This article addresses the practical question of “how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket”: how to import a subscription link into Shadowrocket on iPhone/iPad, and why issues such as unchanged IP, DNS leaks, or browsers failing to open pages can still occur after connecting. Follow the steps below; they are suitable for ordinary users using subscription nodes for the first time.
1. Preparation for importing a subscription into Shadowrocket
Shadowrocket usually refers to Shadowrocket itself and is mainly used on iOS devices to import V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, SS, and other nodes or subscriptions. Before importing, first confirm three things: the subscription link is a complete URL, the device network is available, and the system time is accurate. This site also organizes some free nodes and subscription resources, which are suitable for testing connectivity, but free resources may be unstable, so it is recommended to prepare several backup routes.
- Subscription links generally begin with http or https; do not copy only half of the link.
- If the link contains spaces or line breaks, remove the extra characters first.
- When using it for the first time, it is recommended to turn off other proxies or VPNs to avoid conflicts.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home page.
- Tap the “+” icon in the upper-right corner, and choose “Subscribe” or “Subscription” as the type.
- Paste your subscription link into the URL field, and for the remark you can enter “free nodes” or “backup subscription.”
- Tap “Done/Save” in the upper-right corner, then return to the home page and pull down to refresh the subscription.
- After a successful refresh, multiple nodes will appear in the list; select one with lower latency.
- Turn on the connection switch at the top. The first time, you will be prompted to add a VPN configuration; tap Allow and enter your system password.
If the subscription updates normally but cannot connect, first try switching to different nodes for testing. If all nodes fail, check first whether the subscription has expired or whether the network restricts proxy connections.
3. What is the relationship between IP, DNS, and the browser environment?
Many users think that a successful Shadowrocket connection necessarily means the environment is normal, but in fact you also need to look at three things: IP, DNS, and the browser. IP determines where websites think you are coming from; DNS is responsible for resolving domain names into addresses; and the browser environment includes information such as cache, cookies, language, and time zone.
After connecting, it is recommended to open an IP checking website to see whether the exit IP has changed. If the IP has not changed, the rules may not be routing through the proxy, or you may have selected the “direct” policy. In this case, you can switch to global proxy mode in Shadowrocket for testing to confirm whether the node itself is working.
As for DNS, if webpages open but the detected region is abnormal, there may be a DNS leak or inconsistent resolution. Ordinary users do not need to change complicated parameters; you can first enable remote DNS in Shadowrocket settings or use the app’s default recommended configuration, then reconnect. On the browser side, if a website still reports an issue, try using an incognito window, clearing that site’s cookies, or switching to another browser for testing.
4. Troubleshooting import failures and connection failures
- Subscription update failed: Check whether the link is complete, and try opening the subscription address in Safari to see whether it is accessible.
- Nodes are empty: The subscription content may have expired, or the format may not be recognized by the current version; try another subscription source for testing.
- Connected but webpages will not open: Switch nodes, or change the mode to global proxy to verify.
- Some websites will not open: This may be caused by rule-based routing; try updating the rules or temporarily switching to global mode.
- Connection drops frequently: Free nodes may be under heavy load or the route may be unstable; it is recommended to change nodes or restart the network and try again.
In summary, the key steps for importing a subscription into Shadowrocket are “copy the complete link, add the subscription, refresh, select a node, and enable VPN.” After connecting, you should also check whether the IP has changed, whether DNS is normal, and whether the browser has old cached data. By troubleshooting step by step, most import and access problems can be traced to their cause.