The Ultimate Guide to Shadowrocket on iPhone & iPad

Shadowrocket is the most powerful and popular paid proxy utility on iOS—often called the “Swiss Army knife” for proxy users. This tutorial takes you from a complete beginner to a confident user, with clear steps and best practices.

Step 1 — Get Shadowrocket

From the App Store (Paid App)

Please note: Shadowrocket is a paid application. You must purchase it from the Apple App Store before proceeding.

Open the App Store on your iPhone/iPad and search for Shadowrocket.
Purchase and install the app as you would any paid app.

Step 2 — Adding Your Proxy Servers (Nodes)

Method A: Add via Subscription Link (Recommended)

Copy your subscription URL provided by your service.
Open Shadowrocket and tap the + icon (top-right).
Set Type to Subscribe, paste the URL, add a Remark, then tap Done.
Wait a moment—your server list will auto-populate from the subscription.

Method B: Add by Scanning a QR Code (Easiest)

Display the node’s QR code on another device (e.g., your Mac or PC).
In Shadowrocket, tap the + icon, then tap the scan icon (top-right). Grant camera permission and scan the QR code.

Step 3 — Connecting and Understanding Global Routing

1) Select a Server

On the Home tab, you’ll see all imported servers. Tap a server to select it. We recommend choosing one with low latency—use Connectivity Test at the bottom to measure ping.

2) Global Routing Modes

At the top of the Home tab, find Global Routing. This is the most important setting in Shadowrocket:

Config (Recommended): Uses your configuration file’s rules to intelligently route traffic. This is the smart mode.
Proxy: Forces all traffic to go through your single selected server (global proxy).
Direct: Bypasses the proxy for all traffic (no proxy).
Scene: For advanced users to create and switch between different rule sets.

3) Tap the Switch to Connect

After selecting a server and routing mode, tap the main switch at the top of the Home tab. It turns green when connected, and you’ll see the VPN icon in your status bar. Grant VPN permissions if prompted.

❗ Troubleshooting Common Shadowrocket Issues

Subscription adds 0 servers: Verify the URL is correct and not expired. Ensure the format is Shadowrocket‑compatible (generic or Clash format).

Connected, but can’t access certain sites: Confirm the correct Global Routing mode (try switching from Config to Proxy for testing). Try a different server. In Settings → On Demand, ensure no incorrect rules are interfering.