This guide explains how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket (“小火箭”): prepare the subscription link, add it to Shadowrocket and update the nodes, then check your IP, DNS, and browser settings after connecting. Follow the steps below. This guide uses Shadowrocket on iPhone as an example; button names may vary between versions, so refer to the interface you see.
1. What to prepare before importing
Install Shadowrocket through the official App Store and verify the developer and app name to avoid counterfeit apps. Then get the subscription URL from your service provider. It is usually a single, uninterrupted link starting with https://. A subscription link is not a node name or a regular webpage address; when copying it, don’t include any explanatory text, spaces, or line breaks.
Your subscription URL may contain personal access credentials, so don’t share screenshots of it publicly or post it in the comments. When using free nodes, check their source and last update as well. The node information provided on this site may be useful as a reference, but you’ll need to verify availability yourself.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket and tap “＋” in the upper-right corner of the home screen to add an item.
- Under “Type,” select “Subscribe” or “Subscription.” Don’t accidentally choose a protocol type for an individual node.
- Paste the complete subscription URL into the “URL” field. You can enter a name in “Remark” to make it easy to identify, such as “Daily subscription.”
- Tap Save in the upper-right corner, then return to the home screen and wait for the app to retrieve and display the node list. If it doesn’t retrieve the list automatically, look for an “Update” option on the subscription’s edit page or in its action menu.
- Select a node and turn on the connection switch on the home screen. The first time you connect, follow the iOS prompt to allow the VPN configuration to be added, then complete system verification.
- Open a browser and visit the website you want to access. For speed tests, you can use the connectivity test provided by the client, but don’t judge real-world access based on latency alone.
Successfully importing a subscription doesn’t guarantee that a node will connect. Importing only means the client retrieved and recognized the subscription data. The node’s status, your local network, and routing rules can all affect what happens next.
3. What to do if the subscription won’t update or the connection fails
If no nodes appear after an update, first use a browser to check whether the subscription service’s domain is accessible. Don’t paste your subscription link into an unfamiliar testing site. Copy the original link again and check whether it has expired, been reset, or requires you to sign in to retrieve it. If you see an unsupported-format message, ask for a subscription compatible with Shadowrocket instead of repeatedly switching node types.
If the nodes appear but you can’t connect, try another node, then test separately over Wi-Fi and cellular. Check that your system date and time are set automatically, and make sure no other VPN is running. An expired node, a service outage, or restrictions on your current network can all cause timeouts. Contact your subscription provider to verify the issue, and don’t install configuration profiles advertised as “fixes” without checking them.
4. How subscriptions relate to your IP, DNS, and browser
A subscription provides node information; your public-facing IP depends on the selected node and whether your traffic is routed through the proxy. In rule mode, some websites may connect directly, so seeing your local IP doesn’t necessarily mean the import failed. Check your current routing settings, then verify your IP using a trusted lookup page.
DNS resolves domain names. If some domains won’t load, first check the client’s existing DNS settings and rules rather than blindly applying configurations you find online. Switching nodes does not automatically clear your browser’s cookies, sign-in status, or location permissions, and these details may affect the region a website displays. Compare results in a private browsing window and check location permissions if needed. Private browsing does not make you anonymous or guarantee that a website will judge your location differently.