This article addresses the practical question, “How do I import a subscription into Shadowrocket?” It explains how to add and update a subscription and connect to a node in Shadowrocket on iPhone or iPad, and why the IP, DNS, and browser environment you see after connecting can affect what you can access and what detection pages display.
1. Getting ready to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
Before importing, make sure Shadowrocket is installed and that you have a working subscription link. A subscription is usually a URL beginning with https:// that provides nodes such as V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, and Shadowsocks in bulk. You can use a subscription you already have or look for free nodes on this site to test. Free nodes can be unreliable, so it’s a good idea to have a few alternatives ready.
- Copy the subscription link, making sure not to include extra spaces or line breaks.
- Open Shadowrocket and tap “+” in the upper-right corner of the home screen.
- Select “Subscribe” as the type.
- Paste the subscription link into the URL field. For the remarks, enter “freevpn” or a name of your choice.
- Tap Done. Then return to the home screen and pull down to refresh the subscription.
- Select a node and turn on the connection switch at the top. When prompted, allow Shadowrocket to add a VPN configuration.
If the list is empty after importing, your phone is usually not the problem. The subscription link may have expired, your network may be unable to reach the subscription URL, or the client may not support the subscription format. Try opening the link in a browser first to see whether it returns any content.
2. What your IP, DNS, and browser environment mean after connecting
After importing a subscription, many users visit detection sites to check their IP, DNS, WebRTC, and browser fingerprint. It helps to distinguish between a few things: IP usually refers to the public address a website sees when you connect; DNS refers to the servers used to resolve domain names; and your browser environment includes information such as your language, time zone, operating system, User-Agent, and WebRTC settings.
After you connect to a node in Shadowrocket, websites should normally see the node’s public exit IP. But if DNS requests aren’t routed through the proxy, you may see a mismatch—for example, an overseas IP but DNS servers that still belong to your local provider. Your browser environment may not change when you connect to a VPN. For instance, your system language may remain Chinese and your time zone may remain set to Beijing time; these details come from your device or browser.
3. Recommended Shadowrocket settings and workflow
- After importing the subscription, tap “Update” and confirm that the node names appear correctly.
- Start with a node that has low latency and was recently confirmed to be working. Don’t choose based on its listed location alone.
- For general use, try “Config” or “Proxy” under Global Routing to avoid conflicts between rules.
- If something isn’t working, switch nodes, refresh the subscription, or restart Shadowrocket and try again.
If you only want to browse certain websites more smoothly, you usually don’t need to change advanced settings. Keeping your subscription up to date, choosing a working node, and avoiding an overly complicated mix of rules matter more than changing settings at random.
4. Troubleshooting subscription import and connection failures
If you run into a problem, check the following in order: First, make sure the subscription link is complete and hasn’t expired. Second, check whether your current network can open the subscription URL. Third, confirm that Shadowrocket has permission to add a VPN configuration. Fourth, the node may be temporarily rate-limited or unavailable. Fifth, make sure your device’s date and time are correct. If only one website won’t load, the cause may be a routing rule, DNS, or a restriction imposed by the site—not a failed subscription import.
After connecting, open an IP-checking page to confirm that your exit IP has changed, then test for DNS leaks. If your IP hasn’t changed, the proxy isn’t actually handling your traffic. If your IP has changed but DNS looks wrong, try changing Shadowrocket’s DNS settings or switching nodes. In short, importing a subscription is only the first step; you also need a working node, suitable routing rules, and a browser environment that meets your needs.