Name: Shadowrocket
Price: 2.99 USD
Author: Shadow Launch Technology Limited

Devices and App Store

Shadowrocket Setup Steps

Shadowrocket is available exclusively on the App Store and is primarily used on iPhone and iPad. Verify the product page before purchasing and installing. If you’ve already purchased the app, first check your purchase history using the original account. Refer to the App Store listing for system requirements and general purchase availability.

Set Up Shadowrocket on iPhone

Open the product page in the App Store on your device. Verify the app icon, developer, and app ID, then purchase as prompted. After installation, prepare your existing subscription or server details, import and select an item, then turn on the connection switch.

When connecting for the first time, iOS may ask to add a VPN configuration. This permission allows the system to manage network connections; it doesn’t mean your server details have been entered. Before granting permission, confirm the prompt came from Shadowrocket. Then return to Home and check the selected item and Global Routing.

View iPhone setup steps

Set Up Shadowrocket on iPad

Check your purchase history using the original Apple ID, then confirm whether you can download the app again on your current device. Refer to the App Store listing for universal purchase availability on iPhone and iPad. Don’t pay again solely because the app is installed on another device.

A wider screen changes the layout, but the same Home, Config, and Settings functions apply. Purchase history and configuration are separate: after getting the app, check the server details, configuration files, and connection permissions saved on this device. A purchase record does not mean your configuration has synced.

View iPad setup steps

Shadowrocket is also available from the same App Store on Mac and Apple TV. Refer to the App Store listing for system requirements and compatibility.

View setup steps →

Download on theApp Store

Features and where to find them

Rule-Based Routing and Configuration Management

First, distinguish between servers, configuration files, and the global mode, then check individual settings. Server details determine the remote endpoint used for a proxy connection. Rules in Config determine how each request is handled, while Global Routing in Home controls whether those rules are in effect. Select one of the six topics below to learn more; rule snippets illustrate syntax only.

Global Routing and Rule Order

Check Global Routing in Home. Config processes requests according to the rules in the selected configuration file. Proxy routes requests through a proxy, while Direct connects without one. To route traffic by domain or address, first confirm the intended configuration is selected, then check the rules in order to see which one matches. In the example below, the specified domain suffix uses PROXY, and all other requests fall through to FINAL,DIRECT. The example contains no server details and is not a complete configuration; verify the result with an actual request after making changes.

DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXY
FINAL,DIRECT

Compare the three Global Routing modes →

On Demand Triggers

On Demand can start a connection automatically when saved conditions are met. Review its settings in Settings. It controls when a connection starts; it doesn’t change subscriptions or replace rule-based routing. Before setting it up, establish a manual connection and confirm the server, permissions, and mode are working. Then configure each trigger individually. After making changes, check what happens when the network changes and when you reopen the app. Results can also depend on system state. If the connection starts unexpectedly, note and review these settings first; avoid changing the server and DNS at the same time.

Settings
On Demand

View On Demand settings guide →

Type and Protocol Parameters

Shadowrocket supports multiple proxy protocols. When adding a server manually, select the Type in Add Server that matches your existing server. Each protocol has different authentication, encryption, and transport requirements, so entering only Host and Port may not be enough. Check each field against your service details and keep protocol names and parameter values unchanged. If a field is unclear, confirm what it means before saving and testing. Use the original details for parameters imported with a subscription, too. Changing Type won’t convert a server to a different protocol.

Shadowsocks · VMess · VLESS · Trojan
Add Server → Type
Host / Port / Password

View protocol and field terminology →

Importing and Updating an Existing Subscription

If you already have a subscription, get the complete link from your service provider, then follow the tutorial to select Subscribe in Add Server and save it. After importing, return to Home and check that the group and server items appear, then select one to test. Updating a subscription fetches the latest content from its source; it doesn’t establish a connection or confirm that the service is active. Keep authentication details in the link private. If an update fails, check that the link was copied in full and that the address is reachable before contacting your provider about the service status.

Add Server
Type → Subscribe
Home → Connectivity Test

Import an existing subscription step by step →

Config Files and Rules

Use Config to manage configuration files. Sections such as General, Rule, and Hosts help you find specific content. Importing a server list doesn’t mean the intended rules are enabled; also check the active file and Global Routing. Save a copy before editing Rule, make one change at a time, and verify whether the target request matches. Rule keywords remain in English. FINAL is the fallback action when no preceding rule matches. For iCloud sync, check which configuration is actually selected on each device; matching file names alone aren’t enough.

Config
General / Rule / Hosts
FINAL,DIRECT

View the Config file guide →

Connectivity Test and Connection Logs

Connectivity Test in Home can check whether the selected item is reachable. For further troubleshooting, use Diagnostics in Settings. Test results are useful indicators, but can’t prove that every website will work. If the switch is on but requests fail, check the server, Global Routing, DNS, and rule logs in order, changing one variable at a time. Data can help you observe traffic, but traffic counts are not service billing records. Before sharing diagnostics, remove server addresses, subscription credentials, and identifiable browsing details.

Connectivity Test
Settings → Diagnostics
Data

View the connection troubleshooting checklist →

Three Checks for Global Routing

Config, Proxy, and Direct are routing modes, not servers. With Config, first confirm which configuration file is active, then check the rule for the target request. Proxy still requires a valid, reachable server. Direct connects without routing requests through the selected proxy server. Switching modes can help narrow down a problem, but won’t fix incorrect authentication details.

Compare the same page before and after a change, and note the mode and selected server each time. If you change the mode, DNS, and configuration file together, it’s difficult to identify what fixed the connection. After testing, restore a combination of mode and configuration you understand, then consider automated behavior such as On Demand.

View all features and settings →

App Store Verification and Purchase Details

Verify the App Store Listing

Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app. This is Shadowrocket’s official manual and website. Get and update the app through the App Store. To verify the product, check the developer, official app icon, and app ID in the store—not just the name in search results.

Developer Shadow Launch Technology Limited App ID 932747118 One-time purchase

Verify the Developer, Icon, and Product URL

On the product page, first confirm the app is named Shadowrocket, then verify the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited. Some details may be further down the App Store page, so don’t rely on a single line in search results when deciding whether to purchase. The icon should match the official icon shown on this site, and the product URL should contain app ID id932747118.

Check all three details together. A similar name doesn’t mean it’s the same product, and a similar icon can’t replace verification of the developer and app ID. The App Store button on this site links to the same product page. If you open the store from elsewhere, use the same checks. If anything doesn’t match, leave the page and reopen the product link from the verification guide.

App Store Availability and Account Region

App Store content, purchase currency, and availability depend on the store region. Whether the product page appears and the app can be purchased depends on the purchasing account signed in on your device and the store’s prompts. If you can’t find it in search, first check your store region, then try opening the product page linked here. Search ranking is not a way to verify an app’s identity.

Always refer to the App Store listing for system requirements. Before purchasing, check the compatibility section and make sure your device meets the requirements. Don’t assume your device is compatible just because the app installs on another device. Follow any store prompts to check your account and device; server settings in the app won’t change App Store purchase requirements.

What the One-Time Purchase Covers

Shadowrocket is a one-time purchase on the App Store. The U.S. storefront reference price is US$2.99; check the App Store listing for the current price and local currency. This payment is for the client app, not for using a service you already have. After purchasing, you still need to import your own subscription or enter existing server details to use a proxy connection under your service’s terms.

App purchase ≠ service plan. Check your app purchase history, subscription update status, and server connectivity separately. If the imported list is empty, check the source and import steps. If server authentication fails, check your existing service details rather than buying the app again. This site covers client app usage only; it does not provide nodes or subscriptions.

Restore Purchases, Devices, and Updates

After deleting and reinstalling the app or switching to a new device, sign in with the original purchasing account, find Shadowrocket in the App Store purchase history, and download it again if the store allows. Refer to the App Store listing for universal purchase availability on iPhone and iPad, compatibility with other devices, and Family Sharing eligibility. If the store still shows a price, check the account and purchase history before paying again.

Manage app updates through the App Store. Whether automatic updates run also depends on device settings and system conditions. Restoring the app doesn’t necessarily restore subscriptions, servers, and configuration files. After reopening it, check the items in Home, the active file in Config, and Settings. If you use iCloud sync, also check the actual content and selected settings on the target device.

For Connection Issues, Separate Purchase from Configuration

A successful installation only confirms that you’ve completed the setup steps. Connectivity depends on saved server details, service status, mode, and rules. Automatic configuration recovery also depends on previous save and sync settings. Check the layer related to the problem to avoid repeating steps: check purchase history for App Store issues, import results for missing list items, and connection and routing logs for access issues.

View App Store verification and purchase guidance →

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to select a server after importing a subscription?

Importing a subscription saves existing service details to the list, but you still need to select an item for the current connection. Check the group and items in Home, confirm Global Routing, then turn on the connection and test access. Updating a subscription and switching on a connection are separate actions. A successful update doesn’t mean every item has been tested.

View subscription import and connection steps →

Does Direct connect through a proxy server?

No. Direct in Global Routing means connecting directly. DIRECT in a rule also means the matching traffic isn’t routed through the selected proxy server. To route traffic by rules, check Config; seeing a server in Home doesn’t mean every request goes through it.

View interface terms and rule keywords →

Why can’t I open a webpage even though the switch is on?

An active connection switch alone doesn’t prove that the remote service and all requests are working. Check whether the selected server is valid, Global Routing is set as intended, DNS is available, and the expected rule is matching. Change one setting at a time and record the result before moving on.

View the step-by-step troubleshooting checklist →

Will my configuration automatically match after installing the app on another device?

Check app access and configuration sync separately. Even if you redownload the app with the original purchasing account, verify the server details, configuration files, iCloud sync status, and connection permissions on the target device. If a file appears, confirm it’s selected; the file name alone doesn’t show which content is active.

View sync and settings guidance →

Focused How-To Guides

Restore Purchases and Routing Modes Explained

Follow the tutorial for basic tasks, then read a focused guide for a specific issue. The articles below cover restoring an app with the original purchasing account, what the app price covers, and how Global Routing handles traffic. After reading, check the actual state on your device; purchase history, service status, and rule configuration are separate.

Purchase & Setup

Restore Shadowrocket After Switching or Reinstalling

Find the app in the App Store purchase history for your original account. First verify the account, then check the store listing, and finally confirm the servers and configuration on the target device separately.

Read the restore guide →

Purchase & Setup

How Much Does Shadowrocket Cost? What the One-Time Purchase Covers

Check the current App Store price and distinguish the one-time app purchase from the cost of an existing service. For import or connection problems, first identify which part of the process is affected.

Read about pricing →

Getting Started

The Three Global Routing Modes

Compare how Config, Proxy, and Direct handle traffic. Learn how the active configuration, selected server, and final rule each affect routing so you can check the right settings for your needs.

Read the mode comparison →

View all articles →

Shadowrocket iOS User Guide