This guide walks you through importing a subscription into Shadowrocket: get the subscription link, add it to the app, test the connection, and check your IP, DNS, and browser settings if websites won’t load. Follow the steps to complete the setup.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription
Shadowrocket is an iOS app. Before importing a subscription, make sure you have a working subscription link. These links commonly start with https://, though Shadowrocket may also recognize individual node links when you copy them. This site provides guides to free nodes and subscriptions, but the reliability of free nodes depends on the connection, the number of users, and your network environment, so it’s a good idea to have a few alternatives ready.
- Make sure Shadowrocket is installed on your phone and is allowed to add VPN configurations.
- Copy the entire subscription link without omitting any parameters or adding spaces.
- Make sure your current network can access the subscription URL. Try both Wi-Fi and cellular data.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home screen.
- Tap “+” in the upper-right corner, then select Subscribe/订阅 as the type.
- Paste the subscription link into the URL field. You can enter “Free Nodes” or a custom name in the remarks field.
- Tap Save. Return to the home screen and pull down to refresh, then wait for the node list to appear.
- Select a node and turn on the connection switch at the top. The first time you connect, follow the prompt to allow Shadowrocket to add a VPN configuration.
- Once connected, open a browser and visit a test site to check whether the page loads correctly.
If your subscription consists of a single vmess, vless, trojan, or ss link, you can also tap “+” and select the corresponding type, or copy the link and let Shadowrocket recognize and import it automatically.
3. How IP, DNS, and browser settings are related
Importing a subscription successfully doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to open every website. Your exit IP, DNS resolution, and browser cache also matter. When you connect, websites see the node’s exit IP. If that IP is restricted, flagged by a risk-control system, or poor quality, you may encounter CAPTCHA challenges, be unable to log in, or find that a site won’t load. DNS translates domain names into addresses, so DNS issues can cause a connection to succeed while webpages fail to load.
Your browser settings can also affect the results. For example, the browser cache, cookies, extensions, WebRTC leaks, or previously saved region settings may cause a website to flag your activity. If you run into problems, try visiting the site in a private window or using Safari/Chrome to rule out browser-related issues.
4. Troubleshooting checklist
- Subscription won’t update: Check whether the link has expired and whether you copied it in full. Switch networks and try refreshing again.
- Can’t connect to a node: Try another node in the same subscription, or turn the VPN configuration off and back on.
- Connected, but webpages won’t load: Change the DNS settings in Shadowrocket, or restart your browser and clear its cache.
- Some apps work, but others don’t: Check the rule mode. Temporarily switch to Global Proxy to test, then switch back to Rules.
Beginners are advised to use Rules mode for everyday browsing. When troubleshooting, temporarily switch to Global Proxy to see whether the issue is caused by the rules. If multiple nodes fail, update the subscription first, restart your network, and then try a different subscription source.