This article addresses a common question: How do you use Shadowrocket? It walks you through importing nodes after installation, enabling the proxy, and checking that your IP, DNS, and browser environment are consistent. It’s designed to help everyday iPhone and iPad users set up a working proxy and troubleshoot connection failures and pages that won’t load.
1. Basic steps for using Shadowrocket
Shadowrocket is a popular proxy client for iOS. It supports node formats such as Vmess, VLESS, Trojan, and Shadowsocks, as well as subscription links. It doesn’t provide nodes itself, so you’ll need to import a working node or subscription. This site compiles information about some free nodes for temporary testing, but their reliability can vary, so it’s a good idea to have a few backups.
- Open Shadowrocket and tap “+” in the top-right corner of the home screen.
- If you have a link for a single node, choose “Import from Clipboard,” or enter the type, address, port, UUID/password, and other details manually.
- If you have a subscription link, go to the relevant “Config” or “Subscription” section, paste in the subscription URL, save it, and tap Update.
- Return to the home screen, select a node, and turn on the switch at the top. The first time you connect, you’ll be prompted to add a VPN configuration. Tap Allow and enter your device passcode.
- Once connected, open a browser and visit an IP lookup site to confirm that your public IP has changed.
2. How your IP, DNS, and browser environment are related
Many people assume that seeing “Connected” in Shadowrocket means everything is working properly. In fact, you should also check that your IP, DNS, and browser environment are consistent. Your IP is the address websites see you connecting from; DNS determines how domain names are resolved; and your browser environment includes settings and data such as language, time zone, WebRTC, and cookies. If these don’t line up, you may run into website security checks, incorrect location detection, or services that won’t load.
- IP: After connecting, your IP should appear to be in the node’s region, rather than belonging to your local internet provider.
- DNS: We recommend enabling an appropriate remote DNS setting in Shadowrocket’s configuration to avoid DNS leaks that could reveal your local network to websites.
- Browser: Try testing in private browsing mode. If needed, clear your cache, disable features that could cause WebRTC leaks, and set your device’s language and time zone to match the intended use of the node as closely as possible.
3. Recommended connection mode
If you’re new to Shadowrocket, start with “Config/Rule Mode.” This lets domestic websites connect directly while routing international traffic through the proxy, balancing speed and reliability. If you only need to test a particular website temporarily, you can switch to “Global Proxy.” Keep in mind that Global mode routes traffic from all apps through the node, so switch back to Rule mode if domestic apps slow down.
After importing a subscription, tap “Latency Test” or test the nodes one by one. Low latency doesn’t guarantee a stable connection, but it can help you narrow down your options. If a node’s name indicates its region, choose one that matches the region of the service you want to use. This helps avoid a large mismatch between the IP’s location and the region where you typically use your account.
4. Troubleshooting connection failures and pages that won’t load
- Make sure the node hasn’t expired, and try updating the subscription.
- Test a node in a different region or using a different protocol to rule out an issue with a specific node.
- Check that your device’s date and time are correct. Incorrect settings can cause TLS connection failures.
- Turn Shadowrocket off and back on, or remove the VPN configuration in iOS Settings and authorize it again.
- If only one website won’t load, try clearing your browser cache, using private browsing mode, or checking whether the rules are sending that domain through a direct connection.
In short, the essentials of using Shadowrocket are importing a node, choosing a mode, connecting, and verifying your environment. Your experience depends on more than whether the client connects: node availability, DNS resolution, and your browser fingerprint all matter too. Following the steps above should resolve most issues that new Shadowrocket users encounter.