This article addresses the practical steps for “how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket” and explains why, after importing, it may sometimes connect but still fail to open webpages, the IP may not change, or the DNS and browser environment may appear abnormal. It is suitable for first-time iPhone users of Shadowrocket to troubleshoot step by step.
1. Basic Steps to Import a Subscription into Shadowrocket
Shadowrocket itself is just a client; whether it can connect depends on whether the subscription link or node you import is available. You can use your own existing subscription, or copy an available link from this site’s free node page for testing.
- Open Shadowrocket on your iPhone and enter the main interface.
- Tap the “+” in the top right corner, then choose “Subscribe” or “Subscription” as the type.
- Paste the subscription address into the URL field, and in the remarks field you can enter “Free Nodes” or a custom name.
- Tap “Done” in the top right corner, then go back and pull down to refresh, waiting for the node list to appear.
- Select a node and turn on the connection switch at the top. The first time, it will prompt you to add a VPN configuration; tap Allow and enter your system password.
If the subscription is empty after import, first check whether the link was copied in full, especially making sure not to omit the https:// beginning and not to include extra spaces. If it says parsing failed, the subscription format may be incompatible, the link may have expired, or the network may be unable to access the subscription address.
2. How IP, DNS, and the Browser Environment Relate After Importing
Many users assume that as long as Shadowrocket shows “Connected,” the browser environment must also be correct. In fact, you still need to check three things: exit IP, DNS resolution, and browser cache.
- Exit IP: After connecting, visit an IP lookup website. The region shown should roughly match the selected node. If it still shows your local IP, the current website may not be proxied under rule mode.
- DNS: DNS is responsible for resolving domain names into IP addresses. If DNS leaks, websites may see that your resolution requests come from your local network, affecting privacy and access stability.
- Browser environment: Safari or Chrome may retain cookies, cache, and location permissions, causing pages to still display based on your previous region.
Beginners are advised to first switch Shadowrocket to “Global” mode for testing. After confirming that the IP has changed, switch back to rule mode or configuration mode. When testing, you can use an incognito window and turn off webpage location permissions.
3. Common Connection Failures and How to Fix Them
If you cannot connect after importing a subscription, troubleshoot in the following order. This is usually more effective than repeatedly reinstalling the app.
- Refresh the subscription: Swipe left on the subscription entry or go into settings and manually update it once.
- Switch nodes: The availability of free nodes may fluctuate, so try testing 2–3 different nodes in a row.
- Check the system VPN: Go to iOS “Settings – VPN & Device Management” and confirm that the configuration has been allowed.
- Switch networks: Toggle between Wi-Fi and cellular data to rule out restrictions on the current network.
- Check the rule mode: If a certain website will not open, first use global proxy to determine whether the rules failed to match it.
If only the browser cannot open websites while apps such as Telegram and YouTube work normally, the issue is most likely with browser cache, DNS, or the website’s risk controls. Clear the cache, switch to an incognito window, or restart Shadowrocket and test again.
4. Things to Keep in Mind When Using Subscriptions
A subscription link is essentially the entry point to your nodes, so it is not recommended to share it publicly at will. The import source should be as trustworthy as possible, and you should avoid links from unknown sources or ones that require installing extra configuration profiles. The core of importing a subscription into Shadowrocket is simply: “paste the subscription, refresh the nodes, choose a connection, and verify the IP.” After the connection succeeds, only by also checking DNS and the browser environment can you determine whether access through the proxy is truly working.