This article explains how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket. Follow the steps in order: get the subscription link, add the subscription, select a node, and verify the connection. It also explains the difference between your IP, DNS, and browser environment. These instructions apply to Shadowrocket on iPhone and iPad. Button names may vary slightly between versions, so refer to the interface on your device.
1. Before you import: make sure you have a subscription link
First, install the official version of Shadowrocket from the App Store. Check the app name and developer information to avoid installing configuration profiles from untrusted sources. Get the subscription URL from your service provider and confirm that it supports Shadowrocket.
A subscription link is not the same as a link to a single node. Subscription URLs usually start with https:// and can be used to fetch and update multiple nodes. Content beginning with ss://, vmess://, or vless:// is usually a share link for a single node. The prefix alone may not be enough to identify the format, so check the provider’s import instructions as well. If this site’s free node page offers a subscription, check the client compatibility notes first.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Copy the full subscription URL. Make sure it doesn’t include any spaces, line breaks, or explanatory text.
- Open Shadowrocket and tap “＋” in the top-right corner of the home screen to open the Add page.
- Tap “Type,” select “Subscribe,” and paste the link into the “URL” or address field. You can enter a name in the remarks field to make the subscription easy to identify.
- Tap Save in the top-right corner, return to the home screen, and wait for the nodes to load. If they don’t load automatically, look for an update option in the subscription entry.
- Expand the subscription and select a node. Under “Global Routing,” choose “Config” or “Proxy” as needed. Config mode routes traffic according to rules, while Proxy mode attempts to send more requests through the proxy.
- Turn on the connection switch on the home screen. The first time you connect, follow the system prompt to allow a VPN configuration and complete device verification.
Seeing a list of nodes means the subscription was parsed; it doesn’t mean the nodes are necessarily working. After connecting, open a webpage to test the connection. Latency test results are only a guide and don’t necessarily reflect how well webpages will load.
3. How do IP, DNS, and your browser environment relate?
Your exit IP is the network address a website sees, and depends on whether the request goes through a proxy. DNS translates domain names into addresses; a DNS resolution failure may prevent a webpage from opening. Your browser environment includes cookies, cached data, language settings, and location permissions. Switching nodes won’t reset all of these.
If a website still shows your original region after you connect, first check whether the site is set to bypass the proxy under your routing rules. Then try a private browsing window or check your location permissions. Don’t assume a node has failed based only on the region a webpage displays, and there’s no need to clear all your browser data right away.
4. What to check if the import fails or you can’t connect
- Subscription download fails: Check that the link hasn’t expired and was copied in full. Try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data, and contact your provider to verify the subscription status if needed.
- No nodes appear after updating: Check whether the link returns a login page, an error message, or an incompatible format. Ask for a subscription compatible with Shadowrocket if possible.
- A node is available, but webpages won’t open: Try another node, check your routing mode, and turn off other VPNs to avoid conflicts.
- Only some domains fail: Update the rules and reconnect first. If you see a resolution error, check the DNS settings in the app. Avoid changing multiple settings at once.
Subscription URLs may contain personal tokens, so don’t share them publicly. When sharing screenshots to troubleshoot, hide the full link, account information, and QR codes. Free nodes may become unavailable, so don’t use them to transmit sensitive information.