This article addresses the practical question of “how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket”: from getting a subscription link and importing it into Shadowrocket, to checking your IP, DNS, and browser environment after connecting, helping you determine whether traffic is really going through the proxy and troubleshoot common connection failures. It is suitable for ordinary users who are just starting to use iPhone/iPad internet privacy tools.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription into Shadowrocket
Shadowrocket usually refers to the iOS app Shadowrocket. Before importing, make sure of three things: the client is installed, you have a working subscription link, and your phone’s network can access the internet normally. Subscription links generally start with https and contain node information such as VLESS, VMess, Trojan, and Shadowsocks. This site also compiles free nodes and subscription tutorials, but the stability of free nodes can be affected by routes, user load, and timing, so it is not recommended to rely on a single node only.
Note: do not casually share your subscription link with others, because it may include your node access permissions; if the link becomes invalid, you need to return to the source page and copy the latest address again.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket, go to the home page, and tap the “+” in the upper-right corner.
- Set the type to “Subscribe” or “订阅”, and for the name you can enter “freevpn” or any label that is easy for you to recognize.
- Paste the subscription link into the URL field, making sure there are no spaces before or after it.
- Tap Done or Save, then return to the home page and pull down to refresh while waiting for the node list to appear.
- Select a node, turn on the connection switch at the top, and on first use allow the VPN configuration to be added when prompted.
If no nodes appear after importing, first check whether the link is complete, whether it has expired, and whether it requires a certain network environment to be accessed. You can also copy the subscription link into a browser and open it as a test: if it shows a string of encoded content or node text, the link itself is most likely accessible; if it returns 404, times out, or says you do not have permission, then you need to replace the subscription.
3. How to check IP, DNS, and browser environment after connecting
Many people assume that if Shadowrocket shows “connected,” it must be working, but you also need to check the outbound environment. After connecting, open an IP lookup website and see whether the displayed country/region has changed to the node’s location; then run a DNS leak test to confirm whether the DNS server has also changed with the proxy. If the IP has changed but the DNS still shows your local ISP, there may be a risk of DNS leakage.
IP is the outbound address exposed when you visit websites; DNS is responsible for resolving domain names into server addresses; the browser environment also includes language, time zone, WebRTC, Cookie, and more. For ordinary use, the main thing to focus on is whether the IP and DNS are consistent. If some websites still show your original region, try clearing the browser cache, disabling WebRTC leaks, switching to a private browsing window, or changing nodes.
4. What to do if importing the subscription fails or it won’t connect
- Subscription cannot be updated: check whether the link was copied completely, and try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data before refreshing.
- The nodes import successfully but will not connect: try other nodes, or confirm that the system time is correct.
- Web pages will not open after connecting: change the rule mode to “Global” for testing. If Global works, the issue is likely with the routing rules.
- The IP does not change: make sure the VPN switch is turned on, and that you can see the VPN icon in iOS settings.
- DNS is abnormal: in Shadowrocket’s settings, try enabling remote DNS or switching to a reliable rule configuration.
Recommendation: when troubleshooting, change only one setting at a time. First verify that the subscription is valid, then verify node connectivity, and finally check the browser environment. This makes it easier to identify whether the problem lies with the subscription, the node, the rules, or your local network.
5. Tips for using subscriptions
A subscription is not permanently valid after being imported once; nodes may be updated, expire, or be adjusted. It is recommended to manually refresh the subscription in Shadowrocket regularly; if access fails, do not immediately delete the configuration—first switch nodes and modes for testing. If you use the free nodes provided by this site, give priority to the most recently updated subscriptions and keep backup sources ready, so that temporary failures do not affect your use.