Shadowrocket Not Working? 12 Fixes for Connection Issues in 2026
Before You Start: 90% of Shadowrocket connection issues fall into three categories: server node problems, iOS system settings, or account/subscription issues. Work through this guide in order — Fix #1 through #4 resolve the majority of cases within 2 minutes.
Quick Diagnostic: Which Error Are You Seeing?
The 12 Most Effective Shadowrocket Fixes
Switch to a Different Server Node
The most common cause of "Connection Failed" is a temporarily unavailable server node, not an app problem. Before trying anything else, tap a different node in your server list.
Refresh Your Subscription
Server nodes change periodically. If your subscription hasn't been refreshed recently, the nodes it lists may have different IPs or configurations from what the server currently expects.
Sync Your iPhone Clock (Critical for VMess)
VMess authentication uses a time-based token. If your iPhone clock is off by more than 90 seconds from the server's time, every VMess connection will fail with an "Authentication Error" — regardless of correct password.
Toggle Airplane Mode (Quick Reset)
iOS sometimes gets stuck with a stale network connection. Toggling airplane mode forces a complete network stack reset, clearing any stuck TCP connections or DNS cache entries.
Delete and Re-import the VPN Configuration
iOS stores VPN profiles in System Settings. A corrupted or outdated VPN profile can prevent Shadowrocket from creating a new tunnel even when the app itself is working correctly.
Switch Proxy Mode (Global vs Rule-Based)
If certain apps work but others don't, your proxy mode or rules may be incorrectly routing traffic. Global mode sends everything through the proxy, which can help diagnose routing problems.
Verify Your Subscription is Active
An expired VPN subscription is a common but often overlooked cause of connection failures. The nodes will still appear in Shadowrocket, but the server will reject all connections at the authentication layer.
Change Protocol or Transport Layer
Your network environment (hotel WiFi, corporate network, mobile carrier) may be blocking specific protocols or ports. Switching from one protocol to another often resolves connectivity in restricted environments.
1. Try VLESS + Reality (port 443)
2. Try Trojan (port 443) — looks like HTTPS
3. Try VMess over WebSocket+TLS (port 443)
4. Try Shadowsocks (port 443 if available)
Disable Shadowrocket's MitM (Certificate Interception)
Shadowrocket has a built-in HTTPS decryption feature (Man-in-the-Middle / MitM). If this is enabled and the certificate isn't correctly installed, you'll see "Certificate errors" in many apps, including banking apps and some social media.
Check Trojan's SNI (Server Name Indication)
Trojan nodes require the correct Server Name Indication (SNI) to establish a TLS connection. A mismatched SNI causes an immediate TLS handshake failure before any proxy traffic flows.
Change DNS Settings
Slow initial page loads (even when speed test shows good Mbps) are often a DNS resolution problem. Your ISP's default DNS may be slow or return incorrect results for some domains.
• Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1
• Google: 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4
• Enable DNS over HTTPS for maximum privacy
Reinstall Shadowrocket (Nuclear Option)
If nothing else works and you've verified your subscription is active, the app data may be corrupted. Reinstalling clears all stored configurations and starts fresh. Export your subscription URL before doing this!
1. Note your subscription URL (Settings → Subscription → copy URL)
2. Long-press Shadowrocket icon → Delete App
3. Reinstall from App Store (free since you've already purchased)
4. Re-add your subscription URL
Error Code Reference Guide
| Error / Symptom | Most Likely Cause | Fix Number |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Failed | Server node down or blocked | Fix #1, #2 |
| Authentication Error | Clock drift (VMess) or expired subscription | Fix #3, #7 |
| TLS Handshake Failed | Wrong SNI or expired TLS certificate | Fix #10 |
| Speed = 0 Mbps | Stale connection or port blocked | Fix #4, #8 |
| Certificate Error (apps) | MitM HTTPS decryption enabled | Fix #9 |
| Slow initial loads | ISP DNS resolution delay | Fix #11 |
| Keeps disconnecting | iOS battery optimization killing VPN | Fix #4, #12 |
| VPN Config Invalid | Corrupted iOS VPN profile | Fix #5 |
Prevention: How to Avoid Shadowrocket Problems
Auto-Update Subscription
Set your VPN07 subscription to auto-refresh every 24 hours. This ensures you always have current node configurations without manual intervention.
Keep Clock Synced
Always keep "Set Automatically" enabled for Date & Time. Never manually set your iPhone clock if you use VMess protocol nodes.
Use Multiple Node Types
Subscribe to a VPN provider (like VPN07) that offers multiple protocols. If Trojan is blocked, you can instantly switch to VLESS or VMess without changing anything else.
Keep Subscription URL Saved
Save your VPN07 subscription URL in iOS Notes or another secure location. If you ever need to reinstall Shadowrocket, you can re-import all nodes in seconds.
Advanced Diagnostics: Using Shadowrocket's Built-in Tools
Shadowrocket has powerful built-in diagnostic tools that most users never discover. These can pinpoint exactly where a connection problem occurs:
Activity Log (Real-Time Traffic)
The Activity tab shows every network request in real-time. Each entry shows: domain, rule matched, action taken (PROXY/DIRECT/REJECT), and latency. When a site fails to load, check Activity to see if requests are being routed to the right place.
Access: Bottom navigation → Activity (clock icon)
Built-in Speed Test
Tap the ⚡ (lightning) button next to any node to test its latency and download speed. Long-press the ⚡ to test all nodes simultaneously. Sort by latency to find the fastest available node at that moment.
Tip: Re-run speed test hourly during peak times to find least congested nodes
Network Status Widget
Shadowrocket can add an iOS widget showing current connection status, active protocol, server location, and real-time upload/download speeds. Add it via iOS widget editor (long press home screen → + → Shadowrocket). Useful for monitoring without opening the app.
Works on iPhone home screen and Lock Screen
DNS Test Tool
In Settings → Test → DNS Leak Test, Shadowrocket shows which DNS servers are actually being used for resolution. A proper proxy setup should show your VPN07 server's DNS, not your local ISP. If you see your ISP's DNS, there may be a DNS leak in your configuration.
Fix leaks: Enable DNS over HTTPS in Settings → DNS
Network Environment Quick Reference
Different network environments require different approaches. Here's a quick reference for the most common situations:
Home WiFi (Residential ISP)
Most permissive. Any protocol works. Use VLESS+Reality for best performance. Set to Rule-Based mode. No special configuration needed.
Corporate / Office Network
Often restricts non-standard ports. Use Trojan on port 443 (HTTPS port). If VMess WS+TLS through Cloudflare CDN, almost guaranteed to work. Avoid UDP-based protocols (Hysteria2, TUIC).
Hotel / Airport WiFi
Captive portals block VPNs until you complete payment/login. Connect to hotel portal first (Direct mode), complete login, then switch to PROXY mode. Use Trojan on 443 for maximum compatibility with hotel firewalls.
Mobile Data (4G/5G)
Generally more permissive than WiFi. If your carrier throttles VPN traffic, try VMess WS+TLS on port 80 (HTTP port) or port 443. Some carriers can detect and throttle certain proxy protocols — use VLESS+Reality to avoid this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Shadowrocket work on WiFi but not mobile data (4G/5G)?
Some mobile carriers throttle or block non-standard ports. Try switching to Trojan or VMess on port 443 (HTTPS port), which mobile carriers almost never block. Alternatively, try enabling "Always On" in Shadowrocket's WiFi settings to maintain the connection when switching between networks.
Shadowrocket connects but Google/YouTube still doesn't load?
You're likely in Rule-Based mode and those sites are being routed directly. Try switching to Global mode temporarily. If they load in Global mode, go to your rules and ensure DOMAIN-SUFFIX, google.com has a PROXY action. VPN07 subscription URLs include optimized rules for major sites.
After updating iOS, Shadowrocket stopped working. What happened?
iOS updates sometimes reset or invalidate stored VPN profiles. Use Fix #5 (delete and recreate VPN configuration) to resolve this. Major iOS updates (e.g., iOS 17 to 18) may also change how the Network Extension framework works — check if there's a Shadowrocket update available in the App Store.
Shadowrocket shows connected but speed is very slow (under 1 Mbps)?
Run the built-in speed test by tapping the ⚡ button next to each node. If all nodes are slow, try a different geographic region — the node may be overloaded. With VPN07's 1000Mbps bandwidth infrastructure, you should see 50–800+ Mbps depending on your local internet connection. If speeds remain low on all nodes, check if your ISP is throttling proxy traffic.
Still Having Issues? Try VPN07
Reliable Nodes · Auto-Updated · 10 Years Stable
Many Shadowrocket connection problems are actually server-side issues with unreliable VPN providers. VPN07 maintains 99.9% node uptime with automatic failover, 1000Mbps bandwidth, and real-time monitoring. With 70+ countries and all major protocols supported, most Shadowrocket issues simply disappear when you switch to VPN07.
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