This guide answers the beginner’s question, “How do I use Shadowrocket?” It covers installing the app on an iPhone, importing nodes, and turning on the connection, and explains why your IP, DNS, and browser settings can affect the results. A lit connection switch does not mean all traffic is going through the proxy. Follow the steps below to more easily identify issues such as websites not loading or the apparent exit location being incorrect.
1. What to prepare before installing
Shadowrocket is a proxy client for iOS. The client itself is not a node service. Check the app name and developer information in the App Store. Availability and pricing depend on what the store displays. Do not install configuration profiles from unknown sources or software bundled with shared accounts.
You’ll also need a working node link, QR code, or subscription URL. Nodes determine whether a connection can be established, while subscriptions make it easier to import and update multiple nodes. The free nodes provided on this site can be used for testing, but availability may change, so they should not be your only connection method for important work.
2. Import nodes and turn on the connection
- Copy a node link or subscription URL, then open Shadowrocket. If prompted to access the clipboard, allow it only if you trust the content.
- Tap “+” in the upper-right corner of the home screen. For a single node, import it from a link or scan a QR code. For a subscription URL, select “Subscribe” in the type menu, paste the URL into the corresponding field, and save. Menu names may vary by version.
- Return to the home screen and check that the node appears in the list. If the subscription has not loaded, update it. Do not use the URL of a subscription webpage’s introductory page as the subscription link.
- Select a node and run a connectivity test first. Treat the result as a guide, and confirm by visiting an actual website.
- Turn on the connection switch on the home screen. The first time you connect, follow the system prompt to allow a VPN configuration to be added, then complete device verification. Do not agree to install additional root certificates.
- Open a browser and test the site you want to visit. For everyday use, you can select “Config” mode to route traffic according to rules. For troubleshooting, temporarily switch to “Proxy” mode to check whether a routing rule is the cause, then switch back when you’re done.
A subscription URL is an access credential, so don’t share screenshots of it or post it in a group chat. If all your nodes suddenly stop working, update the subscription first, then check whether the provider has discontinued it.
3. How IP, DNS, and your browser are related
Your IP is the network exit point that websites see. When you use rule-based routing, some sites connect directly while others go through the proxy, so different IP-checking sites may show different IPs. The fact that your local Wi-Fi address hasn’t changed does not mean the proxy isn’t working.
DNS translates domain names into IP addresses. A website may fail to load because of a DNS resolution problem, but a changed exit IP does not prove that DNS is also going through the proxy. Prefer client configurations from trusted sources, and avoid changing your system DNS, client DNS, and routing rules all at once. Change one setting at a time so you can revert it easily.
Your browser also retains cookies, login sessions, and location permissions. Changing your exit IP does not automatically clear your browser identity, so a site may still show local content based on your account’s region or location data. Compare results in a private browsing window and check the site’s location permissions, but remember that private browsing does not make you anonymous.
4. Troubleshoot connection failures in order
- Turn off the proxy and confirm that your Wi-Fi or cellular connection works on its own.
- Update the subscription, try another node, and check that your device’s date and time are set automatically.
- Temporarily disable any other VPNs or network filtering tools to avoid conflicts.
- If only certain websites have problems, check your routing rules, DNS, and browser cache. Avoid repeatedly reinstalling the client.
When asking someone for help, you can share the client version, error message, and steps you’ve already tried, but hide your subscription URL, password, and node credentials. Follow the laws in your location and the service’s terms of use.