This guide explains how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket (小火箭) and why you might still run into issues afterward, such as pages failing to load, your IP address not changing, DNS leaks, or browser environment anomalies. It’s intended for iPhone and iPad users who have just installed Shadowrocket (小火箭). Follow the steps below to import a subscription and troubleshoot common problems.
1. What to prepare before importing a subscription
Shadowrocket is a popular proxy client for iOS, but it doesn’t provide proxy servers itself. You’ll need a valid subscription link or an individual node link. A subscription is usually a URL beginning with https that contains node information for VLESS, VMess, Trojan, Shadowsocks, and other protocols. You can use your own subscription or get temporary test nodes from the free nodes page on this site. Keep in mind that free nodes may vary in reliability depending on the time and number of users.
- Make sure Shadowrocket is installed and allow it to add a VPN configuration.
- Have your subscription link ready, and make sure you copy every character.
- Make sure your phone has an internet connection. We recommend turning off any other VPN apps first.
- Set the system time to automatic if possible; otherwise, some TLS nodes may fail to connect.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket: Follow these 5 steps
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home screen, then tap “+” in the upper-right corner.
- Select “Subscribe” or “订阅” as the type.
- Paste your subscription link into the URL field. You can enter “Free nodes” or the service name as a remark.
- Tap “Done/Save” in the upper-right corner. Back on the home screen, pull down to refresh the subscription.
- Select a node and turn on the connection switch at the top. The first time you connect, follow the prompts to allow Shadowrocket to add a VPN configuration.
If the subscription imports successfully, you’ll see multiple servers in the node list. We recommend testing a node with low latency and a clear name first. If the list is empty, the subscription link may have expired, your network may be unable to reach the subscription URL, or you may have copied an extra space.
3. After importing a subscription, what to check for IP, DNS, and browser environment
Many users assume that connecting in Shadowrocket automatically means their “environment is normal,” but these factors need to be checked separately. Your IP address is the location websites see for your outgoing connection. DNS determines which service resolves domain names. Your browser environment includes information such as language, time zone, WebRTC, cache, and account sign-in status.
After connecting, visit an IP-checking website to see whether your outgoing IP has changed. If it hasn’t, first confirm that Shadowrocket shows “Connected” at the top, then check whether “Global Routing/Configuration” is allowing your traffic to pass through the proxy. If pages load but a test detects your local DNS, the cause may be your DNS settings, routing rules, or system cache. Most users can enable a common remote DNS option in Shadowrocket’s configuration and then restart the browser before testing again.
As for your browser environment, if you’ve been signed in to the same account for a long time and use the same language and time zone, a website may still recognize your device even after your IP changes. There’s no need to overcomplicate things for everyday browsing. If you just want to access informational websites, focus on a stable connection and making sure DNS is working normally.
4. Troubleshooting common connection issues
- Subscription won’t update: Try another network, check whether the link has expired, or delete it and paste it again to reimport it.
- Node times out: Switch to another node or wait for the free nodes to be updated.
- You can connect, but pages won’t load: Test in global mode, then check your routing rules.
- Some apps aren’t using the proxy: Check Shadowrocket’s rules and, if necessary, temporarily use the global proxy.
- Frequent disconnections: Turn off Low Power Mode to prevent iOS from limiting network activity in the background.
Finally, after importing a subscription, refresh it first, then run a speed or connectivity test and check your IP and access to websites. If something goes wrong, don’t keep reinstalling the client. Check the subscription, node, routing mode, and DNS first for the quickest troubleshooting.