This article addresses the practical question of “how to use Shadowrocket”: from downloading and installing it to importing nodes, enabling the proxy, and then checking whether your IP, DNS, and browser environment are consistent, helping you determine whether the connection is actually working and avoid situations such as webpages not opening, the IP having changed but DNS still leaking, or the browser still showing your original region.
1. What Shadowrocket is and who it is suitable for
Shadowrocket is often called “Little Rocket” by Chinese-speaking users. It is mainly used on iPhones and iPads to manage proxy nodes and supports common protocols such as Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, and Trojan. It is not a node service itself, so you need to import available nodes or a subscription link. This site collects some free node information, which is suitable for temporary testing, but the stability of free nodes is affected by routes, user load, and time of day, so it is recommended that you first learn how to import and troubleshoot them correctly.
2. Basic steps for using Shadowrocket
- Install the client: Prepare Shadowrocket on your iOS device. When you open it for the first time, allow it to add a VPN configuration; otherwise, it will not be able to take over network traffic.
- Import nodes: If you have a subscription link, tap the “+” in the upper-right corner, choose “Subscribe/Subscription,” paste the link, and save it. If you have a single node link, you can copy it and then open Shadowrocket, which will usually recognize and import it automatically.
- Select a proxy mode: Beginners are advised to use one of the common rule-based modes under “Configuration,” so domestic websites connect directly while overseas websites go through the proxy, avoiding unnecessary detours for all traffic.
- Enable the connection: Return to the home screen, select a node, and turn on the switch at the top. Once the system shows the VPN icon, it means the proxy has taken over the traffic.
- Test access: Open a browser and visit a website that requires the proxy. If it does not open, first switch to another node, then check whether the subscription has expired or whether the node format is incorrect.
3. How IP, DNS, and the browser environment relate to each other
Many people assume that once Shadowrocket is connected, everything is automatically safe, but there are actually three things to check: IP, DNS, and the browser environment. IP determines the exit location seen by websites; DNS determines whether domain name resolution requests also go through the proxy; and the browser environment includes information such as language, time zone, cache, cookies, and WebRTC.
The correct state is usually this: when you visit an IP checking website, the displayed region should roughly match the node you selected; DNS test results should not show a large number of local ISP entries; and if your browser language and time zone remain inconsistent with the proxy region for a long time, some websites may trigger risk controls. Ordinary users do not need to overcomplicate things, but if you log in to overseas accounts, it is recommended to use an incognito window, clear cookies when necessary, and disable browser settings related to WebRTC leaks.
4. Common troubleshooting steps for connection failures
- If a node shows a timeout: switch to another node, or update the subscription and try again.
- If it says connected but webpages will not open: check whether the current rules are blocking traffic by mistake, and temporarily switch to global proxy mode for testing.
- If only some apps work: confirm that Shadowrocket has VPN permission enabled and that the VPN indicator appears at the top of the system interface.
- If the IP has changed but DNS is abnormal: enable remote DNS in the Shadowrocket configuration or choose a reliable rule configuration.
- If the subscription cannot be updated: make sure the link is complete, contains no extra spaces, and try switching network environments.
In summary, the core workflow of using Shadowrocket is: prepare nodes or a subscription, import them, choose rules, enable the connection, and check your IP/DNS/browser environment. Beginners should not rely only on whether the VPN icon appears; it is best to complete a full check once so that when access fails, you can quickly identify the problem.