This article addresses the practical question of how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket. It’s for iPhone and iPad users importing subscription links for V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, SS, and other protocols. It also explains why you should check your IP, DNS, and browser environment after connecting, to avoid situations where a node connects but webpages won’t load, your apparent location is wrong, or checks return unexpected results.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription
“Shadowrocket” usually refers to the iOS app Shadowrocket. Before importing, you’ll need a working subscription link, commonly starting with http or https. Opening it returns a list of nodes. This site also provides free nodes and subscription guides, but free nodes can be affected by connection quality, availability, and user traffic, so it’s best to use them for temporary testing.
- Make sure your phone has a working internet connection. You can first try opening a regular webpage in Safari.
- Copy the complete subscription URL. Don’t leave out the token, parameters, or any trailing characters.
- If you’re importing a subscription from a QR code, make sure the image is clear to avoid it being recognized as a single node.
- Keep your system clock set to update automatically. An incorrect time can cause TLS connection failures.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
Follow these steps. The key is to choose “Subscribe” rather than adding individual nodes manually.
- Open Shadowrocket and tap the “+” in the top-right corner of the home screen.
- Choose Subscribe as the type.
- Paste your subscription link into the URL field. You can add a label such as “Free nodes” or “Backup subscription.”
- Tap Done or Save. Return to the home screen and pull down to refresh the subscription.
- Once the refresh is complete, you’ll see multiple nodes. Choose one with a low latency.
- Turn on the connection switch at the top. The first time you connect, follow the prompt to allow the VPN configuration to be added.
If you have a single-node link such as vmess://, vless://, or trojan://, you can also tap “+” in the top-right corner and choose to import it from the clipboard. However, this isn’t a subscription, so it won’t update automatically.
3. Why check your IP, DNS, and browser environment after connecting?
Many users assume that seeing “connected” in Shadowrocket means everything is working, but you should also check that your traffic is exiting through the expected location. After connecting, visit an IP lookup site and confirm that the country or region shown matches your selected node. If your IP hasn’t changed, the rules may not be routing traffic through the proxy, the node may be unavailable, or the app you’re using may not be proxied.
DNS also affects your experience. A DNS leak can make webpages load slowly, cause location detection issues, or result in your IP appearing to be overseas while your DNS still appears local. In Shadowrocket, you can use remote DNS in the configuration or global settings. Most users should stick with the client’s default configuration and avoid mixing multiple DNS rules without a good reason.
Your browser environment includes settings and data such as language, time zone, cache, cookies, and WebRTC. For example, if you visit certain sites through an overseas node but your browser language is still Chinese and you’ve long been signed in locally, the sites may still recommend content based on your usual region. This isn’t an import issue; it’s the combined effect of your browser fingerprint and account environment.
4. Troubleshooting import and connection issues
- Subscription update failed: Check whether the link has expired. Try opening it in a browser to see if it returns content.
- All nodes show 0 latency or time out: Try another network, such as switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data.
- Connected, but webpages won’t load: Test global mode. If it works, there may be a problem with your routing rules.
- Some sites won’t open: Try a different node, protocol, or route, then clear your browser cache and try again.
- VPN permission prompts keep appearing: Go to iOS Settings, delete the old VPN configuration, and allow it again.
If you’re new to Shadowrocket, start with Global Proxy to confirm that the node works, then switch back to rule-based mode. If the node list becomes confusing after a subscription update, delete the existing subscription and import it again. Don’t run multiple VPNs, network accelerators, or proxy apps at the same time, as they can conflict with each other’s routing.
5. Tips for everyday use
Importing a subscription once doesn’t mean it will work forever. Nodes may be maintained, become unavailable, or have their traffic limited. If you run into problems, refresh the subscription first, then try a different node, and finally check your IP, DNS, and browser environment. Troubleshooting in this order—“Is the subscription valid? Is the node connected? Is the exit IP correct? Is there a DNS issue? Is the browser cache interfering?”—will help you pinpoint most Shadowrocket issues.