Primarily an iPhone / iPad client for rule-based routing; the app is a one-time purchase on the App Store.
Shadowrocket is available exclusively through the App Store. First verify the listing and the Apple Account used for the purchase, then set up the app. Check the App Store page for system requirements, device compatibility, and purchase availability.
Buy the app on its App Store product page. When you open it for the first time, have your own subscription or server details ready. When you connect, approve the VPN configuration prompt, then return to Home to check the connection and test access.
View the iPhone guide →Use the same Apple Account used for the purchase and look for the app in your App Store purchase history. Purchase availability is determined by the App Store listing. The landscape layout may differ, but the steps for importing, choosing a mode, and testing the connection remain the same.
View the iPad guide →Shadowrocket is also available on Mac and Apple TV through the same App Store; check the listing for compatibility.
If you’ve already purchased the app, first confirm which account is currently signed in to the App Store, then check your purchase history. A price shown on the button alone doesn’t mean your purchase history is missing. Restoring the app and restoring its configuration are separate tasks: check your subscription, server details, and configuration files individually.
View the steps to get the app →First understand the different roles of server details, configuration files, and routing modes. A successful import only means the information was added; actual access also depends on the settings, rules, and current network.
To route traffic differently depending on its destination, select Config in Global Routing, then check the Rule section of the active configuration. Rules are generally evaluated in order, so put specific domain rules before broader ones. FINAL handles requests that don’t match earlier rules. Proxy and Direct can help with troubleshooting, but neither is the same as applying the configuration’s individual routing rules. The syntax on the right is for illustration only; example.com is a sample domain. Before using a configuration, confirm that the referenced policy names exist and check whether local network access is affected.
DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXYIP-CIDR,192.168.0.0/16,DIRECTFINAL,PROXYOn Demand starts a connection when configured conditions are met; it doesn’t fill in server details or fix an inactive subscription. First connect manually and confirm that the destinations you need are accessible. Then check the available On Demand options and conditions in Settings. Test the changes on the network you actually use and confirm that the connection starts as expected. If the connection starts again after you turn off the main switch, check the On Demand conditions and system VPN settings. Avoid changing several settings at once. Option names and behavior may vary; refer to what’s shown in the app.
Shadowrocket supports multiple protocols. When adding a server, use your own server details to choose the matching Type in Add Server. Settings for Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, Trojan, WireGuard, and Hysteria2 are not interchangeable; make sure the address, port, authentication details, and transport settings all match. Import links can save manual entry, but you should still check the imported values. If a field is missing or the connection fails, ask your service provider to confirm the protocol and required settings. Don’t change the Type based on a similar name alone.
If you already have a subscription, get the complete link from your own service provider, choose Subscribe when adding it, and save. Check that the expected entries appear in the list, then select a server and test the connection. Updating a subscription refreshes its server list; it doesn’t necessarily update configuration files or include a connection service with the app purchase. If the list is empty, check that the link is complete, request a current link if needed, and confirm that your network can access the subscription. Links may contain authentication details, so hide them before sharing a screenshot or asking for help.
Server details determine how to establish a connection; configuration files in Config describe how traffic is handled, including rules. Before editing, keep a working copy. Identify the General, Rule, and Hosts sections, and confirm that the edited file is the one currently selected. After adding rules, check in Global Routing that Config is selected; otherwise, the expected routing may not take effect. For iCloud sync, check both the in-app sync settings and your system account status. Sync is not a complete backup, so save your configuration and any necessary settings before switching devices.
Start troubleshooting by confirming that your regular network works, then use Connectivity Test to check the selected server. A successful test doesn’t guarantee access to every destination; also check Global Routing, DNS, and the actual request. Data can show traffic recorded by the app, but its totals may not match your provider’s bill. For further diagnostic information, use Diagnostics in Settings. Change one setting at a time and repeat the same action to identify whether the issue comes from server details, rule selection, or the current network.
Not sure which part of the app a term belongs to? Check the glossary. Home is for choosing a server and connecting, Config is for configuration files, and Settings is for app preferences. Find the right screen before changing settings; it’s easier to reproduce an issue than by switching several controls back and forth.
These steps assume you already have your own subscription or server details. Shadowrocket Guide - Official Manual provides instructions for using Shadowrocket; it does not provide, sell, or recommend servers or subscriptions.
If you have details for a single server, open Add Server and match the Type, Host, Port, and authentication fields. If you have a subscription link, choose Subscribe. After pasting it, check for spaces, line breaks, or missing text at either end. Save, then return to Home and confirm that the entry appears. QR codes and import links may also contain sensitive information; only use details you trust and are authorized to use.
Keep your App Store purchase history, subscription link, and configuration files separate. They relate to app access, your server list, and routing rules, respectively. Installing the app doesn’t mean the other two are ready.
To apply configuration rules, select Config and confirm that the expected file is selected on the Config screen. Proxy routes traffic through a proxy; Direct connects directly. These modes can help you compare results when troubleshooting, but they don’t replace understanding the rules. Before testing, note the selected server and mode so you can return to the previous working setup if needed.
If only some destinations are affected, check which rule and policy match those destinations first. Don’t delete the entire configuration right away. Save a copy, then check whether a broad rule is taking precedence over a more specific rule below it.
Select a server and turn on the connection switch, then approve the VPN configuration prompt. Run Connectivity Test and visit a destination you need to access. A VPN status indicator only confirms that the connection is enabled; it doesn’t prove that the server, DNS, and destination are all working. Record both the test result and what happens when you try to access the destination.
If the connection fails, check your basic network, server settings, and routing mode in that order. After switching networks or servers, repeat the same test. Don’t change the protocol, DNS, and rules all at once; changing one thing at a time helps identify what affected the result.
The app purchase gives you the right to use the Shadowrocket client. You provide your own subscription or server details for connections. Check the service’s validity separately from the app purchase record.
Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app. Verify that it’s the right product by checking its developer, official icon, and app ID on the App Store—not just its name, search ranking, or a similar-looking image.
Open the product page and confirm that the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the icon matches the official icon shown here, and the product URL contains id932747118. Check all three details together; a matching or similar name alone doesn’t prove it’s the same product. After opening the App Store from this site’s app page, check the product details shown there before purchasing.
Search results and purchase availability depend on the current App Store account’s storefront, content restrictions, and account status. Being able to open the webpage doesn’t guarantee that the account can make a purchase. If you can’t find the app, first check the storefront used by your account and any device access restrictions, then review the product page. Always refer to the App Store listing for system requirements rather than relying on figures from an older guide.
On iPhone and iPad, first check the purchase history for the same Apple Account. Refer to the App Store listing for universal purchase availability and device compatibility. After switching devices or reinstalling, restore access to the app first, then check your saved subscription, server details, and configuration files. Check the App Store listing and your account settings to see whether Family Sharing applies; don’t assume that being in the same family makes the app available to you.
The US App Store reference price is a one-time purchase of $2.99. Other storefronts show local currency; the final price appears on the purchase confirmation screen. App updates are handled through the App Store. Updating an entry in Subscribe retrieves the existing subscription content again. These are separate: an app update doesn’t extend connection service, and a subscription update doesn’t change your app purchase record.
For help checking your storefront, payment status, purchase recovery, or Family Sharing, see the guide to getting the app. Before sharing screenshots, hide account details and subscription authentication information. Include only the error message, the relevant screen, and steps to reproduce the issue.
Read the App Store guide →These three articles cover App Store search issues, the scope of REJECT rules, and using Shadowrocket on iPad. For a specific issue, start with the relevant guide, then check your device step by step to avoid mixing up unrelated problems.
If you can’t find or get the app, first check your storefront, then review content restrictions and account payment status. Distinguish app visibility from account purchase requirements, and use the App Store’s messages to identify the issue.
Learn how REJECT works with rules such as DOMAIN-SUFFIX, and understand matching scope, rule order, and the risk of blocking unintended traffic. Rules handle requests; they don’t arbitrarily modify page content.
Check the purchase history for the same account, then confirm App Store compatibility and purchase availability. Learn where controls are in landscape and split-screen layouts; configuration and connection testing follow the same steps.