This article addresses the practical question, “How do I use Shadowrocket?” After installing it on an iPhone or iPad, learn how to import nodes or subscriptions, enable the proxy, and understand how IP addresses, DNS, and your browser environment relate to one another. This can help you avoid common issues such as connecting successfully but being unable to open webpages, inconsistent IP addresses, and DNS leaks.
1. Basic steps for using Shadowrocket
Shadowrocket is commonly called “Little Rocket” by users. It is primarily used to connect iOS devices to proxy nodes that use protocols such as V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, and Shadowsocks. Shadowrocket is just a client; whether you can connect depends on the availability of the nodes or subscription you import. This site compiles information about some free nodes for temporary testing, but for reliable use, we recommend having several backup nodes ready.
- Open Shadowrocket, go to the home screen, and tap “+” in the top-right corner.
- If you have a subscription link, select “Subscribe/Subscription,” paste the link, and save it. If you have a link for a single node, copy it and return to Shadowrocket; it will usually recognize and import it automatically.
- After importing, tap the node name and confirm that details such as the protocol, address, and port are displayed.
- Return to the home screen, select a node, and turn on the connection switch at the top.
- The first time you connect, iOS will prompt you to add a VPN configuration. Tap Allow and enter your device passcode.
Once connected, a VPN icon will usually appear in the iOS status bar. Open a browser and visit an IP lookup site to check whether your current public IP address has changed.
2. What IP, DNS, and your browser environment affect
IP is the public network address that websites see. After you connect through Shadowrocket, websites will typically see the node server’s IP address if your rules route their traffic through the proxy. If some websites are set to connect directly, they may still see your local carrier’s IP address.
DNS translates domain names into IP addresses. Some connection problems are caused not by a faulty node, but by DNS resolution issues. For example, you may be able to open an IP address but not a domain name, or some websites may redirect you to a page for the wrong region. Shadowrocket lets you configure DNS, but most users should start with the default or a public DNS provider and avoid changing settings at random.
Your browser environment includes settings and data such as language, time zone, cache, cookies, and WebRTC. Even if your proxy IP has changed, websites may use your browser’s login history, location permissions, or language settings to determine your environment. When testing, use a private browsing window or clear the target website’s cache before visiting it again.
3. Recommended basic settings
- Start with “Configuration” or “Rule” mode rather than routing all traffic through the proxy.
- If a foreign website won’t open, temporarily switch to Global mode to check whether your rules are failing to match.
- Node latency does not guarantee that the node will work as expected. A node with low latency may still be unable to access the website you want.
- After updating your subscription, select a node again before connecting to avoid continuing to use an outdated node that no longer works.
For beginners, the most important thing is to check three things first: whether the node is working, whether traffic to the target website is routed through the proxy, and whether DNS is working properly. Avoid changing too many settings at once, or troubleshooting will become more complicated.
4. How to troubleshoot connection failures
If Shadowrocket shows a connection failure, first try another node. If all nodes fail, check whether your subscription has expired, whether your network is working, and whether VPN access is disabled in your system settings. If it shows that you’re connected but webpages won’t open, try disconnecting and reconnecting, switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data, updating your subscription, or temporarily switching to Global mode.
If your IP address has changed but a website still says you’re in the wrong region, the cause may be your browser cache, account region, DNS, or the node’s exit IP being detected. Try clearing your cookies, using a different browser in private mode, or switching to a node in another region. Remember: Shadowrocket handles proxy connections; it does not change your account details or determine how a website’s fraud-prevention systems respond.
In summary, using Shadowrocket is straightforward: import a subscription, select a node, connect, check your IP, and then troubleshoot DNS and your browser environment as needed. Once you understand these basics, you can more quickly pinpoint problems whether you’re using free nodes or your own subscription.