This guide answers the question “How do I use Shadowrocket?” From installation and importing nodes to enabling the proxy and checking whether your IP, DNS, and browser environment are consistent, it helps everyday users quickly tell whether they’re connected successfully.
1. Get started: installation and permissions
Shadowrocket, often called “小火箭” (Little Rocket), is primarily used on iPhone and iPad to import proxy nodes such as V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, and Shadowsocks. When you first open the app after installing it, you’ll usually be prompted to add a VPN configuration. Allow this; otherwise, even a valid node won’t be able to handle your system’s network traffic.
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home screen.
- If your device prompts you to add a VPN configuration, tap Allow and enter your passcode to confirm.
- Make sure your phone has a working internet connection. You can test it by opening a regular webpage in your browser.
- Prepare a node link or subscription URL. You can use your own service or check out the free nodes listed on this site.
2. Import a node or subscription URL
Shadowrocket supports importing individual nodes as well as subscriptions. Subscriptions are generally more convenient for beginners because they make it easier to update nodes later.
- Import a single node: Copy a link starting with vmess://, vless://, trojan://, or ss://, then open Shadowrocket. The app will usually recognize it automatically. Alternatively, tap “+” in the top-right corner, select the appropriate type, and paste the link manually.
- Import a subscription: Tap “+” in the top-right corner, select Subscribe, paste the subscription URL into the address field, and save it. Then tap Update.
- After importing, select a node from the list, return to the home screen, and turn on the switch at the top.
If you have several nodes, start by testing one with a low latency and a clear name. Free nodes may stop working or become congested. If you can’t connect, try another node before assuming there’s a problem with the app.
3. Check that it’s working: IP, DNS, and browser environment
A successful connection doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is configured consistently. Check the following in order:
- Visit an IP lookup website and check whether the country or region shown matches the node’s location.
- Test for DNS leaks and check whether the DNS results are consistent with the proxy’s region. If your local ISP’s DNS still appears, enable remote DNS in Shadowrocket’s configuration or change your rules.
- Visit the target website in your browser. If your IP has changed but the site still doesn’t work properly, clear your browser cache, disable location access, or try an incognito window.
In simple terms, your IP determines “where” you’re connecting from, DNS determines “who” resolves domain names, and your browser environment also includes information such as language, time zone, cache, and location. For ordinary browsing, there’s no need to overcomplicate things, but these three areas are key when troubleshooting.
4. Common connection problems
- Node times out: Switch to another node or update the subscription and try again.
- Connected, but webpages won’t open: Check your rule mode and switch to Global Proxy to test.
- Subscription update fails: Make sure the subscription link is complete, then turn off the proxy and try updating again.
- Some apps aren’t proxied: Check whether a rule is sending their traffic directly. Try Global mode temporarily.
- Frequent disconnections: Switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data, or restart Shadowrocket and the system VPN.
For everyday use, update your subscription regularly and replace nodes as soon as they stop working. When you run into problems, troubleshoot in this order: switch nodes, enable Global mode, check your IP, and check your DNS. This should help you figure out whether the issue is with the node, the rules, DNS, or your browser environment.