This article explains how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket and why your IP, DNS, and browser environment can affect what you see online after connecting. It’s written for iPhone users who have just received a V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, or Clash subscription link and want to follow the steps.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription into Shadowrocket
“小火箭” usually refers to Shadowrocket on iOS. Before importing a subscription, make sure you’ve installed the app and have a working subscription URL. Subscription URLs usually start with https:// and may contain multiple nodes. You can use a subscription you purchased, or check this site for temporarily available free nodes. Keep in mind that free nodes may be less reliable depending on network conditions.
- Make sure the subscription link is complete and doesn’t contain extra spaces or Chinese punctuation.
- Check that your phone has a working network connection. Wi-Fi or a stable mobile connection is recommended.
- If the subscription requires a login or contains a token, don’t share it with others.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket: step by step
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home screen.
- Tap the “+” in the top-right corner and select Subscribe or “Subscription” as the type.
- Paste your subscription link into the URL field. You can add a name such as “Free nodes” or “Backup subscription” to make it easier to identify.
- Tap “Done” or “Save” in the top-right corner to return to the home screen.
- Pull down to refresh the subscription and wait for the node list to appear.
- Select a node and turn on the connection switch at the top. The first time you connect, allow Shadowrocket to add a VPN configuration.
If the import succeeds but no nodes appear, the subscription link may have expired, the format may be incompatible, or your current network may not be able to reach the subscription URL. Try opening the link in Safari: if it downloads a file or displays a block of encoded text, the link is usually accessible.
3. How your IP, DNS, and browser environment affect your connection
Many users assume that seeing “Connected” in Shadowrocket means everything will work normally. In fact, you should also consider your exit IP, DNS, and browser environment. Your exit IP determines where websites think you’re connecting from; DNS determines which server a domain name resolves to; and your browser environment includes details such as language, time zone, cache, cookies, and WebRTC.
For example, you might connect to a US node while your browser still has cookies from another region. Some websites may then continue showing content for your previous region. Or, if DNS requests aren’t routed through the proxy, you may run into resolution errors, pages that won’t load, or incorrect redirects. After connecting, try visiting an IP lookup site to confirm that your IP region has changed, then test the website you want to access.
4. Troubleshooting connection failures and access issues
- Subscription won’t update: Check whether the link has expired, switch networks and try again, or paste the subscription link again.
- The node connects, but web pages won’t load: Try another node or switch Shadowrocket’s rule mode—for example, change from “Config” to “Global” to test.
- Your IP hasn’t changed: Make sure the switch at the top of Shadowrocket is on and that the VPN icon appears in the iOS status bar.
- DNS issues: Update the configuration file and avoid using outdated rules. If needed, restart Shadowrocket and your browser.
If a particular website still isn’t working properly, clear your browser cache, disable any unnecessary extensions, or try an incognito window. For websites that require a consistent region, try to match the node region, system time zone, and browser language.
5. Tips for using subscriptions
A subscription doesn’t stay unchanged forever after you import it. Nodes may be updated, become unavailable, or be reconfigured. We recommend manually refreshing your subscription in Shadowrocket from time to time. If a connection is slow or keeps dropping, don’t repeatedly toggle the same node—switch to another route instead. For everyday use, you can select rule mode and use Global mode only when you need all traffic to go through the proxy. This is usually more stable and uses less battery.