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Understand Network
with Shadowrocket
VPN Rules & Routing!


Learn how Shadowrocket controls your traffic
with smart rules, proxy support, and security.
Just scroll down to explore the full breakdown.


How Shadowrocket Works – A Simple Shadowrocket Explanation

Shadowrocket is a powerful iOS tool that helps users route their internet traffic through proxies, giving them greater control, privacy, and access to restricted content. It’s not just a VPN — it’s a rule-based proxy utility that allows custom traffic routing based on apps, domains, and network types.

shadowrocket vpn

What Shadowrocket Does

Shadowrocket is much more than a basic VPN. It acts as a network controller for your iPhone or iPad, letting you manually route traffic through proxy servers like SOCKS5, HTTP, HTTPS, V2Ray, and Trojan. Once configured, it can:

  • Unblock geo-restricted apps and websites

  • Filter ads and trackers using rule-based blocking

  • Improve speeds by routing only certain apps through proxies

  • Secure your connection when using public Wi-Fi

    • Users can create flexible routing rules that tell the app what traffic to send through a proxy and what to keep on the default connection. You can even use multiple proxies and define fallback behaviors. This smart customization is what makes Shadowrocket so unique.

    If you’re wondering how Shadowrocket works or looking for a clear Shadowrocket explanation, let’s break it down step by step.


    Understanding Proxies & Rules

    One of Shadowrocket’s core strengths is how it lets users add proxies and apply custom rules. Let’s simplify what that means.

    🔐 What Is a Proxy?

    A proxy is a middleman server that forwards your internet traffic. Instead of connecting directly to a website, your data first goes through the proxy — which can:

  • Hide your IP address

  • Change your virtual location

  • Encrypt or anonymize your data (depending on protocol)

    • In Shadowrocket, users can add different proxy types like:

  • SOCKS5 – Lightweight and fast

  • HTTP/HTTPS – Common for web traffic

  • V2Ray / Trojan – For advanced security and censorship bypassing

    • ⚙️ What Are Routing Rules?

    Routing rules in Shadowrocket allow you to control which traffic uses which proxy. You can:

  • Route YouTube traffic through a U.S. proxy

  • Keep banking apps on your local network

  • Block trackers from Facebook or ad servers

    • 📌 Example Rule:

    DOMAIN-KEYWORD, youtube, PROXY-US
    DOMAIN-SUFFIX, bank.com, DIRECT

    This means all YouTube content uses a U.S. proxy, and any traffic to bank.com bypasses the proxy entirely.

    This rule-based approach gives users granular control — perfect for both privacy lovers and network tinkerers.


    Supported Protocols Explained

    Shadowrocket supports a wide variety of proxy protocols. Each protocol serves different needs — from privacy to speed.

    Let’s break them down:

    🔸 SOCKS5

  • Lightweight and fast

  • Works for most apps including browsers and torrent clients

  • Doesn’t encrypt by default (but hides IP)

    • Best for: Streaming, torrenting, and general browsing where speed is important

    🔸 HTTP/HTTPS Proxy

  • Web-based proxy

  • Only works for HTTP/HTTPS web traffic

  • Easy to configure, but less secure

    • Best for: Website access, simple proxy setups

    🔸 V2Ray (VMess)

  • Highly advanced and secure

  • Built to bypass strong censorship

  • Obfuscation hides proxy use from ISPs

    • Best for: Privacy, bypassing firewalls (e.g., in restrictive countries)

    🔸 Trojan

  • Mimics HTTPS to avoid detection

  • High encryption and strong stealth mode

  • Works well in countries with deep packet inspection (DPI)

    • Best for: Censorship resistance and secure communications

    Each protocol type can be imported easily into Shadowrocket using QR codes or server URLs. Advanced users can also edit JSON config files directly.

    If you’re a beginner just exploring how Shadowrocket works, SOCKS5 or HTTPS are good starting points. Advanced users looking for censorship evasion will prefer V2Ray or Trojan.


    Traffic Flow: How Shadowrocket Handles Your Data

    Let’s look at how Shadowrocket actually routes your traffic under the hood. This is where the magic happens — and it’s simpler than you think.

    🔄 Traffic Flow Diagram (Simplified)

    [ App Request ] │ ▼ [ Shadowrocket Rules Engine ] │ ┌──────────────┐ ├▶│ Rule: Use Proxy │──▶ [ Proxy Server ] ──▶ [ Internet ] │ └──────────────┘ │ ┌──────────────┐ └▶│ Rule: Direct │──▶ [ Internet ] └──────────────┘

    🧠 How It Works

    01. Your app (e.g., Safari or YouTube) makes a network request.

    02. Shadowrocket intercepts it and checks your rules.

    03. Based on the domain or app, it decides:

  • Should the request go through a proxy server?

  • Or should it go directly to the internet?

    • 🧩 DNS Handling & Fallback

  • Shadowrocket can use custom DNS resolvers to block ads or malicious domains.

  • If a proxy server fails, Shadowrocket can fall back to an alternate or direct connection.

    • This intelligent system ensures that only the traffic you choose is rerouted, giving you both control and efficiency.


    Conclusion: Why Shadowrocket Is So Powerful

    Shadowrocket gives users more than just a VPN — it offers a full traffic control panel for iOS. With proxy support, advanced rules, and powerful protocol handling, it’s ideal for anyone wanting privacy, speed, and flexibility.

    If you’ve ever searched for how Shadowrocket works or needed a simple Shadowrocket explanation, we hope this guide has helped. Ready to explore more? Visit the Shadowrocket Download Page and take control of your internet.