This article addresses the practical question of “how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket”: how to import an airport provider’s or this site’s free node subscription link into Shadowrocket on iPhone/iPad, and why you should still check your IP, DNS, and browser environment afterward to determine whether the connection was truly successful.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription
Shadowrocket usually refers to the iOS app Shadowrocket. Before importing a subscription, first make sure you have installed the client and obtained a valid subscription link. Subscription links generally start with http or https and may contain node information such as VLESS, VMess, Trojan, and SS. This site also compiles free nodes, which are suitable for temporary testing, but actual stability depends on the real connection.
- Make sure your phone’s network is working properly; you can first open a regular webpage in Safari to test.
- Copy the full subscription link, and do not omit any parameters at the end.
- Keep system time set to automatic sync, as incorrect time may cause certificate or TLS connection failures.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home screen.
- Tap the “+” icon in the upper-right corner, then choose Subscribe or “Subscription” as the type.
- Paste the subscription link into the URL field; for the remark, you can enter “Free Nodes” or any custom name.
- Tap Done, return to the home screen, then pull down to refresh and wait for the node list to appear.
- Select a node, turn on the connection switch at the top, and on first use, follow the prompt to allow the VPN configuration to be added.
If the subscription content is valid, multiple nodes will appear in the list. If nothing changes, the link is usually invalid, the network cannot access the subscription address, or spaces were accidentally included when copying. It is recommended to copy the link again, then tap the update button on the right side of the subscription.
3. Check IP, DNS, and browser environment after connecting
Many users assume that once Shadowrocket’s switch turns green, everything is definitely working, but you still need to check the outbound environment. Open a browser and search for “IP lookup” to see whether the displayed country/region matches the selected node. If it still shows your local ISP’s IP, the proxy is not taking effect or the current rule is not routing traffic through the proxy.
DNS is also critical. If the IP has changed but some websites still will not open, DNS pollution or abnormal resolution may be the cause. You can review the DNS-related options in Shadowrocket’s settings and prioritize the client’s recommended configuration; do not casually enter unknown DNS servers. As for the browser, it is recommended to disable extensions that may affect your judgment, clear the target website’s cache, and, when necessary, test in private browsing mode. This helps avoid misjudgment caused by cookies, language, time zone, or cache.
4. Common failure causes and fixes
- Subscription won’t update: Check whether the link has expired, then switch between Wi-Fi and cellular and try again.
- A node can be selected but won’t connect: Try another node, or confirm whether the protocol is supported by the current version.
- IP does not change: Check Global/Rule mode; during testing, you can temporarily switch to global proxy.
- Webpages won’t open: Change nodes, refresh DNS, and disable browser proxy extensions before trying again.
Overall, the core steps for importing a subscription into Shadowrocket are simply to copy the link, add the subscription, update the nodes, and choose one to connect. After connecting, use IP, DNS, and browser environment as a three-way cross-check to more accurately determine whether the connection is actually usable.