This article explains how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket (小火箭) and why the same subscription might fail to update, show an empty node list, or fail to connect under different IP, DNS, or browser conditions. It’s intended for iPhone and iPad users who have already installed Shadowrocket and want to troubleshoot step by step.
1. Basic steps for importing a subscription into Shadowrocket
Shadowrocket is an iOS proxy client. Subscription links typically contain multiple V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, or Shadowsocks nodes. Before importing, make sure the subscription address is a complete URL with no extra spaces.
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home screen.
- Tap the “+” in the top-right corner and set “Type” to Subscribe or “Subscription.”
- Paste the subscription link into the URL field. For the remark, enter “freevpn-x” or a name of your choice.
- Tap “Done” to save, then return to the home screen and pull down to refresh the subscription.
- After refreshing, select a node and turn on the connection switch at the top. The first time you connect, follow the prompts to allow Shadowrocket to add a VPN configuration.
If you copied the subscription from the free nodes page on this site, we recommend opening the page in Safari and copying the link there. Some in-app browsers may truncate it. After a successful import, you should see multiple servers in the node list. If the list is blank, first check whether the link has expired and whether your network can reach the subscription address.
2. How your IP, DNS, and browser environment affect subscription imports
Many people assume importing a subscription is just a matter of copying and pasting. In fact, Shadowrocket needs to access the subscription server when it refreshes the subscription. That means your current IP network environment, DNS resolution, and the way you copy the link in your browser can all affect the result.
- IP address: Some network environments may not be able to reach the subscription domain. Try switching to mobile data or home Wi-Fi, or temporarily disabling your proxy before refreshing; the result may vary.
- DNS: DNS translates domain names into IP addresses. If DNS is being interfered with or resolution fails, Shadowrocket may report an update failure or timeout. Try switching to a trusted DNS server in your iOS Wi-Fi settings, or restart your network and try again.
- Browser: When copying a link in WeChat, QQ, or some third-party browsers, parameters may be omitted or characters may be automatically escaped. Use Safari to copy the complete subscription address whenever possible.
- System environment: Connection instability may also result if iOS VPN permissions have not been granted, the system time is inaccurate, or Low Power Mode is restricting background network activity.
3. Common error messages and how to fix them
If you can’t use Shadowrocket after importing a subscription, try the following steps in order. Don’t start by repeatedly deleting the app.
- “Unable to update subscription”: Open the subscription link directly in Safari and see if it displays a block of node text. If it doesn’t open, there may be a problem with the subscription address or network access.
- Empty node list: Make sure the subscription link contains no line breaks, spaces, or Chinese punctuation. Copy the complete address again and re-import it.
- Imported successfully, but can’t connect: Try a different node and check that Shadowrocket has permission to use a VPN.
- Web pages still won’t open in the browser: Check that “Global Routing/Configuration” is set correctly in Shadowrocket. Most users can start with Proxy or Rule mode; avoid changing complex rules without a reason.
- Only some websites are having problems: This may be due to DNS or rule matching. Try switching nodes, refreshing the rules, or restarting your phone’s network connection.
4. Practical tips
A subscription isn’t a permanently reliable “switch,” and free nodes may stop working because of network issues, maintenance, or changes in the number of users. We recommend keeping 2–3 working subscription sources and checking that your network is working before refreshing. When something goes wrong, first determine whether the subscription link won’t open, the node won’t connect, or the browser can’t access websites. This will help you troubleshoot faster.
In summary, importing a subscription into Shadowrocket involves adding a Subscribe entry, pasting the URL, refreshing, selecting a node, and enabling the VPN. Your IP, DNS, and browser environment can affect whether the subscription downloads and connects correctly. Follow the steps in this article to identify the cause of most import failures.