This article addresses the practical question of “how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket”: how to add a subscription link in Shadowrocket on iPhone/iPad, update nodes, choose an available route, and understand how your IP, DNS, and browser environment will be affected after connecting, so you can troubleshoot situations where “the subscription imported successfully but webpages still won’t open.”
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription into Shadowrocket
Shadowrocket is a commonly used proxy client on iOS. It does not provide nodes by itself, so you need to prepare a subscription link. A subscription is usually a URL starting with http or https that contains node information for V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, Shadowsocks, and similar protocols. You can use a subscription you already have, or check this site for free node information and test as needed.
- Make sure Shadowrocket is installed on your phone.
- Copy the complete subscription link, and do not miss any parameters at the end.
- Make sure your current network can access the international internet normally, or at least reach the subscription address.
- If the subscription requires account authentication, make sure the link is still within its valid period.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home page’s “Configuration” or node list page.
- Tap the “+” icon in the top right and select Subscribe/Subscription as the type.
- Paste the subscription link into the URL input box. For the remark, you can enter “Free Nodes” or “Common Subscription.”
- Tap “Done” or “Save,” then return to the list and pull down to refresh the subscription.
- After the refresh succeeds, select a node and turn on the connection switch at the top.
- When connecting for the first time, iOS will prompt you to add a VPN configuration. Tap Allow and enter your lock screen passcode to confirm.
If no nodes appear after importing, first check whether the subscription link was copied completely. If you get a timeout message, try switching networks, turning off Low Data Mode, or refreshing again later. Even if the node list appears, that does not mean every node is usable. It is recommended to test latency one by one and choose a stable route.
3. How IP, DNS, and the browser environment are related
After Shadowrocket connects successfully, the most obvious change is your exit IP. When you visit a website, the site usually sees the proxy node’s IP rather than your local ISP IP. You can verify this by opening an IP lookup website, but different sites update their databases at different speeds, so inconsistent displayed regions do not necessarily mean the connection failed.
DNS is responsible for resolving domain names into IP addresses. If DNS is not routed through the proxy, problems such as “webpages won’t open,” “resolved to the wrong address,” or “polluted access” may occur. It is recommended to use the system default DNS or a reliable remote DNS in Shadowrocket’s settings, and enable rule-based routing. Ordinary users do not need to frequently change complex parameters; first make sure that the subscription can be updated, the node can connect, and the rules are enabled.
The browser environment also includes cookies, cache, language, time zone, WebRTC, and more. Even if the proxy IP has changed, the browser may still retain old login states or regional preferences. If a website shows the wrong region, you can try Incognito mode, clearing the cache, or testing with a different browser. It is important to note that a VPN/proxy does not equal complete anonymity, so do not use it for high-risk sensitive activities.
4. Quick troubleshooting for connection failures
- Subscription cannot be updated: check whether the link has expired, whether there are extra spaces, and whether your current network is blocking it.
- It connects but webpages won’t open: switch nodes and check whether the rule mode is set to “Configuration/Rules” instead of accidentally being set to direct connection.
- Only some apps work: restart Shadowrocket and the target app, and reconnect the VPN if necessary.
- The IP has not changed: make sure the top switch is turned on and that the VPN icon appears in the iOS status bar.
- DNS is abnormal: try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data, or restore Shadowrocket’s default DNS settings.
Overall, the key steps for importing a subscription into Shadowrocket are: “copy the correct link → add the subscription → refresh the nodes → choose a route → enable VPN.” After connecting, check your IP, DNS, and browser environment one by one, and you should be able to identify most usage issues.