This guide addresses the practical question “How do I use Shadowrocket?” It shows you how to import nodes or a subscription, enable the proxy on your iPhone or iPad, and understand how IP, DNS, and your browser environment work together to help resolve common issues such as connection failures, websites not loading, or an unexpected IP address.
1. What is Shadowrocket, and what do you need before using it?
Shadowrocket, often called “Little Rocket” by Chinese-speaking users, is a popular proxy client for iOS. It supports a range of protocols, including Vmess, VLESS, Trojan, and Shadowsocks. The app does not provide proxy servers, so you’ll need to import your own nodes or subscription link. You can use an existing subscription from your provider, or check the free nodes on this site for a temporary test. Keep in mind that free nodes can vary in reliability over time.
Before you start, check that you have Shadowrocket installed, a working node or subscription link, and a stable internet connection. We recommend closing any other VPN apps first to avoid conflicts between multiple proxies.
2. How to import nodes into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket and tap “+” in the upper-right corner.
- If you have a subscription link, set “Type” to Subscribe, paste the subscription URL, and tap Done.
- For a single node link, such as vmess://, vless://, or trojan://, copy the link and return to Shadowrocket. It will usually detect and import it automatically.
- After importing, select a node on the home screen and tap the switch at the top to connect.
- The first time you connect, iOS will ask to add a VPN configuration. Tap Allow and enter your passcode.
Once connected, you’ll see a VPN indicator at the top of your iPhone screen or in Control Center. We recommend opening a browser and searching for “IP lookup” to check whether your apparent IP address has changed. If it hasn’t, the proxy may not be working as expected; check your rules and the node status.
3. What IP, DNS, and your browser environment affect
IP is the address websites see when you connect. When Shadowrocket is working, websites you access through the proxy should normally see the node’s IP rather than your local ISP’s IP. If some websites still show your local IP, your rules may be bypassing the proxy, or those sites may be set to connect directly.
DNS translates domain names into IP addresses. DNS issues can cause websites to fail to load even when a node is connected, redirect you to the wrong site, or resolve to a local address. You can use Configuration/Rules mode in Shadowrocket and avoid mixing in unknown DNS settings. For most users, the client’s default settings or the configuration provided with the subscription are sufficient.
Browser environment includes cookies, cache, language, time zone, and location permissions. Even after your IP address changes, a website may still infer your usual region from your sign-in history or browser cache. If you notice inconsistencies, try using private browsing, clearing the site’s cookies, or disabling location access for your browser.
4. Recommended basic settings
- Global Proxy: Routes all traffic through the node. Useful for checking whether your IP has changed, but it may affect access to domestic apps.
- Rule mode: Connects directly to domestic sites and routes international traffic through the proxy. This is generally better for everyday use.
- If you’ve just imported a subscription, update it first, then test the latency and choose a node that connects successfully.
- Don’t run multiple VPN or proxy tools at the same time, as this can cause routing conflicts.
If you’re new to Shadowrocket, start with Rule mode. To check whether a node is working, you can briefly switch to Global Proxy for a test. When you’re done, switch back to Rule mode for a more stable everyday experience.
5. Troubleshooting connection failures and websites that won’t load
If Shadowrocket shows a connection failure, try another node first. Then check whether your subscription has expired, whether the node link was copied in full, and whether your phone’s date and time are correct. If it shows that you’re connected but websites won’t load, try switching networks—for example, from Wi-Fi to cellular data—or restarting your router.
If only one website won’t load, the issue may be related to your rules, DNS, or browser cache. Try these steps in order: update your subscription, switch to Global Proxy to test, clear your browser cookies, and try a different node. If the site loads in Global Proxy mode but not in Rule mode, the rules are likely the issue; updating the configuration will often fix it.
Remember, Shadowrocket relies on three things: the client, a working node, and well-configured rules. Once you understand the differences between IP, DNS, and your browser environment, you’ll have a clearer path to troubleshooting—and won’t need to keep reinstalling the app.