This article addresses the practical question of “how to use Shadowrocket”: after installing it on your iPhone/iPad, how to import nodes, enable the proxy, and understand the relationship between IP, DNS, and the browser environment, so you can determine why sometimes it connects but webpages still won’t open, why the displayed region may not match, or why there are concerns about DNS leaks.
1. Basic Shadowrocket Usage Process
Shadowrocket is commonly called “Little Rocket” by Chinese users. It is a common proxy client on iOS and supports node formats such as V2Ray, VLESS, Trojan, and Shadowsocks. It does not provide routes by itself; you need to import available nodes or a subscription link. This site organizes free node resources, and you can also use your existing subscription.
- Install Shadowrocket on your iPhone or iPad, and allow it to add a VPN configuration.
- Open Shadowrocket, tap the “+” in the top right corner, select the “Type,” and manually enter the node information; if you have a subscription link, you can choose “Subscribe/订阅” and paste the address.
- Return to the home page, select a node from the list, and tap the switch on the right to connect.
- The first time you connect, a system VPN permission confirmation will pop up; choose Allow and enter your device passcode.
- After a successful connection, a VPN icon will appear in the status bar, then open your browser to test access.
If you use a subscription, it is recommended to click the update button on the right side of the subscription periodically. The stability of free nodes may fluctuate, so a timeout does not necessarily mean there is a software problem; first try switching nodes for testing.
2. What IP, DNS, and Browser Environment Each Affect
IP address determines the exit location seen by websites. For example, if you connect to a U.S. node, detection websites will usually show a U.S. IP when you visit them. If your local IP is still shown, it means the proxy is not taking effect, the rules are not matching, or the browser/app is bypassing the proxy.
DNS is responsible for resolving domain names into IP addresses. In some cases, the proxy is connected but DNS still goes through the local network, which may cause websites to load slowly, be polluted, or return abnormal detection results. In Shadowrocket, you can go to “Configuration” to check DNS settings. For ordinary users, it is recommended to prioritize ready-made rule configurations and avoid casually mixing and changing multiple DNS settings.
Browser environment includes language, time zone, cookies, cache, WebRTC, and more. It does not directly change the proxy route, but it affects how websites determine your region. For example, your IP may be overseas, but if your browser language is still Chinese and your account’s historical login region is fixed, the platform may still display content for your original region.
3. Recommended Settings and Connection Troubleshooting
- Mode selection: Beginners are advised to use rule mode in “Configuration,” so domestic websites connect directly while foreign websites use the proxy; if you want to test whether it is working, you can temporarily switch to global proxy.
- Node testing: Long-press a node to view latency, but low latency does not necessarily mean all websites can be accessed; if a site won’t open, switch nodes and compare.
- Subscription issues: If the import is empty, check whether the subscription link is complete and whether it has expired; if necessary, copy it into Safari to see whether it opens.
- Browser issues: Clear the target website’s cookies, or test with Safari/Chrome to avoid old cache affecting your judgment.
- DNS issues: If you encounter “it connects but domain names won’t open,” try switching networks, updating the configuration, or enabling the DNS solution recommended by the client.
When troubleshooting, it is recommended to proceed in this order: “whether the node is available — whether the proxy mode is correct — whether DNS is abnormal — whether browser cache is interfering.” Do not change too many options at once, otherwise it will be difficult to determine which step solved the problem.
4. Common Questions
Q: If Shadowrocket shows as connected, does that always mean it succeeded? Not necessarily. Connected only means the client has established a connection to the node; you still need to check whether the rules make the target website go through the proxy.
Q: Why does IP detection show an overseas IP, but some apps still won’t open? It may be because the app has additional risk controls, account region restrictions, or is not using Shadowrocket’s rules. You can try testing with global mode.
Q: Do I need to change DNS frequently? Ordinary users do not. Keeping the configuration simple and the subscription updatable is more stable than stacking multiple DNS settings. If you encounter problems, first switch nodes and update the subscription, then consider DNS settings.