This article explains how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket. Follow the steps to add a subscription on your iPhone, update nodes, and test your connection. It also explains how IP addresses, DNS, and your browser environment can affect the results. Button names may vary slightly between versions; use the labels shown in your app.
1. Before importing: Check the app and subscription link
First, get the official Shadowrocket app from the App Store, then make sure it’s installed and opens normally. Shadowrocket is a proxy client, not a node service. Whether it costs money or is available to download depends on your App Store region. You’ll also need a subscription URL from your service provider, usually a complete link that begins with https://.
A subscription link is not a node name or the provider’s homepage URL. When copying it, make sure you don’t include spaces, quotation marks, or explanatory text. The link may contain an authentication token, so don’t post it in group chats or include it in public screenshots. Check the source of free subscriptions and confirm that they’re compatible with your client. Avoid configurations from unknown sources.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home screen. Tap “+” in the upper-right corner to open the add screen.
- Tap “Type” and select “Subscribe.” If you don’t see this option, check that you’re on the add-node screen and confirm your app version.
- Paste the complete subscription URL into “URL.” You can enter a recognizable name in “Remark,” such as “Everyday subscription.” Leave the other options at their defaults unless you’ve been told to change them.
- Tap Save in the upper-right corner and return to the home screen. Wait for the nodes to load. If you see a subscription group but no nodes, try updating the subscription.
- Expand the subscription group and select a node. Under “Global Routing,” select “Config” mode for now. If this is your first time using the app, you can keep its default configuration.
- Turn on the connection switch on the home screen. The first time you connect, iOS will ask to add a VPN configuration. Check the app name, allow the request, and follow the system prompts to authenticate.
Seeing nodes in the list only means the subscription was read; it doesn’t guarantee that the connection will work. After connecting, test with a website you use regularly and switch to another node if needed. Latency tests are only a guide and can’t, on their own, confirm that websites, videos, or specific apps will work properly.
3. Updating a subscription and troubleshooting import failures
Nodes can expire or change, so update your subscription if you haven’t used it in a while. The update option is usually in the action menu for the subscription group; the exact gesture varies by version. If the update fails, first confirm that your phone can access the internet, then check that the link is complete and hasn’t expired, and ask your provider whether the URL has changed.
If you see a parsing error, the subscription format may be incompatible, or the link may be returning a login or error page instead of node data. Ask your provider for a subscription compatible with Shadowrocket. Repeatedly deleting and reinstalling the app is unlikely to help. If the subscription URL can’t be reached on your current network, try testing it on another trusted network.
4. How IP addresses, DNS, and your browser environment are related
Importing a subscription doesn’t automatically give every app the same public IP address. In Config mode, some traffic may connect directly while other traffic goes through the proxy, so different websites may show different IP addresses. To troubleshoot, you can briefly switch to “Proxy” mode and compare the results, then restore your usual routing configuration.
DNS resolves domain names. If you can connect to a node but a webpage says the server can’t be found, the issue may involve DNS, routing rules, or your network. Try another node and restore a configuration you know works. Don’t copy DNS settings from unfamiliar sources. Browser cache, cookies, location permissions, and account region can also affect what you see. Changing your IP address doesn’t completely change your browser identity. You can compare results in a private browsing window, but it won’t resolve every network or account restriction.