App Store purchase verification · Official Manual

Shadowrocket Setup Guide

A rule-based proxy client for iPhone and iPad. First verify the one-time purchase, then import an existing configuration and check rule-based routing.

Global Routing On Demand WireGuard

Before purchase / Before configuration

Shadowrocket purchase and App Store verification

This is the official Shadowrocket website and manual. First verify the App Store listing, then distinguish the app purchase from configuration files and connection services.

01 / Developer and app

Verify the full developer name

Check the developer on the App Store listing. It should be Shadow Launch Technology Limited. Then verify that the URL contains app ID 932747118 and compare the app icon with the official icon in this site’s header. A similar name alone is not enough; check all three details.

After opening a search result, view the product page before confirming a purchase. The app name, developer, and app ID should all match on the same page. If any detail differs, return to this site and use its link to reopen the correct listing.

02 / Understanding the costs

App purchase ≠ connection service plan

Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app; the purchase covers the right to use the client. The US storefront reference price is a one-time $2.99 purchase. Prices are shown in each storefront’s local currency; check the App Store listing at checkout for the actual amount.

To connect, you need your own existing subscription or server details. Buying the app does not add a server or include a connection service. This site does not provide, sell, or recommend nodes, subscriptions, or providers; it explains how to import and check your existing configuration.

03 / Storefront and compatibility

Availability depends on your storefront and account

Product availability, payment methods, and displayed currency depend on your current App Store storefront and account status. If the listing will not open, first check that your network can reach the store, then verify which storefront your account is using. A missing search result does not necessarily indicate a device problem.

Check the App Store listing for system requirements. Before purchasing, expand the compatibility details and confirm that your device meets them. Verify purchase eligibility for each device on the same product page rather than inferring it from the device name.

04 / Restoring purchases and switching devices

Restore the purchase first, then restore your configuration

Check the App Store listing for purchase compatibility with iPhone and iPad. After reinstalling or switching devices, sign in with the Apple ID used for the original purchase, find Shadowrocket in your App Store account’s Purchased section, verify the product, and download it again.

The app purchase record and in-app configuration are separate. After restoring the app, check whether your server details, subscription, and Config have also been restored. Before paying again, verify the purchasing account and order history. See the app access guide for the steps.

05 / Updates and backups

Updates are managed through the App Store

Get updates through the App Store. Automatic updates depend on your device’s store settings. The interface may change as the app evolves, so use labels such as Home, Config, and Settings when following this manual rather than relying only on a button’s position.

Before editing rules, syncing a configuration, or reinstalling, save a working copy and note the selected server and Global Routing mode. Backups may contain access credentials; store them somewhere you trust and remove sensitive information before sharing troubleshooting materials.

06 / Configuration and verification

The connection switch alone does not verify access

Allowing a VPN configuration means the device permits the app to establish the relevant network connection; it does not confirm that the server is working. After your first import, check Type, Host, Port, and authentication details before running Connectivity Test.

Once the test returns a result, check access by opening the actual destination. If the switch is on but access fails, check the server, Global Routing, DNS, and matching rules separately. Change one setting at a time so you can identify what affected the result.

See the purchase verification steps

Settings / How to use

Shadowrocket features and configuration

First identify whether you’re changing the routing mode, rules, or server settings. Select an item below to see where to find it and what to check.

Global Routing: Choose how traffic is handled

Open Global Routing in Home and check whether the current mode is Config, Proxy, or Direct. Config routes connections according to the selected configuration’s rules; Proxy handles eligible traffic through a proxy; Direct connects without a proxy. For everyday rule-based routing, select the intended Config and then choose Config mode. Switching modes temporarily can help narrow down a problem, but it does not replace checking rules or fix server settings and authentication errors. Restore your preferred mode when testing is complete.

  • Check the current mode shown in Home.
  • In Config mode, make sure the intended configuration file is selected.
  • After changing modes, compare results using the same destination.

Home / Global Routing

ConfigRoutes traffic according to the configuration’s rules

ProxyFor checking proxy routing

DirectFor checking a direct connection

Configuration files, server lists, and traffic records serve different purposes. Config determines how connections are handled, the SERVER list provides selectable servers, and Data helps you observe traffic. After importing a server, you still need to check the routing mode; after seeing traffic change, you still need to verify actual access. These steps are not interchangeable.

To sync across devices with iCloud, first check the account and sync settings on both devices, then verify which items actually appear. Syncing does not replace a separate backup or restore a purchase record. Before editing the same configuration on multiple devices, keep a working copy so temporary troubleshooting changes aren’t applied over the configuration on another device.

Follow the first-time setup guide →

Device information / Same App Store listing

Get Shadowrocket for iPhone and iPad

The App Store is the only way to get the app. Check compatibility before purchasing. After installation, confirm the required system permissions before importing your own configuration.

iPhone

Start in Home and check each item in turn. If a system prompt asks to add a VPN configuration during your first connection, confirm that the request comes from Shadowrocket, then grant permission as prompted. Return to the app, check the selected server and Global Routing, then turn on the connection and verify access.

If the switch won’t turn on, first check system permissions and any other VPN configuration currently in use. Don’t repeatedly delete configurations instead of troubleshooting. Keep your server details, then use the manual to check the current connection status.

See iPhone setup instructions →

iPad

First, use the original purchasing account to check your purchase status in the App Store. Check the product page for purchase compatibility with iPhone and iPad. The layout may differ on a wider screen, so locate controls by their labels—Home, Config, and Settings—instead of following tap coordinates from a phone.

After restoring a configuration from another device, check the selected Config, server, and sync results. Seeing the app in Split View does not mean the connection is on; check the switch and open the destination to verify access on your current network.

See iPad setup instructions →

Shadowrocket is also available through the same App Store on Mac and Apple TV. Check the App Store listing for compatibility, system requirements, and purchase eligibility.

In-depth guides / Find help by symptom

Configuration and connection guides

For your first setup, start with the user guide. If you can connect but something isn’t working as expected, choose a guide below that matches the symptoms. Avoid changing multiple settings at once.

Quick reference / Common points of confusion

Four questions to answer before setup

First, distinguish the purchase, server, configuration file, and connection status. Look up unfamiliar interface labels by their original English names in the quick reference.

Why is the SERVER list still empty after purchase?
Purchasing the app gives you the right to use the client; it does not add a server. Import a subscription you already have, or enter your existing server details in Add Server. After saving, check the list before running Connectivity Test. A listed server does not guarantee that authentication or the connection service works; verify it with an actual connection. See subscription and server terms →
Are importing a subscription and importing Config the same thing?
No. A subscription is mainly used to retrieve and update server entries; Config stores rules and related network settings. They work together when connecting, but serve different purposes. After server entries appear, check Global Routing and the selected Config. Updating a subscription does not necessarily update the rules file. See configuration file terms →
Why does Connectivity Test pass when a destination still won’t load?
The test method and the steps involved in actual browsing may differ. First check whether the destination resolves through DNS, then review Global Routing and the rule policy matched by that destination. If only one destination fails, check its related rules first. If all destinations fail, check the server and current network. Change one setting at a time. See DNS and rule terms →
What should I record before changing rules?
Save the current working configuration and note the selected server, Global Routing mode, failed destination, and error message. Change one rule at a time and retest. If the result is unexpected, undo that change before checking the next item. Before sharing your notes, remove subscription authentication parameters, passwords, and other private information. Never share a complete configuration that contains credentials. See rule and policy terms →