This article addresses “how to import subscriptions into Shadowrocket” and why, when used by a multi-person team, some people can use the same subscription stably while others experience frequent disconnections. You will learn how to import subscriptions, update nodes, use groups, and troubleshoot connection issues caused by account environment differences in Shadowrocket on iPhone/iPad.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription
Shadowrocket itself is only a client and cannot connect on its own. You need to prepare a valid subscription link or node information. A subscription is usually an https link containing multiple V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, Shadowsocks, and other nodes. For team use, it is recommended that the administrator provide a unified subscription address, and that members do not casually mix in links from unknown sources, to avoid node failures, configuration conflicts, or privacy risks.
- Make sure Shadowrocket is installed on the device and that adding VPN configurations is allowed.
- Prepare the subscription link, and when copying it, make sure not to miss the opening https://.
- Try to switch the network environment to normal Wi-Fi or mobile data first, and avoid importing while using a disconnected proxy.
- If you are using this site’s free nodes, you can first copy the corresponding subscription or single-node link, then import it by following the steps below.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket, go to the home page, and tap the “+” in the upper right corner.
- Select “Subscribe” or “Subscription” as the type. The display may vary slightly depending on the version.
- Paste the subscription link into the URL field. For the remark, you can enter an easy-to-recognize name such as “Team Subscription” or “freevpn node”.
- Tap “Done/Save” in the upper right corner, return to the home page, then pull down to refresh and wait for the node list to appear.
- Select a node and turn on the connection switch at the top. On first use, follow the prompt to allow the VPN configuration to be added.
- After the connection succeeds, use a browser to visit commonly used websites for testing. If they do not open, switch to another node and try again.
If no nodes appear after importing the subscription, first check whether the link is complete, then tap the subscription name to enter the details page and manually run “Update.” Some subscriptions need a direct network connection to be fetched, so it is recommended to turn off the proxy before refreshing.
3. In team use, how does account environment stability matter?
The most common issue with the team version is not “not knowing how to import,” but inconsistent connection status after multiple people share it. The account environment includes the number of devices, system version, network carrier, whether regions are switched frequently, whether multiple people use the same node at the same time, and so on. If the subscription provider has rule limits on concurrency, devices, or traffic, exceeding them may cause connection failures, subscription update failures, or temporary node restrictions.
It is recommended that team administrators do three things: first, distribute subscriptions in a unified way and do not let members forward them to outsiders; second, group them by use case, such as office, testing, and backup, to avoid everyone crowding onto the same route; third, remind members to update subscriptions regularly and not use old nodes for a long time. For ordinary members, if the connection is unstable, do not keep reinstalling the App first; instead, prioritize switching nodes, refreshing the subscription, and restarting the network.
4. Quick troubleshooting for connection failures
- Subscription update failed: Check whether the link has expired or whether direct access is required, then switch networks and refresh again.
- The node appears available but web pages will not open: switch the proxy mode to “Configuration” or “Global” for testing, to rule out routing rule issues.
- Only one member is failing: have that person restart the phone’s network, delete the old VPN configuration, and re-authorize it.
- Multiple people are unstable at the same time: the subscription source or upstream nodes may be having issues, and the administrator should notify everyone to switch to a backup subscription or backup node.
In short, importing subscriptions into Shadowrocket is not complicated. The key is to have a clear subscription source, standardized team distribution, and members who know how to refresh and switch nodes. Doing these basic things well can reduce situations where “others can use the same link, but I can’t.”