This article addresses the core question of “how to use Shadowrocket”: how to import nodes or subscriptions on an iPhone/iPad, enable the proxy, and understand the relationship between IP, DNS, and the browser environment, so you can avoid situations where it appears connected but webpages still won’t load, the IP looks abnormal, or DNS leaks occur.
1. Basic steps for using Shadowrocket
Shadowrocket is commonly referred to by users as “Little Rocket” and is mainly used on iOS devices to import nodes such as V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, and Shadowsocks. Before using it, prepare a working node link or subscription URL. This site also compiles free nodes for testing, but the stability of free nodes may change over time, so it is recommended to update before connecting.
- Open Shadowrocket and tap the “+” in the upper right corner.
- If you have a single node link, you can copy it and return to the app, which will usually recognize it automatically; you can also manually choose the type and fill in the server, port, UUID, encryption method, and other information.
- If you have a subscription URL, choose the “type” as Subscribe/Subscription, paste the subscription link, and save it.
- Return to the home page, select a node, and turn on the switch at the top.
- On the first connection, you will be prompted to add a VPN configuration. Tap Allow, then enter your password or use Face ID as required by the system.
After a successful connection, a VPN indicator will appear in the status bar. At this point, it is recommended to open an IP lookup website to check whether the exit IP has changed and confirm that the proxy is working.
2. What is the relationship between IP, DNS, and the browser environment
IP is the outgoing address a website sees when you visit it. After enabling Shadowrocket, under normal circumstances the website sees the node server’s IP rather than your local ISP IP. If the IP has not changed, the node may not be enabled, the rules may not have matched, or the system VPN may not actually be turned on.
DNS is responsible for resolving domain names into IP addresses. Some users encounter situations like “Telegram works but webpages won’t open” or “certain websites redirect to local pages,” which are often related to DNS resolution. In Shadowrocket, you can configure DNS in the settings. A common approach is to use remote DNS or follow the configuration rules to avoid pollution or leaks caused by local DNS.
The browser environment includes cache, cookies, language, time zone, WebRTC, and more. Even if the proxy IP has changed, the browser may still expose some environmental information through old cookies, account login records, or WebRTC. Therefore, when testing, you can use an incognito window or clear the target website’s cache before visiting again.
3. Recommended basic settings
- Global proxy: All traffic goes through the node. This is suitable for testing whether a node is usable, but it consumes more data.
- Rule-based proxy: Domestic websites connect directly, while foreign websites go through the proxy, making it more convenient for daily use.
- Update subscriptions: Free nodes or shared nodes often become invalid, so it is recommended to manually update subscriptions before each use.
- Latency test: Run a speed/latency test in the node list and prioritize nodes with lower latency that can open webpages normally.
Beginners are advised to first use “Global” mode to confirm that the node is reachable, then switch to “Rule” mode for long-term use. If the rules are outdated, you can update the configuration file or switch to another subscription source.
4. Troubleshooting connection failures
If Shadowrocket shows as connected but you still cannot access the internet, check in this order: first, confirm that the phone’s network itself is working by turning off VPN and testing access to domestic websites; second, update the subscription and switch to another node; third, check whether the system time is accurate, since an incorrect time can cause TLS connection failures; fourth, try switching to global mode to rule out a problem with the rules; fifth, restart Shadowrocket or re-allow the VPN configuration.
If only one specific website will not open, first consider DNS, browser cache, or whether that node IP has been restricted by the target website. You can switch nodes, clear the browser cache, or test again using incognito mode. If multiple nodes cannot connect, the subscription may have expired or the current network may be restricting proxy connections, in which case you need to try again in a different network environment.
In summary, the key to using Shadowrocket is not just tapping “Connect,” but making sure the node, rules, DNS, and browser environment are all functioning properly. By following the steps in this article, ordinary users can generally complete importing, connecting, testing, and troubleshooting common issues.