Shadowrocket for iPad: Redownload from Purchases and Navigate the Landscape Layout

Redownload on the same account: check which account made the purchase

Shadowrocket is a paid, one-time purchase available exclusively on the App Store, primarily for iPhone and iPad. To redownload it on another device, make sure the Apple Account used for the App Store has the original purchase. The device names and Wi-Fi network do not matter.

The Apple Account signed in to iCloud on your iPad may differ from the one used for Media & Purchases. Check the purchasing account shown on your App Store profile page. You can also open your Apple Account in Settings and check Media & Purchases. Photo or contact syncing alone does not mean that the current account owns the app purchase.

1. Check the purchasing account

   Open the App Store on your iPad, tap your profile picture in the top-right corner, and check whether the account shown is the one that originally bought Shadowrocket. If you’re unsure, check the purchase history on the original device before paying again.

2. Find the app in your purchases

   On your App Store account page, open the app list or purchase history and search for Shadowrocket. Depending on your system version, the section may be called Apps or Purchased; use the option shown on your device.

3. Verify the app listing

   Confirm that the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited and the app ID is 932747118. Check the official icon and app details using the official app verification guide.

4. Redownload the app

   Tap the redownload button next to the app and complete any account verification requested by the system. If you see a price instead of a redownload option, stop and check the account and purchase history before proceeding.

5. Check the content on this device

   Open Shadowrocket and check the connection entries in Home and configurations in Config. A successful redownload confirms only that the app is installed; it does not mean all settings from your original device have been transferred.

Navigate the landscape layout by function, not by screen coordinates

In landscape, the iPad’s wider display can show different portions of lists, detail panes, and navigation controls than an iPhone. Narrowing the window may switch the interface to a more compact layout. The exact arrangement depends on the current app and system display, so don’t rely on a control always being in the bottom-left corner.

To find a control, start with Home, Config, or Settings, then locate the item by name. Home focuses on connection entries and controls, Config manages configuration files, and Settings contains app preferences. When editing an item, check its title and fields before changing anything so you don’t mistake a neighboring entry for the one you intended.

Global Routing determines how traffic is handled. Proxy, Direct, Config, and Scene are different routing modes, not connection quality ratings. To route traffic according to your configuration’s rules, check that Config is selected and confirm which configuration file is active. After transferring your setup, don’t check only the connection toggle.

Split View and window resizing: distinguish layout changes from connection changes

When supported by your system and device, you can place Shadowrocket beside a browser to check configuration details while testing a webpage. Whether Split View or another window mode is available depends on the options provided by your device and system. Making the app window narrower can change how navigation appears, but window width does not change Global Routing.

• Before resizing: In Home, note the selected connection entry, toggle state, and Global Routing mode. In Config, note the selected configuration name.
• After resizing: If the detail view is no longer visible, use the current screen’s Back or navigation control to return to the list. Don’t keep tapping the old location, or you may select a different item by mistake.
• When entering text: The keyboard may hide the Save button. Dismiss the keyboard and confirm that your changes were saved. Closing the window does not save them.
• When testing: Start with a webpage you know you can access, then test the intended site. Change only the window state or one connection setting at a time to avoid changing multiple variables.

If the connection status changes after you switch to the browser, return to Home to check its actual state, then review Settings → On Demand. On Demand affects connection behavior based on configured conditions; it is separate from the landscape layout. Before testing a manual connection, note the existing On Demand settings. If you temporarily disable them, restore the original values when you’re done.

Transfer your configuration: check connection entries and Config separately

Your App Store purchase history confirms your eligibility to use the app; it does not back up connection entries or rule files. Even when both devices use the same Apple Account, check each item individually. If the original device is still usable, note its active configuration and leave it working while you set up the iPad.

You can import your existing subscription on iPad, but check its actual contents and terms to see whether it includes rule files, supports multiple devices, or has expired. Don’t assume that importing a subscription will automatically make Config, DNS settings, and On Demand match another device.

When transferring settings manually, use the same protocol as the original entry. Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, Trojan, Hysteria2, and WireGuard use different fields. Don’t copy only the server address and port and then choose a Type at random. Check authentication fields, TLS-related parameters, and transport settings; a correct port alone is not enough.

• If your configuration uses DOMAIN-SUFFIX, check the domain suffix and rule order to make sure the entry for the intended domain is present.
• IP-CIDR matches IP address ranges, while GEOIP matches based on an IP address’s geographic location. Neither is a synonym for a domain rule.
• FINAL is the last rule applied when none of the preceding rules match. Check which policy it points to so the new device doesn’t use a different fallback from the original.
• Subscription URLs and configuration files may contain credentials. Share them only through a method you control, and never post their full contents in public screenshots, notes, or support requests.

First connection check: VPN authorization is device-specific

VPN authorization granted on your iPhone does not authorize your iPad. The first time you turn on the connection switch on iPad, the system may ask to add a VPN configuration. Confirm that the request comes from Shadowrocket on the device you’re using, then follow the system prompts to authorize and verify it. If you deny the request or cancel partway through, the app may be installed and entries imported but still unable to connect.

1. In Home, select the connection entry you want to test and check Global Routing. If you use rules, also confirm the selected configuration in Config.
2. Turn on the connection switch and respond to the system’s VPN configuration request on this device. Don’t switch to another task before completing the system confirmation.
3. Return to Home and check the connection status. Then open a browser and test a webpage you know is accessible and the intended destination, recording the results separately.
4. If a webpage doesn’t work, first check the connection entry, routing mode, and DNS-related settings. Don’t make redownloading the app your first step.

A latency test returning a result shows only that the test received a response under those conditions. It does not confirm that all domain lookups, rule matches, and destination requests are working. For acceptance testing, record whether a connection can be established separately from whether the target webpage loads fully. For help with system authorization, see Troubleshooting; for the basic setup sequence, see Getting Started.

Common questions about using Shadowrocket on iPad