Official App Store listing · Official guide

Shadowrocket User Guide
and Subscription Management

Download on the App Store View the guide

A rule-based routing client for iPhone / iPad, available as a one-time purchase on the App Store. Follow the steps to import an existing subscription and check your connection.

  • Global Routing
  • Subscribe
  • Shadowsocks / VMess / Trojan

Abstract connection-themed illustration, not an app screen.

Purchase and first launch

Get Shadowrocket for iPhone / iPad

First, verify the app on the App Store, then prepare your own subscription or server details. Buying the client and adding connection details are separate steps: after installing the app, import a valid configuration to use it as expected. Check the App Store page for system requirements, device compatibility, and general purchase terms.

iPhone

Use this walkthrough to check each step from your first installation. After purchase, open Shadowrocket, add an existing subscription, then choose a server and a Global Routing mode. When you connect for the first time, iOS will ask to add a VPN configuration. Authorize it only if you initiated the request.

Before importing, make sure the subscription URL is complete. If you paste it from the clipboard, check for spaces or line breaks at either end. If you enter details manually in Add Server, make sure the protocol, address, port, and authentication fields match the information from your service provider.

iPhone setup guide →

iPad

If you bought the app with the same Apple ID, first check your App Store purchase history. Availability and general purchase eligibility are determined by the App Store listing. Check the app purchase record separately from subscriptions and configuration files on your device.

A larger screen can make configuration instructions easier to follow, but the connection steps remain the same: add connection details, choose a policy, connect, and verify access. When switching devices, first check that your subscription updates successfully, then review the active configuration. Restoring a purchase does not restore connection details.

iPad setup guide →

Shadowrocket is also available from the App Store for Mac / Apple TV. Check the App Store page for compatibility, system requirements, and purchase eligibility.

See how to get the app →
Settings and where to find them

Shadowrocket features and configuration

First identify whether you need to manage connection details, routing policies, or connection triggers, then open the relevant setting. These six sections explain what each feature does and what to check. Interface labels remain in English so you can match them to the app.

Global Routing and rule order

To route traffic by destination, select Config in Global Routing, then confirm which configuration file is active. Rules are checked in file order, and the policy for the first match is applied. Put FINAL last so it handles requests that did not match an earlier rule. Proxy and Direct let you temporarily test proxied and direct connections, but neither replaces fixing a rule. Keep a copy of the original configuration before making changes. Afterward, test the same destination so you can compare results; changing both the server and rules at once makes it harder to identify the cause.

Read the guide
Global Routing: Config
DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXY
FINAL,PROXY

Suggested order: Start with the tutorial and complete one manual connection. If you need to manage multiple subscriptions, read the subscription guide next. Adjust rules and On Demand only after confirming that the server works. This helps distinguish import errors, policy choices, and automatic connection conditions, reducing unnecessary changes.

App authenticity and purchase details

Verify the App Store listing and understand purchase terms

Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app available exclusively on the App Store. Verify the product page before purchasing. Do not rely on search ranking or a similar app name; check the developer, official icon, and app ID together.

Check the developer, icon, and app ID

On the product page, first confirm the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited, then compare the listing with the official icon shown in this site's header, and finally check that the app ID in the URL is 932747118. All three details should refer to the same app. If you see only a similar name, do not skip the other checks.

The product page may look different in a browser and in the App Store on your device, but the verification details are the same. Before confirming a purchase, check the app name and price again so you do not mistake another search result for the intended app. The download guide shows where to verify the listing and how to proceed on first launch.

See how to verify the listing →

App Store availability and account region

Purchase availability depends on the product's visibility in your current App Store storefront, your account status, and device compatibility. Being able to open the web page does not necessarily mean your account can purchase the app. If it appears unavailable on your device, check the account used for purchases, storefront, and App Store message rather than repeatedly changing app settings.

If you need to change your account region, first review requirements such as account balance, existing subscriptions, and payment methods, then follow the prompts in system settings. Changing regions is not a general-purpose fix. App availability, payment options, and system requirements are as shown on the App Store page.

See App Store availability details →

The app purchase and connection service are separate

The U.S. Store reference price is about $2.99; other storefronts display prices in local currency. The amount shown at checkout is the actual price. A one-time purchase covers the client app. Subscription links, server credentials, service validity, and available traffic belong to your existing connection service and should be checked separately.

The app purchase does not include a connection plan. If no servers appear in the list after installation, that does not mean the purchase failed; import your own subscription or server details first. Conversely, an updated subscription does not guarantee that every server can connect. Select an entry and test it. App costs and connection service fees are separate and cannot replace each other.

See pricing and one-time purchase details →

Restore purchases, updates, and data backups

When switching devices or reinstalling, first check the Apple ID used for the purchase and its purchase history in the App Store, then get the app as shown in the store. Purchase eligibility across devices, Family Sharing, and compatibility are as shown on the App Store page. If prompted to pay again, check the account and purchase history first.

App updates are handled through the App Store; Subscribe updates server details, and editing Config changes rules. These are separate operations. Before reinstalling the app, make sure your subscription link and any essential configuration are backed up. Restoring a purchase does not restore local data. After using sync, check the contents directly rather than assuming that a sync status means your data is backed up.

See how to restore a purchase →

First-time setup FAQ

Why do I need to choose Global Routing after importing a subscription?

A subscription provides server details; Global Routing determines how requests are handled. To route by rules, choose Config and make sure the correct configuration is active. If you temporarily use Proxy or Direct, understand how they differ from Config. Import connection details, select a server, and set a policy in that order. See the complete user guide.

After scanning a QR code, the expected server does not appear. What should I check first?

First confirm the QR code contains a supported server share format or subscription URL, and check that the original information is complete. A clear QR code does not guarantee valid content; after importing, check the protocol, address, and authentication fields. Get subscription links from your service provider. Hide credentials if you share a screenshot for troubleshooting. See the QR code import guide.

Connectivity Test passes, but websites will not load. What should I do?

A passing test means only that the specific test completed. Website access also depends on DNS, routing policies, and the destination service. Keep the server unchanged, check basic access on the same network, then review rules and DNS resolution. Change one factor at a time and note the results before and after. See the connection troubleshooting steps.

Does updating a subscription also replace Config?

Do not assume that updating a subscription updates a configuration file. After an update, check the server list and active Config separately. If you have manually changed the existing settings, keep a restorable copy before reviewing what changed. Give multiple subscriptions clear names to avoid deleting or updating the wrong entry. See the subscription update guide.

Featured guides

Guides to purchasing, permissions, and routing

These guides explain concepts that are easy to confuse: first, the difference between app and connection costs; then, the initial authorization prompt; and finally, the role of Global Routing. Look up the issue that matches what you see rather than changing every setting at once. Back up a working configuration before making small, verifiable changes.

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