This article addresses “how to import subscriptions into Shadowrocket,” as well as issues such as being unable to connect after importing, webpages not loading, and abnormal IP or DNS display. It is suitable for iPhone/iPad users who have already installed Shadowrocket (often called “Little Rocket”). Just follow the steps to add subscriptions, select nodes, and perform basic troubleshooting.
1. Standard steps for importing a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home page, then tap the “+” or “Add Configuration” in the top right corner.
- Select the type Subscribe/Subscription, and paste your subscription link into the URL field. The free node subscriptions provided on this site can also be imported in the same way.
- For Remarks, you can enter “freevpn” or a custom name to make it easier to distinguish between multiple subscriptions.
- Tap Done or Save, then return to the home page and pull down to refresh the subscription.
- After a successful refresh, multiple nodes will appear. Choose one with lower latency or one that is available.
- Turn on the connection switch at the top. On first use, allow the VPN configuration to be added when prompted.
If what you received is a single vmess, vless, trojan, or ss link, you can also copy the link and return to Shadowrocket. It will usually recognize it automatically; if not, manually select the corresponding protocol and add it.
2. Common reasons for import failure
- The subscription link is incomplete: Make sure you did not copy extra spaces, Chinese punctuation, or line breaks.
- The network cannot access the subscription address: First disable the proxy, then open the subscription link on a normal network to test whether the text can load.
- The subscription has expired or been reset: Contact the provider for an updated link; free nodes may also become temporarily unavailable.
- Abnormal client cache: Delete the old subscription and add it again, or restart Shadowrocket and refresh.
Note that Shadowrocket is only a client. A successful import does not mean every node is usable. Whether a node can connect also depends on the route, carrier, time period, and protocol support.
3. What is the relationship between IP, DNS, and the browser environment?
After connecting, it is recommended to check three items first: IP, DNS, and the browser environment. IP is used to confirm whether the outbound address has switched; DNS is used to determine whether domain resolution is going through the proxy; and the browser environment may expose information such as language, time zone, and WebRTC.
If webpages open but test sites still show local DNS, you can check the global routing or rule mode in Shadowrocket. Ordinary users are advised to first use the default rules under “Configuration” and avoid randomly changing complex split-routing settings. If some websites cannot be opened, try switching nodes, enabling proxy mode, or clearing the Safari/Chrome cache before trying again.
4. How to troubleshoot when the connection is successful but there is no internet access
- Switch between 2–3 different nodes to rule out failure of a single node.
- Make sure the system VPN icon appears and that the Shadowrocket switch remains turned on.
- Turn off other VPN, accelerator, or security apps to avoid configuration conflicts.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data for testing to determine whether the current network is restricted.
- Temporarily change the rules to Global Proxy for testing; if global mode works, it indicates a split-routing rule issue.
Summary: The key to importing a subscription into Shadowrocket is using the correct link, being able to refresh and display nodes, and then verifying IP and DNS after connecting. If problems occur, do not repeatedly change the configuration at random. Troubleshoot in the order of “subscription link → node availability → system VPN → DNS/browser environment,” and you can usually identify the cause quickly.