Official App Store listing · One-time purchase

Shadowrocket Setup & Connection Guide

Download on the App Store View the Guide

A paid client for iPhone and iPad, with rule-based routing and support for importing existing configurations. It is a one-time purchase, available exclusively on the App Store.

  • Shadowsocks
  • VLESS
  • Config
  • On Demand

Feature & Section Index

Configuration, Routing & Diagnostics

First, distinguish server details, subscriptions, and Config. Server details describe connection parameters; a subscription updates the server list; Config contains rules and related settings. They serve different purposes. Choose a section below based on what you want to do, so you don’t mistake a refreshed server list for synced rules.

Select Config, Then Check Rule Order

Rule-based routing uses the destination domain or address to choose a policy such as PROXY or DIRECT. On Home, select Config under Global Routing to apply the rules in the active configuration. Rules are generally evaluated from top to bottom, so place specific conditions before broader ones. FINAL handles requests that did not match earlier rules. When troubleshooting, first confirm which Config is selected, then identify the rule that matched. After changing one rule, retest only the affected destination. Avoid changing the server and DNS at the same time, or it will be harder to tell what caused the result.

DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXY

View this section →

Device & App Store

Getting Shadowrocket on iPhone and iPad

Get Shadowrocket for either device from the same App Store product page. Before purchasing, check compatibility with your device and make sure you’re using the right Apple Account. On eligible devices, you can redownload the app from Purchased using the same account. Check the App Store listing for device compatibility, system requirements, and purchase availability. App purchase history and in-app configuration are separate: redownloading the app doesn’t restore your configuration.

iPhone

Check the developer and App ID before purchasing and installing. When you first connect, the system may ask to add a VPN configuration. Confirm the request is from Shadowrocket before authorizing it. Opening the app won’t automatically add your existing server details; you’ll still need to import and select them.

See the iPhone setup steps →

iPad

Use the same Apple Account you used to purchase the app and check Purchased. The layout of lists and details may differ in landscape; look for Home, Config, and Settings by name. After moving to another device, check your servers, active Config, and connection permissions—not just whether the app appears.

See the iPad setup steps →

Shadowrocket is also available from the same App Store on Mac and Apple TV. Check the App Store listing for compatibility.

Available on theApp Store See how to get the app →

The button opens the product page in a new tab. If the App Store says the item is unavailable, first check the current storefront and account status, then follow the App Store’s instructions. Don’t rely on a name in search results alone to verify the app.

First Connection: A Three-Step Preview

From Existing Details to a Verified Connection

These steps assume you already have your own subscription or server details. Before you start, gather the relevant parameters and make sure they’re still valid. First establish a basic manual connection, then add rules and On Demand conditions one at a time. This helps distinguish import errors, mode selection, and network issues. The exact location of settings may vary; look for the English interface labels shown below.

  1. Add Server: Add an Existing Server or Subscription

    On Home, open Add Server. If you have details for a single server, choose the Type that matches them, then enter Host, Port, and the required authentication fields. If you have a subscription, choose Subscribe and paste the complete URL. If you have a QR code, use Scan QR Code, then check the imported type and fields. After saving, return to Home and confirm the expected entry appears in the SERVER group. Select a server to use.

    If the import is empty, check the details format and URL for completeness first; don’t keep toggling the connection switch. A successful subscription update and a successful server connection are different things: the former means the list was retrieved, while the latter depends on the server parameters and your current network. Keep credentials on your own device, and remove them before describing the issue to anyone else.

  2. Global Routing: Choose Config, Proxy, or Direct

    Config routes traffic according to the active configuration’s rules. Proxy sends traffic handled by the client through the selected proxy. Direct connects directly. To use rule-based routing, select Config and confirm the expected file is selected on the Config page. Changing modes won’t correct server parameters or automatically turn every subscription entry into a rule.

    When troubleshooting a destination, note the current mode before changing it once for a specific reason. If Direct works but Proxy doesn’t, check your existing server and its connection parameters. If only Config fails, focus on the rules and related DNS settings. This helps narrow down what to check; it doesn’t prove that any one component is faulty.

  3. Home: Connect and Check Actual Requests

    On Home, turn on the connection switch at the top. The first time the system asks to add a VPN configuration, verify the app source before authorizing it. Check the connection status, run Connectivity Test, and open a destination you want to test. A connected status reflects the local connection only; successful access also depends on rules, DNS, and the server’s response.

    If the test gets a response but the webpage won’t load, first confirm the destination and active rule, then check DNS resolution. Changes in Data traffic can help indicate whether a request was sent, but don’t prove that access succeeded. Change one variable at a time and keep the previous configuration. If you need to check logs, note the steps that reproduce the issue, then review the information for that time period.

View the full guide →

Official App & Purchase Details

Three Ways to Verify the App Store Listing

Official Shadowrocket app icon—compare it with the App Store product page

Shadowrocket

Check the icon, developer, and App ID together; don’t rely on the name alone.

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

Verify the Full Product Identity, Not Just the Name

Follow the link from this site to the App Store, then check the app name and official icon. Confirm the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited. The product page URL should contain id932747118; those digits are the App ID. A similar name in search results isn’t a substitute for these checks, and a matching icon alone isn’t enough to confirm the listing. Once all three match, check the price and compatibility. If anything differs, return to the app access instructions and open the product page again.

Check the Current Storefront for Pricing

Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app sold as a one-time purchase. The U.S. storefront price is about $2.99. Other storefronts show local currency; check the App Store listing for the actual price and purchase terms. Don’t use prices from other regions as a basis for your purchase. Before buying, check the storefront associated with your account, the currency shown on the page, and the checkout details.

App Purchase ≠ Service Plan

Purchasing the app gives you the right to use the client; it doesn’t create a server, subscription, or connection credentials. This site doesn’t provide servers or subscriptions. The import instructions are for information you already have. If your purchase is complete but the SERVER list is empty, go back to Add Server and add a server using your existing details instead of buying the app again. Server validity and app purchase history are managed separately; a failed connection doesn’t mean the purchase is invalid.

Restore Purchases and Configuration Separately

On iPhone and iPad, use the same Apple Account you used for the purchase to redownload the app from Purchased, where eligible. Check the App Store listing for details. Redownloading retrieves the app; it doesn’t automatically transfer your subscription, selected server, or Config from the previous device. For iCloud sync, check the settings on both devices and confirm the content has arrived. If you’re using your own backup, verify its source and contents before restoring your connection.

Store Availability and Account Region

App Store availability depends on the current storefront, account, and device compatibility. If you can’t find the app, open the product page link and check the specific message from the App Store, then verify your account region and device eligibility. Always check the App Store listing for system requirements; don’t infer them from old screenshots or search snippets. For purchase or account issues, follow the App Store’s instructions to check billing and account status. Changes in the configuration page won’t fix App Store checkout problems.

Updates and Checks Before Reinstalling

Update the app through the App Store and check the product page for update details. Before troubleshooting a connection, note your current configuration and the steps that reproduce the issue. Don’t make deleting the app your first troubleshooting step. Before reinstalling, make sure you can retrieve your subscription, server details, and Config. After reinstalling, you may need to authorize the system VPN configuration again. For purchase restoration, see the app access guide; for connection problems, follow the troubleshooting steps one at a time to avoid mixing up the two processes.

Shadowrocket Docs is the official Shadowrocket website and manual. Choose a section based on your goal: see the app access guide for purchases and restoring previous purchases, Getting Started for adding a server and connecting for the first time, and the protocol reference for field details and design trade-offs. If an existing configuration contains unfamiliar fields, understand what they do before changing them. You don’t need to replace a working configuration just to follow an example.

See the full app verification steps →

Articles & Topic Guides

Rules, DNS & Using Your Devices

These articles offer additional context for making decisions during setup and troubleshooting. If a rule doesn’t match as expected, first understand what it matches and the order in which rules are evaluated. If a latency test responds but a webpage won’t load, check DNS resolution separately from the proxy connection. When moving to another device, verify your purchase history first, then check your configuration. Each article focuses on actions in the client; a single test result can’t replace a real-world check.

View all articles →

If you haven’t connected for the first time yet, start with Getting Started, then look up a topic based on your specific symptoms. Avoid changing several settings at once.