This guide addresses the practical question “How do I use Shadowrocket?” It walks you through installation, importing nodes, connecting, and understanding how your IP, DNS, and browser environment can affect what you see online. It’s designed for first-time Shadowrocket users on iPhone or iPad to follow step by step.
1. Getting ready and importing nodes
Shadowrocket is commonly known as “Little Rocket” and is mainly used to manage proxy nodes and subscriptions on iOS devices. Before you begin, you’ll need two things: the Shadowrocket app installed and a working node or subscription link. We share some free node resources on this site, but free nodes can be unreliable, so it’s a good idea to have a few alternatives ready.
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home screen.
- Tap “+” in the upper-right corner. For a single node, select the relevant protocol, such as V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, or Shadowsocks, then enter the server, port, UUID/password, and other details.
- If you have a subscription link, set the “Type” to Subscribe, or paste the link in the configuration/subscription section.
- After saving, return to the home screen and tap to update the subscription. Wait for the node list to refresh.
- Select a node and turn on the switch at the top. The first time you connect, follow the prompt to allow Shadowrocket to add a VPN configuration.
Once connected, a VPN indicator will usually appear at the top of your iOS screen. Try opening a familiar website in your browser to test the connection. Don’t run another VPN or proxy app at the same time, as this can cause conflicts.
2. Choosing a Shadowrocket routing mode
Shadowrocket isn’t just an on/off VPN. It also supports rule-based routing. Common modes include Global Proxy, Config, and Direct. For everyday use, most people should choose Config mode, which lets domestic websites connect directly while routing sites that need a proxy through a node. This usually offers better speed and compatibility.
- Global Proxy: Routes all traffic through the node. Useful for troubleshooting, but it may affect access to domestic apps.
- Config mode: Automatically routes traffic according to rules and is suitable for everyday use.
- Direct mode: Bypasses the proxy. Use it when you want to temporarily turn off proxying without removing your configuration.
If an app won’t connect, temporarily switch to Global Proxy to test it. If it works in Global Proxy but not in Config mode, the routing rules probably aren’t matching. Try updating the rules or switching to a more complete configuration file.
3. How your IP, DNS, and browser environment are related
Many people assume that connecting through Shadowrocket automatically makes their online environment consistent, but that’s not always the case. When you visit a website, it may consider your public IP address, DNS resolution, browser language, time zone, cookies, WebRTC, and other information.
IP determines the approximate network location you appear to be connecting from. DNS determines how domain names are resolved. If your DNS leaks, for example, your IP may appear to be overseas while your DNS requests still go through a local ISP. Your browser environment includes settings and data such as language, cache, and account sign-in history. If a webpage still shows your old region after you switch nodes, clear your browser cache or try an incognito window.
In Shadowrocket, you can check the DNS settings in your configuration. Most users don’t need to tweak advanced settings. Just make sure you’re using a commonly used public DNS or the DNS provided by your rule configuration, and avoid having multiple proxy tools change DNS settings at the same time. If a website won’t load, try switching nodes, updating your subscription, restarting Shadowrocket, and reopening the page.
4. Quick troubleshooting for connection failures
- Check that the node details were copied correctly, especially the port, UUID, encryption method, and transport method.
- After importing a subscription, update it manually instead of relying on a cached version.
- Try another network, such as switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data.
- Close other VPNs, accelerators, and network tools that use enterprise certificates.
- If you can connect but websites won’t load, check the routing mode and DNS first.
If multiple nodes fail, the subscription may have expired, the client’s rules may be misconfigured, or the current network may be restricting access. Keep a working configuration, update your subscription regularly, and change only one setting at a time while troubleshooting so you can pinpoint the problem.