This article addresses the practical question of how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket (“小火箭”) on an iPhone or iPad, and explains why your IP, DNS, and browser environment can affect the results you see after connecting. It’s intended for everyday users who already have a subscription URL, a free node link from this site, or a node subscription obtained elsewhere.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription
Shadowrocket is a popular proxy client for iOS. Before importing a subscription, make sure the app is installed, the subscription URL is ready to copy, and your network can open webpages normally. A subscription is usually a URL beginning with https://, though the app may also recognize a link automatically when you copy it. Don’t confuse a link to a single node with a subscription URL: subscriptions usually include multiple nodes and can be updated.
- Subscription URL: Copy the full URL from your service provider or a free-node page.
- System permissions: The first time you connect, iOS will ask to add a VPN configuration. You’ll need to enter your passcode or authenticate.
- Time settings: Turn on “Set Automatically.” An incorrect time can cause TLS connection errors.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket, then tap “+” in the upper-right corner of the home screen.
- Select “Subscribe” or “订阅” as the type. Enter any name you like, such as “freevpn nodes.”
- Paste the copied subscription URL into the URL field. Leave the other options at their defaults.
- Tap “Done” in the upper-right corner to save. Back on the home screen, pull down to refresh or tap the subscription update button.
- When the node list appears, select a node and turn on the connection switch at the top.
- The first time you connect, follow the prompts to allow a VPN configuration. When the VPN icon appears in the status bar, the app is routing your traffic.
If you copied a free node or subscription from this site, copy the entire URL and avoid pasting it into a chat app that might truncate it. If the list is empty after importing, try updating the subscription first, then check whether the URL has expired.
3. How IP, DNS, and your browser environment are related
After importing successfully, some users still feel that “nothing has changed.” In most cases, you’ll need to check your IP, DNS, and browser environment separately. When Shadowrocket is connected, the public IP shown by websites should match the network exit IP of the selected node. If it hasn’t changed, the proxy may be off, the rules may not match, or the app you’re using may not be routed through the proxy.
DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses. If DNS requests are still handled by your local carrier, you may encounter DNS tampering, resolution to the wrong region, or websites that won’t load. In Shadowrocket, you can use remote DNS based on your subscription’s rules or global configuration. However, if you’re an everyday user, avoid changing advanced settings without a reason; use the default or subscription-provided configuration first.
Your browser environment includes cookies, cache, language, time zone, WebRTC, and more. Even if your IP has changed, websites may still infer your region from your login history, cache, or browser fingerprint. When testing, use a private window or try another browser to visit an IP lookup page, so old cached data doesn’t affect the results.
4. Troubleshooting connection failures and invalid subscriptions
- Subscription update fails: Check that the URL is complete and whether you need to connect through a proxy to access it. Try again on Wi-Fi or cellular data.
- A node imports but won’t connect: Try another node to check whether the issue is limited to one temporarily unavailable node.
- Webpages won’t open after connecting: Switch from “Config/Rule” mode to Global mode to test whether the rules are causing the problem.
- Your IP hasn’t changed: Make sure the switch at the top is on and that iOS Settings shows the VPN as connected.
- Some websites behave strangely: Clear your browser cache, disable options related to WebRTC leaks, or test again in a private window.
In short, importing a subscription into Shadowrocket comes down to adding the subscription URL, updating the list, selecting a node, and connecting. Once connected, use an IP lookup, a DNS test, and a private browsing window to confirm that everything is consistent. If you run into problems, avoid changing settings at random. Work through the checks above one by one; the issue usually comes down to the subscription, node, rules, or browser cache.