Official Manual Verify the App Store listing

Shadowrocket Setup Guide

Download on the App Store View the guide →

For the iPhone / iPad client, check the one-time purchase, import an existing subscription, and configure rule-based routing in order. If the connection fails, troubleshoot by symptom.

Global Routing · Config On Demand Shadowsocks / VLESS

Refer to the App Store listing for system requirements and purchase eligibility.

Official Shadowrocket Home screen showing the connection switch, Global Routing and Add Server
App interface reference · Use your own existing subscription or server details.
Identify the sticking point

Purchases, imports, and connections: check each separately

Purchase records, server details, and rule configuration address different issues. First identify which step is failing, then choose the relevant action. This helps avoid repeated reinstalls or changing several settings at once.

Common sticking points

  • After purchasing, there are still no usable server entries in Home. Purchasing the app and getting connection details have been mistaken for the same step.
  • After importing, the connection is switched on without checking Global Routing, so the result differs from the expected rule-based routing.
  • After a timeout, DNS, Config, and the server are all changed at once, making it impossible to tell which change fixed the issue.

Recommended troubleshooting order

  • Confirm the App Store purchase, then get your existing subscription from your own provider or gather the details for a server you manage.
  • For rule-based routing, select Config and check which configuration file is active. Any policies referenced in the file must also resolve correctly.
  • Change one condition at a time. Check the underlying network, server connection, and rule matches separately, and keep a restorable copy of your configuration.

Real rule syntax example—not a complete configuration ready to use

DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXY

Matches example.com and its subdomains, then applies the PROXY policy. Check the rule’s position and policy definition against your current Config.

Browse by setting

Shadowrocket Core Settings

Understand what each setting affects before changing it in the app. Interface labels stay in English so you can find them in Home, Config, and Settings.

Rule-based routing: select Config, then check the order

In Global Routing, Config routes traffic according to the configuration, Proxy sends it through a proxy, and Direct connects without a proxy. To control where requests go, select Config first, then check which file is active under Config. Rules are evaluated from top to bottom; the policy for the first matching rule is applied. Specific domain rules generally belong before broader matches. DIRECT, PROXY, and REJECT are policy keywords, not indicators of connection quality. After making changes, test the same destination again to avoid mistaking a server issue for a rule issue.

Global RoutingConfig / Proxy / Direct

For your first connection, set up a path you can verify

For your first setup, use one clear test goal: confirm the underlying network works, import your own valid server details, select the entry you want to use, and check Global Routing. When the system first asks to add a VPN configuration, read the prompt and grant permission only after confirming it was triggered by your action. Turning on the connection switch only starts the connection process; test an actual destination to verify that requests are handled as expected. Complete this check before adding more complex rules or On Demand conditions.

If only one website has a problem, check which policy it matches. If all destinations fail, check the underlying network, server details, and permissions first. Don’t assume every issue is a DNS problem, and don’t leave settings enabled long-term if you’re unsure what they do. The setup guide walks through the steps in order; the Troubleshooting guide organizes checks by symptom. To identify field meanings, start with the glossary.

Devices and App Store

Getting Shadowrocket on iPhone and iPad

For either device, verify the app through the same App Store product page. Refer to the listing for system requirements, compatibility, and purchase eligibility. Check your account and purchase history before deciding whether to buy.

iPhone

Follow these steps in order: verify the official listing, import an existing subscription, then make your first connection. On the App Store product page, check the developer and app ID first. After installing, prepare your connection details; a purchase alone does not make a connection available.

The first VPN configuration authorization is part of the system connection process. If you previously denied the prompt, follow the system guidance when you try connecting again. If the switch won’t stay on, note the prompt and troubleshoot permissions and configuration status. Check issues after switching networks separately.

See the iPhone setup steps →

iPad

If you bought Shadowrocket with the same Apple Account, first check your App Store purchase history and the product page’s redownload status. Purchase eligibility for iPhone and iPad is determined by the App Store listing. Don’t skip the account check just because the app is already installed on another device.

A larger screen may change how lists and editing areas are arranged, but find settings using the interface labels Home, Config, and Settings. Purchase history, server details, and the active configuration are separate things. After switching devices, check each one; restoring the app doesn’t mean all settings were restored.

See the iPad setup steps →

Before switching devices, organize purchase history and configuration separately

Purchase history lets you redownload the app; your own subscription or server details restore connection entries; and Config files restore routing settings. Check these three separately. Before changing devices, make sure you can still access your own subscription management details and save copies of any configurations you want to keep. If sync is enabled, verify the files and entries on the destination device rather than relying on the sync switch alone.

After restoring, connect manually first and test a destination you used before, then check On Demand. This helps distinguish account, import, and On Demand issues and reduces the chance of the same problem recurring. For the App Store checks and restore steps, see Restore a previous purchase.

See how to get the app → Already purchased? Check your restore options
Purchase and App Store Details

Verify the App Store listing

Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app available exclusively on the App Store. Shadowrocket Starter Guide — Official Manual is the official manual, and this is the official website. For purchase details, system requirements, and compatibility, refer to the App Store listing.

Official Shadowrocket app icon

Check the App Store icon along with the developer and app ID

Shadow Launch Technology Limited

App ID932747118App Store · One-time purchase

Check these three details before purchasing

A similar name in search results isn’t enough to confirm you’ve found the right app. Open the product page and check the name Shadowrocket, the developer Shadow Launch Technology Limited, and the official icon. The id932747118 in the product page URL is another stable identifier and should match the app ID listed here. Don’t buy based only on search result position or a name that includes “Shadowrocket.”

Consider the name, icon, and developer information together. If any details don’t match, return to the app’s acquisition instructions on this site, reopen the specified product page, and check the current App Store account status. Confirm the app before reviewing the purchase prompt to avoid carrying an identification mistake into installation or restoration.

See the App Store verification checklist →

App Store Availability and Account Region

If you can’t find the app, first check whether it’s missing from search results or whether the product page also won’t open. App Store content visibility can depend on the storefront region, content restrictions, and account status. Use the app ID to identify the listing, then check content restrictions on your device and the account information shown in the App Store. Not finding it in search doesn’t necessarily mean your device is incompatible.

If the product page opens, check compatibility and system requirements as listed there. If the App Store shows an account- or region-related message, address it first, then return to the product page. Changing server details in Shadowrocket won’t help here: purchases and connection configuration are separate steps.

Troubleshoot App Store search →

One-Time Purchase and Restoring Purchases

Shadowrocket is a one-time purchase. The US storefront price is about $2.99; other storefronts show local currency, and the price at checkout on the App Store is the one that applies. Purchase eligibility for iPhone and iPad is also determined by the listing. When reinstalling or switching devices, sign in with the Apple Account used for the original purchase, then check your purchase history and the product page.

If the product page shows a price again, first check your account, purchase history, and the app listing; don’t pay again until you’ve verified them. After redownloading the app, you’ll still need to check your own subscription, server entries, and Config. Purchase history doesn’t replace this information. Check Family Sharing availability and eligibility on the current App Store listing and in your account settings.

See pricing and purchase details →

Client purchase ≠ subscription plan

Purchasing the client grants the right to use the app; it doesn’t include a server or subscription. This site does not provide, sell, or recommend servers or subscriptions. All import steps below assume you already have your own subscription or server details. Get connection parameters from your own provider’s documentation or the server configuration you manage.

After importing a subscription, seeing entries in the list only means the information was read. You still need to select an entry and verify the connection. The client price, subscription validity, and server status are managed separately. If a subscription expires or a server is temporarily unavailable, buying the client again won’t fix the connection. Check the status and parameters of your existing subscription instead.

See how to import an existing subscription →

After an app update, compare settings before troubleshooting

App updates are delivered through the App Store. Check the update history and automatic update settings there. If an issue appears after an update, note your current Global Routing, Config, selected server, and On Demand status. Retest a destination that used to work, then check for changes in the network, subscription, or configuration. Don’t reset everything at once before recording your settings. When following this manual, use the field names currently shown in the app. A changed interface layout does not mean your purchase history or existing subscription is invalid.

When clarifying terminology, distinguish where Subscribe and Config, Proxy and PROXY, and Direct and DIRECT are used: the first in each pair may be an interface mode, while the second may be a policy keyword in a configuration. Don’t treat navigation labels and rule text as interchangeable. The glossary explains interface terms, protocols, rules, and subscriptions by category so you can confirm what a term means before changing anything.

Selected Reading

Browse Guides by Issue

These articles cover link formats, system VPN authorization, and App Store search issues. Choose the topic that matches your current symptoms. If you haven’t completed the initial setup, follow the setup guide first to import your details, choose a mode, and test the connection.

Protocols

Shadowrocket server link formats explained: ss://, vmess://, vless://, trojan://, and how subscription links differ

A single share link usually contains the protocol and authentication details for one server. A subscription link retrieves and updates a collection of entries. Identify which type of information you have before choosing an import option; links that can both be pasted don’t necessarily update the same way. This article explains the structure of each type and what to check after importing.

Read the link format guide →
Troubleshooting

Shadowrocket asks to “Add VPN Configuration” on first connection: Understanding the VPN profile in Settings

The system permission prompt on first connection and the in-app connection switch handle different steps. This article explains why a VPN configuration is needed, how to check its status in Settings, and what to check if you denied authorization or accidentally removed the configuration. When the prompt appears, confirm what triggered it and proceed with the current action; it isn’t a purchase step.

Read the VPN configuration guide →
Troubleshooting

Can’t find Shadowrocket in the App Store? Check storefront region, age rating, and account status

If you can’t find the app, use app ID 932747118 to identify the product page, then check the storefront region, age rating restrictions, and Apple Account status. This article treats missing search results and an unavailable product page as separate issues, helping you decide whether to check your account, device restrictions, or compatibility instead of repeatedly changing search terms.

Read the App Store search guide →

Troubleshoot connection issues by symptom: if the switch won’t turn on, check system permissions; if a subscription won’t update, check the link and its response; if only some destinations fail, check rule matches and DNS; if battery use changes, consider actual traffic, usage time, and On Demand conditions. Keep a copy of a Config that worked before, and retest the same destination after each change so you can assess the result. For the full process, see the Troubleshooting guide.

View all articles → Browse interface terms and rule keywords →