How do you import a subscription into Shadowrocket? Using Shadowrocket on iPhone as an example, this article explains how to add and update a subscription link, connect to a node, and why your IP, DNS, and browser environment can affect the results. If no nodes appear after importing, or you connect successfully but can’t open webpages, follow the troubleshooting steps below.
1. What to prepare before importing
First, make sure you installed Shadowrocket through the official App Store. The app commonly referred to as “小火箭” (“Little Rocket”) is Shadowrocket. You’ll need the subscription URL provided by your service provider, and you should confirm that it supports Shadowrocket or a compatible node format. An article URL or the login page for a user portal may not be a subscription URL.
A subscription link may contain an access token, so protect it like a password. Don’t post it in public group chats or submit it to unfamiliar online conversion sites. If you’re using free nodes shared on this site, check the relevant page for format notes and validity information. Node availability can change, and a successful import doesn’t guarantee that a node will connect.
2. Add a subscription to Shadowrocket
- Copy the entire subscription URL, making sure it doesn’t include any leading or trailing spaces, line breaks, or Chinese punctuation.
- Open Shadowrocket, tap “+” in the top-right corner of the home screen, and go to the add screen.
- Under “Type,” select “Subscribe” or “Subscription,” paste the link into the URL field, and enter a label to help you identify it.
- Tap Save in the top-right corner, return to the home screen, and wait for the app to retrieve the subscription. Menu names may vary slightly between versions.
- Expand the subscription group and check that nodes have appeared. If they haven’t loaded automatically, look for an update option in the subscription’s action menu and update it manually.
- Select a node and turn on the connection switch on the home screen. The first time you connect, follow the iOS prompt to allow a VPN configuration to be added, then test the connection by opening a webpage in your browser.
A subscription is an update link for a group of nodes, not a single node. When the nodes change, you can usually update the existing subscription instead of adding it again. If the provider supplies a single-node link or QR code, use the corresponding import method rather than treating it as a subscription.
3. How to troubleshoot import or connection issues
- Invalid URL message: Copy the link again and check that no parameters are missing and that you haven’t mistaken a sharing page for a subscription URL.
- No nodes appear after updating: Check that the subscription hasn’t expired, that its format is supported, and that your current network can reach the subscription server. Contact the provider if needed.
- Node times out: Update the subscription, then try another node. You can also test on both Wi-Fi and cellular data to rule out local network issues.
- Connected, but webpages won’t open: Check the selected node and routing mode. Temporarily turn off other VPNs or similar network tools to prevent interference.
Change one setting at a time while troubleshooting, and note its original value. Don’t delete all your configurations because of a single failed attempt, and don’t install unfamiliar configuration profiles or certificates.
4. How IP, DNS, and your browser environment are related
Importing a subscription only saves connection information in the app. After you connect, the IP address a website sees depends on whether your traffic is routed through a proxy and on the node’s exit point. In rule mode, some traffic may connect directly, so different websites may report different IP addresses.
DNS translates domain names into IP addresses. If IP checks look normal but some domains won’t open, DNS or routing rules may be involved. Check the relevant client settings first, and don’t copy settings from unknown sources. Your browser’s cookies, login status, location permissions, and cache can also affect how webpages appear. Switching nodes won’t automatically clear this information.
Changing your exit IP doesn’t make you completely anonymous or guarantee that a website’s regional restrictions will be lifted. To test, try a private browsing window to reduce interference from old cookies, then compare an IP check with the actual webpage. Private browsing doesn’t change your IP or fix a non-working node.