Shadowrocket Official Download Guide

iPhone: purchase, install, and open the app

On iPhone, open the verified App Store listing and check compatibility before reviewing the price and completing your purchase as prompted. Refer to the App Store page for system requirements. If your device doesn’t meet them, check the product listing and your device settings to understand why. A successful purchase doesn’t mean the app can be installed immediately on every device.

After purchase, wait for the App Store to finish installing the app, then open Shadowrocket from your Home Screen. On first use, Home shows connection status and server entries. If no details have been added yet, prepare a subscription or server information you already have. To add details manually, open Add Server, select the relevant Type, then enter the Host, Port, and authentication fields required by that protocol. Don’t reuse fields from a different protocol.

Understanding the first VPN configuration prompt

When you first enable a connection, the system may ask to add a VPN configuration. This system step allows the client to create the relevant network configuration. Confirm as prompted; you may also need to enter your device passcode or complete system authentication. The prompt does not provide a connection service or generate server details. After authorizing, you still need a correctly entered or imported configuration.

If you canceled the authorization prompt, return to Home to check the current status. Once your own configuration is ready, try connecting again; you don’t need to buy the app again just to bring up the prompt. Before connecting, check the Global Routing selection: the options are Config, Proxy, and Direct. If you’re using configuration rules, make sure Config contains a suitable configuration file. An enabled switch alone isn’t enough.

For your first check, use a clear test target and your current configuration. Connectivity Test can provide diagnostic clues, but a single result doesn’t reflect how every app or request will behave. If the connection fails, first determine whether the issue is an incomplete installation, missing authorization, mismatched settings, or an unavailable existing service. Then follow the quick start guide to check each step without changing unrelated settings.

iPad: purchase account and device compatibility

Shadowrocket is available for iPhone and iPad. One purchase with the same Apple ID can be installed on both types of compatible device. In the iPad App Store, confirm you’re signed in with the original purchasing account, then check your purchase history or the product listing. Refer to the App Store for system requirements and purchase eligibility. If the button still shows a price, check your account and purchase history before paying again.

The larger iPad screen may change panel layouts, list widths, and the placement of controls compared with iPhone. Find features by labels such as Home, Config, and Settings rather than relying on a button’s exact position in a screenshot. To add an existing server, open Add Server and match the parameters to the selected Type. After importing a configuration, confirm which one is currently selected.

Your purchase history can help you get the client on another compatible device, but it doesn’t transfer connection details. After installation, check whether your own subscription, server entries, and Config are available before restoring or importing them. If you use the same details on two devices, follow the device-use terms of your existing service. The client purchase does not determine how many devices the service allows to connect at once.

More about Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision

The compatibility section of the same App Store listing also includes Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision. The App Store remains the only place to get the app. Refer to the listing for device eligibility, universal purchase availability, and system requirements. The first-time setup steps on this page focus on iPhone and iPad; don’t assume that controls appear in the same places on other devices.

New device and restore: restore your purchase, then your configuration

When you get a new device or reinstall the app, the original purchase remains associated with the Apple ID used to buy it. Sign in with that account, go to App Store → Account → Purchased, find Shadowrocket, and download it again. You won’t be charged again for the same app. List names may vary slightly between system versions; you can also look for the app in your account’s purchase history. Check the purchase record rather than relying only on search results.

1. Confirm the original purchasing account. Check the account under Media & Purchases and, if needed, compare it with your purchase history. To restore the app, use the account that bought it—not just the account currently shown for iCloud.
2. Reinstall from Purchased. Find Shadowrocket, verify the developer, and tap the button on the listing. If a price still appears or you can’t download the app, check your account, store region, and the specific message before deciding what to do next.
3. Restore your existing configuration. After opening the app, check Home and Config. If your details haven’t been restored, import your own subscription, server information, or saved configuration, then check which item is selected.
4. Check the connection again. Follow any system prompts on the new device to complete required authorization. Confirm Global Routing and the selected configuration, then test access.

Restoring the app and restoring its configuration are separate processes. A purchase record shows which account bought the client; it doesn’t guarantee that a server password is still valid or a subscription has been updated. If the old device still works, identify the configurations you need to keep and save the recovery details securely. Treat passwords and subscription URLs as sensitive information; don’t post them publicly in comments or screenshots.

If the original configuration file has been restored but server entries are missing from Home, check whether those details were transferred too. Conversely, seeing server entries doesn’t mean your custom rules have been restored. Check connection parameters and Config separately rather than assuming everything is ready because one list appears. For export and restore steps, see the configuration backup and device migration guide.

To find out whether Family Sharing applies, check the current App Store listing and your account’s Family settings. Don’t assume that restoring a purchase with the same Apple ID automatically grants purchase access to other accounts. The original purchasing account, family member accounts, and configuration data on your devices are separate; check each one individually.

Pricing and purchase: what the app fee covers

Shadowrocket is a paid commercial app sold as a one-time purchase, with no monthly client fee. The US reference price is $2.99; other storefronts show local currency. The App Store listing and checkout screen determine the actual price, taxes, and payment outcome. If you see a different currency, first check your store region; the US reference price does not apply as a fixed checkout price everywhere.

This distinction also helps identify where to troubleshoot. If payment won’t complete, check your App Store account and checkout message. If no server entries appear after installation, check whether you’ve imported your own details. If an existing entry won’t connect, check its settings, rules, and service status. Paying for the client again won’t resolve these issues or add configuration details.

A one-time purchase and future app updates are also separate. Updates are delivered through the App Store; use your device’s automatic update settings or the store’s update controls. Refer to the App Store listing for current compatibility and update details. Save any configuration recovery information you need before updating. If the interface changes, find features by their English labels rather than assuming they’re still where an old screenshot shows them.

Before paying, take a moment to check: Is the app available in your account’s region? Do the developer, official icon, and app ID match? Does your device meet the requirements shown in the listing? Do you have your own connection details ready? Checking these points first helps you distinguish account, installation, and configuration issues.