# Guide to Using Surge on iOS for Proxy Management

> Master Surge iOS proxy management. Install Surge 4, import subscriptions, and route traffic via Shadowsocks. Optimize your iOS network now.

- Repository: [如何翻墙/fanqiang](https://github.com/bannedbook/fanqiang)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-09-05

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**Surge iOS proxy management requires installing Surge 4 from a non-China App Store, importing a subscription URL into the configuration manager, and activating the 🍃 Proxy strategy group to route traffic through Shadowsocks servers.**

The `bannedbook/fanqiang` repository provides a comprehensive tutorial for configuring Surge on iOS in [`ios/Surge.md`](https://github.com/bannedbook/fanqiang/blob/main/ios/Surge.md). This guide walks through the complete workflow—from obtaining a Pro subscription to activating advanced routing rules—enabling you to manage proxy connections securely on your iPhone or iPad.

## Installing Surge 4 from the App Store

You must download **Surge 4** from a non-China App Store region, as the application is not available in the Chinese App Store due to local restrictions.

The free version of Surge lacks proxy capabilities. To unlock full functionality, purchase a **Pro subscription** (approximately $49.99 for three devices) within the app. This subscription activates the VPN tunneling features required for Shadowsocks and rule-based routing.

## Obtaining and Importing Your Subscription

According to the workflow documented in [`ios/Surge.md`](https://github.com/bannedbook/fanqiang/blob/main/ios/Surge.md), you need a Surge-compatible subscription URL before configuring the application.

1. Register on the recommended V2Ray airport service to receive your unique subscription link.
2. This URL contains your server list, encryption methods, and routing rules in Surge-compatible format.
3. Copy the subscription URL to your clipboard.

To import the configuration:

1. Open Surge and navigate to **配置管理** (Configuration Management) in Surge 3, or **配置** (Configuration) in Surge 2.
2. Select **"从 URL 下载配置"** (Download Config from URL).
3. Paste your subscription link and confirm. Surge fetches the remote profile and applies it automatically.

## Configuring Proxy Rules and Strategies

After importing your subscription, activate the rule-based routing system to direct traffic through your proxies.

### Enable Rewrite and Rule Mode

For Surge 3 users:

1. Return to the home screen.
2. Enable **规则模式** (Rule Mode).
3. Turn on the **Rewrite** switch to activate custom domain and traffic routing rules.

This step is critical because Rewrite rules handle URL modifications and traffic direction that the base configuration alone cannot perform.

### Select the Auto Proxy Strategy

Navigate to the **策略组** (Policy Group) page:

1. Locate the **🍃 Proxy** group.
2. Select **🏃 Auto** to enable automatic failover and latency-based proxy selection.

This configuration tells Surge to automatically choose the fastest available proxy from your subscription list, rather than manually selecting individual servers.

## Manual Configuration Syntax

If you need to edit configurations manually or understand the underlying structure, Surge uses `.conf` files with specific section headers. Below is a sample configuration fragment compatible with Surge iOS proxy management:

```yaml
[General]
loglevel = notify
skip-proxy = 192.168.0.0/16, 10.0.0.0/8

[Proxy]

# Shadowsocks server – replace with your own endpoint

ss1 = ss, example.com, 8388, aes-256-gcm, password123, udp-relay=true

[Proxy Group]

# Auto-select the fastest proxy

Auto = url-test, ss1, ss2, ss3, 30, https://www.google.com/generate_204

[Rule]

# Direct access to local network

DOMAIN-SUFFIX, local, DIRECT

# Route all other traffic through the proxy group

FINAL, Auto

```

To apply this configuration manually:

1. Open Surge → **配置管理** → **编辑**.
2. Paste the fragment into the text editor or replace existing content.
3. Save the file. Surge reloads the profile instantly without requiring an app restart.

## Activating the VPN Service

Toggle the global switch (labeled **启动** or the main power button) on the Surge home screen. When prompted:

1. Allow the VPN extension installation.
2. Authenticate using Touch ID or Face ID.

Surge now establishes the VPN tunnel and routes all network traffic according to the rules defined in your imported profile or manual configuration.

## Summary

- Surge 4 requires installation from a non-China App Store and a Pro subscription ($49.99 for three devices) to enable proxy features.
- Import configurations via **"从 URL 下载配置"** using your V2Ray subscription link, as detailed in [`ios/Surge.md`](https://github.com/bannedbook/fanqiang/blob/main/ios/Surge.md).
- Enable **Rewrite** and **规则模式** to activate advanced routing rules in Surge 3.
- Set the **🍃 Proxy** group to **🏃 Auto** for automatic selection of the fastest server.
- Manual `.conf` files use `[General]`, `[Proxy]`, `[Proxy Group]`, and `[Rule]` sections to define server parameters and traffic routing.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do I install Surge if I only have access to the China App Store?

You cannot download Surge 4 from the China App Store due to regional restrictions. You must switch to a non-China Apple ID (such as US, Hong Kong, or Japan) to purchase and download the application. The source files in `bannedbook/fanqiang` consistently emphasize this requirement for all iOS proxy tools.

### Why does the free version of Surge not work for proxy management?

The free version of Surge functions only as a network diagnostic tool. The **Pro subscription** unlocks the VPN tunneling capabilities and Shadowsocks support required for actual proxy management. Without this subscription, you cannot import remote configurations or establish encrypted connections.

### What is the difference between the 🏃 Auto strategy and manual proxy selection?

The **🏃 Auto** strategy in the **🍃 Proxy** group performs URL latency tests against `https://www.google.com/generate_204` every 30 seconds (configurable) and automatically routes traffic through the fastest responsive server. Manual selection requires you to choose a specific server from the list, which may result in slower speeds if that server experiences congestion.

### Can I use Surge with my own self-hosted V2Ray server instead of a commercial subscription?

Yes. You can configure Surge to connect to self-hosted V2Ray servers by manually editing the `[Proxy]` section in your `.conf` file. The repository includes `v2ss/自建V2ray服务器简明教程.md` which provides instructions for setting up the server infrastructure that supplies the endpoint details you enter into Surge's configuration.