use Shadowrocket”: after installing it on an iPhone or iPad, how to import nodes or subscriptions, how to connect, and why after connecting you still need to pay attention to your IP, DNS, and browser environment. It is suitable for beginners who are new to accessing the open internet and want to follow the steps.
1. What is Shadowrocket, and what do you need before using it
Shadowrocket, often called “Little Rocket” by Chinese users, is a commonly used proxy client on iOS. It can import V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, Shadowsocks, and other nodes or subscription links. It is not a node service itself, and whether it can connect depends on whether the nodes you import are available and whether your network environment is stable.
- An iPhone or iPad with Shadowrocket already installed.
- An available node link or subscription address; this site also compiles free nodes for testing.
- Make sure the system time is correct and the network is accessible to avoid TLS failures caused by incorrect time.
2. Steps to import nodes and subscriptions into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket, go to the home page, and tap the “+” in the upper right corner.
- If you have a single node link, you can choose “Import from Clipboard” or manually select the corresponding protocol and fill it in.
- If it is a subscription address, set the “Type” to Subscribe or add the subscription URL on the configuration page.
- After adding it, return to the node list and tap the node name to make sure the selection mark appears on the left.
- Turn on the connection switch at the top. On first use, allow it to add the VPN configuration and confirm with Face ID or your passcode.
- After the status changes to Connected, open a browser and test whether webpages can be accessed.
Beginners are advised to use subscriptions first, because when nodes expire they can be updated with one tap; single nodes are better for temporary testing. If the import fails, first check whether the link is complete, especially make sure the beginning such as vmess://, vless://, trojan:// is not missing.
3. The relationship between IP, DNS, and the browser environment
After connecting to Shadowrocket, the most obvious change is that your outgoing IP address may switch to the region where the node is located. You can confirm your current exit IP through an IP lookup website, but do not look only at the IP; you also need to pay attention to DNS and the browser environment.
DNS is responsible for resolving domain names into IP addresses. If the proxy is connected but DNS still goes through your local network, webpages may fail to open, region detection may be abnormal, or DNS leaks may occur. In Shadowrocket, you can enable remote DNS in the configuration or use rule-based settings so overseas domains are resolved through the proxy.
The browser environment includes language, time zone, cache, cookies, WebRTC, and more. Even if the IP has changed, websites may still determine your real environment based on browser history, your account region, and location permissions. Therefore, when testing, you can use private browsing mode, disable webpage location permissions, and clear the cache for relevant sites.
4. Troubleshooting common connection failures
- Node timeout: switch to another node, or update the subscription and try again.
- It connects but webpages will not open: check whether global proxy is selected or whether the rule configuration is correct.
- Some apps work but the browser does not: clear the browser cache and test with Safari or Chrome.
- A certificate or TLS error appears: check the phone’s time and whether the node parameters have been changed.
- Subscription update failed: switch network environments and make sure there are no extra spaces in the subscription address.
When troubleshooting, it is recommended to change only one variable at a time: first switch nodes, then switch networks, and finally check DNS and rules. This makes it easier to locate the problem and prevents the configuration from becoming more and more confusing.
5. Usage recommendations
For daily use, you can choose “Rule Mode” so domestic websites connect directly while foreign websites go through the proxy, balancing access speed and stability. Switch to global mode only when you need to test the actual exit route. Free nodes are suitable for learning and temporary use, and their stability changes over time. It is normal for them to become unavailable, and you only need to update the subscription in time.