Shadowrocket Setup Guide Import, Connect, and Verify

After opening Shadowrocket, go to Home. This is where you view and select servers. If you haven't added any connection details yet, leave the connection switch off. First identify what you have: a subscription link retrieves a list of server details, a single share link usually describes one server, and manual details include a protocol, address, port, and authentication information. These use different import methods, so don't assume they are interchangeable based on how a link looks.

Have a Subscription Link? Choose Subscribe

On Home, tap the plus button in the top-right corner to open Add Server. Open the type selector, choose Subscribe, paste your full subscription link into the URL field, and save. If there's a remarks field, enter a name that will help you identify it. Check that the link is complete, especially any parameters after the question mark. Don't include chat text, quotation marks, or extra spaces.

After saving, return to Home and wait for the subscription to load. Check that selectable servers appear under the relevant group. Seeing a subscription name without any servers doesn't mean the import is complete. The network may be unable to retrieve the contents, or the link may return a web page instead of a valid subscription. Check the link status and retrieval result before trying to add the same address again. Subscription update controls vary by app version; after updating, check the list again.

Have Server Details? Choose the Matching Protocol

Tap the plus button to open Add Server, choose the protocol that matches your details, and enter the address, port, and authentication parameters. Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, Trojan, WireGuard, and other protocols require different fields. Fill in only the fields specified in your details. Any additional settings, such as transport, TLS, or server name, should match the information you were given. Don't guess values for fields that weren't provided.

If you have a single server share link, use the app's link import option. For a QR code, use Scan QR Code. Either way, return to Home after saving, check that the entry appears, and select the one you plan to use. Subscription URLs may contain personal access credentials. Don't post them in comments, screenshots, or troubleshooting notes, and don't share them as ordinary web links.

At this point, you've confirmed that the details appear in the list and can be selected—not that the server can connect. Note the difference: subscriptions usually update the server list, while Config manages configuration files and rules. Importing a subscription doesn't mean routing rules are ready. Once the list looks right, continue by choosing a Global Routing mode.

Return to Home and check two things: the correct server is selected, and Global Routing is still set to the mode you chose. If subscription entries have similar names, tap the one you want and verify it rather than choosing the first item in the list. Confirm that your Wi-Fi or cellular network can access the internet, then turn on the connection switch at the top of Home. Saving connection details alone doesn't start a connection.

The first time you connect, iOS may ask to add a VPN configuration. Confirm that the prompt was triggered by the connection you just started in Shadowrocket, then allow it and complete device authentication as required. This prompt requests permission to add a system network configuration; it isn't a request to buy another service. If you previously declined, try connecting again and follow the prompt. If your device is managed or restricted, check the relevant system restrictions.

After approving the prompt, return to Home and check whether the switch and connection status stay active. The system VPN indicator can help confirm that the network extension is active, but it doesn't prove that every remote server, DNS request, or destination page is working. If the switch turns off immediately or the app reports a connection error, check permissions and connection details first—not routing rules.

For your first test, keep things simple: use one server, one local network, and one Global Routing mode. Leave automatic connection conditions such as On Demand unchanged for now. Initial settings vary, so check what the app currently shows. If automatic triggers were already enabled, note them; otherwise, an automatic reconnection after you switch off manually could look like a faulty switch. Don't reset multiple Settings you haven't reviewed just to troubleshoot.

The iPad layout may differ from the iPhone layout, but the checks are the same: select an entry on Home, choose Global Routing, turn on the connection, and approve the system prompt. Once connected, keep the setup unchanged until you complete the next step. To disconnect manually, return to Home, turn off the switch, and check the system status. If On Demand is enabled, also consider its trigger settings.

When something goes wrong, stop at the step that failed instead of repeating the whole process. Check in order: importing details, establishing a connection, and accessing a destination. Change one condition at a time and test again before moving on. Keep the parts that already work intact to avoid introducing more variables.

No Servers Appear After Saving a Subscription

Check that the URL is complete, has no extra spaces, and is actually a subscription link. Then confirm that your current network can retrieve the subscription and review any update message from the app. An expired link, invalid credentials, or an unexpected response format can prevent the server list from loading. Ask the original provider to confirm that the link is valid. Don't import an error page as a subscription or post the full link when asking for help.

The Connection Switch Won't Stay On

First, check that you've approved the system VPN configuration, then confirm which entry is selected on Home. For manually entered details, check the protocol, port, authentication fields, and any additional settings such as TLS—not just the address. If your device has management restrictions or other network configurations, review the system prompts. Keep a copy of the original details before making changes so you can refer back to the initial values.

Connected, but Can't Access Anything

Confirm that your local network works, then compare the same server on different local networks. If only one server fails, focus on its details and status. If all existing entries fail, check shared conditions such as the local network and settings. Don't change several DNS, protocol, and transport fields at once. Modify a setting only when your connection details require it or diagnostic evidence points to it, and record the result.

Some Websites Work, but Other Requests Fail

Note the affected destination and what you were doing, then check whether Global Routing is set to the expected mode. With Config, first check the active configuration and matched policy, then compare the same destination if needed. If the issue affects just one website or app, consider the service's status and cached content too. For details on rule-based routing, see the Settings Guide. Avoid making broad rule changes while you're still getting started.

The Test Returns a Result, but Speeds Seem Slow

Connectivity Test results and sustained transfer performance measure different things. Keep the test target fixed, compare local network conditions, and check the selected server and protocol settings. Change only one condition per test. For a structured troubleshooting approach, see How to Troubleshoot a Slow Connection, Layer by Layer. A single result can't predict long-term performance; don't repeatedly delete a working configuration based on one test.

If you need to check Log, reproduce the issue once and focus on that time period so unrelated records don't obscure the result. When describing the issue to the provider of your connection details, include the step that failed, current mode, network type, and error information with sensitive details removed. Remove passwords, full subscription URLs, authentication parameters, and personal browsing records. Ask the original provider to confirm that the details are valid. For app steps, return to the relevant section of this guide.