Shadowrocket FAQ
First identify whether the issue is with a purchase, your first connection, subscription loading, or traffic routing. Then follow the relevant checks below. These answers assume you already have your own subscription or server details. Change one thing at a time to make the cause easier to identify.
- App ID 932747118
- Get the genuine app on the App Store
- Check the prompt before changing settings
Verify the App Store listing and purchase
Check storefront availability, purchase history, and connection services separately. Start with your account and the product page; don’t rely on the name in search results alone.
Can’t find Shadowrocket in the App Store? Check these first
Check that you’re searching for Shadowrocket, then verify the storefront linked to the Apple Account used for App Store purchases. App availability depends on the storefront, not your device language. Open the product page from this site’s App Store access page and check the message shown by the store. If it says the app isn’t available in your region, review your account’s storefront and purchase eligibility instead of repeatedly changing your device region. Availability and system requirements are as listed on the App Store page.
How can I verify that the App Store listing is the genuine Shadowrocket app?
Check all three details: the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the icon matches the official icon shown on this site, and the product page URL contains app ID 932747118. A similar name or search result ranking is not enough. On the product page, also review compatibility, price, and the purchase button to confirm it’s suitable for your device and account. Shadowrocket is available only through the App Store, so verify the listing before buying.
What does the one-time purchase include? Does it provide a working connection?
A one-time purchase of the app is not a service plan. It gives you the right to use the Shadowrocket client; you must provide your own subscription or server details. The app purchase and the validity of connection details are separate. The US storefront price is about $2.99; prices appear in local currency in other storefronts. Check the App Store product page and payment confirmation for the exact amount. This site provides the user guide but does not provide, sell, or recommend servers or subscriptions. After purchase, you’ll still need to import your own valid connection details.
Do I have to buy Shadowrocket again after switching devices or reinstalling it?
Sign in to the App Store with the Apple Account used for the original purchase, then find Shadowrocket in your purchased apps. If the purchase is eligible for redownloading, use the store’s redownload option. If a price still appears, check the purchasing account, purchase history, and current storefront before paying again. Restoring the app does not restore all local settings. Check your subscriptions, server details, and Config files separately, and save anything you need before switching devices.
How do I check my App Store storefront, and where can I change it if necessary?
In system Settings, open your Apple Account, tap Media & Purchases, then view your account’s Country/Region to check the storefront used for purchases. Your device’s language and region settings don’t replace this check. If you need to change the storefront, follow the Country/Region process shown in your account and read the notices about balance, existing subscriptions, Family Sharing, and payment methods first. Changing regions doesn’t guarantee the app will be available; check the product page in the destination storefront.
See how to verify the app → Read the App Store access guide →
Install and open for the first time
Complete the App Store purchase and system authorization first, then check your connection details. A system VPN configuration, an app update, and a subscription update are separate actions.
Why does my iPhone ask to add a VPN configuration the first time I connect?
This is the system authorization required for an app to establish a VPN connection, not a request to buy the app again. Make sure the prompt was triggered by the verified Shadowrocket app, then authenticate and allow the configuration when prompted. Afterward, you can find it in the VPN section of system Settings. If you accidentally deleted the configuration, return to the app and start a connection again, then authorize it as prompted. Check compatibility before installing; system requirements are as listed on the App Store page.
Can I install Shadowrocket on iPad, and how do I use an existing purchase?
Shadowrocket is available for iPhone and iPad. On your iPad, sign in to the App Store with the account used for the original purchase and find the app in your purchased items. Check compatibility on the product page before redownloading; system requirements are as listed there. The layout may differ across screen sizes, so look for settings under the relevant entries, such as Home, Config, and Settings. Purchase history can confirm your eligibility, but check separately whether local subscriptions and configurations have been restored on the other device.
What should I do if the connection switch won’t turn on or turns off right away?
First determine whether authorization is pending or the connection itself is failing. Check for an unanswered VPN configuration prompt, then make sure a valid server is selected in Home. Check whether another VPN configuration is connected or set to activate automatically; stop it if needed, then try again. If the switch still turns off immediately, note the error and verify the server address, port, protocol, and authentication fields. Don’t delete all settings right away. Rebuild the affected configuration only if you’ve confirmed it’s damaged and saved any necessary information.
The interface is in English. Which sections should I start with?
Use the section names to find what you need: Home shows connections and servers, Add Server adds existing server details, Config manages configuration files, and Settings contains app settings. Global Routing selects a routing mode, Subscribe is for subscription-based imports, and On Demand controls connections triggered by conditions. To change the language, check whether system Settings offers a language option for the app; availability depends on your system and the app. This guide keeps interface labels in English so you can match them to what’s on screen.
What’s the difference between an app update and a subscription update?
App updates come from the App Store and update Shadowrocket itself. A subscription update happens in the app and refreshes the server list from a subscription you already have. They’re separate actions. Save important configurations before updating the app, then check that your connections and rules still work as expected. If the server list is out of date, check the subscription update rather than updating only the app. Don’t infer version differences from someone else’s interface; features and system requirements are as listed on the current App Store page and in the app.
Import subscriptions and server details
Check that your existing details are complete and valid, then distinguish loading errors from format issues and connection failures. Treat subscription URLs as sensitive information.
What should I check if importing an existing subscription fails?
Make sure you copied the complete subscription URL you already have—not a webpage title, an information page URL, or truncated text. In Add Server, choose Subscribe and check the URL for leading or trailing spaces, line breaks, or missing characters. Then check whether your current network can reach the subscription source. If it loads but shows no entries, verify the content format and that the subscription is still valid. Treat request failures, authentication failures, and unsupported formats as separate issues; repeatedly importing can create duplicate lists.
Should I delete the old list first if a subscription update fails?
Usually, keep the existing entries and note the update message. Then check whether the subscription URL has changed, its credentials are still valid, and your current network can complete the request. A failed update doesn’t necessarily mean all existing servers are unusable; test the old entries separately. Save necessary information before changing the URL, change one thing at a time, then update again and check what changed. If the source reports expiration or an authentication error, check the status with your own service provider instead of repeatedly deleting and rebuilding the list.
How do I use Add Server if I only have my own server details?
In Add Server, choose the protocol that matches your server, then enter the address, port, and authentication details. The encryption method, transport, and TLS options must also match the server configuration. Don’t guess the protocol from the port or use a label in place of the server address. Save the entry, return to Home, select it, and try connecting. If you import using Scan QR Code, check the protocol and fields afterward; a QR code is just an input method and doesn’t guarantee that the information is complete or valid.
Is it safe to send my subscription URL and connection logs to someone for troubleshooting?
A subscription URL may contain credentials that grant access to the list. Server fields and logs may also expose authentication details, personal domain names, or browsing records. Share only the necessary error text, protocol, network context, and redacted fields. Don’t share a complete subscription URL or QR code publicly. Check anything saved in Config before sharing it, too. If a URL has been exposed, ask your service provider how to replace the credentials. Deleting a chat or local entry won’t invalidate credentials that have already leaked.
What should I do if the selected server disappears after a subscription update?
Make sure you’re viewing the original subscription group and check whether search or filters are enabled. An update refreshes entries based on what the source provides, so an entry may be removed, renamed, or replaced. Don’t rely on its old label to decide whether it’s still there. Check the region, protocol, and server details again, then select a valid entry of your own. Also check whether any policies in Config that refer to the old name need updating. Don’t add an old URL back manually to hide the update result; first verify what the source currently provides.
Routing rules and troubleshooting
Check the connection switch, server reachability, and rule matching separately. Keep the network conditions consistent during testing and record what changes.
How should I choose Config, Proxy, or Direct in Global Routing?
Config routes traffic according to the rules and policies in the active configuration, making it suitable for rule-based routing. Proxy sends general traffic through the current proxy policy; Direct connects general traffic directly. The actual behavior also depends on related settings, so these modes aren’t connection-quality levels. For everyday rule-based routing, select Config and check which file is active. For troubleshooting, temporarily compare Proxy and Direct, then restore your original setting to avoid leaving routing in an unintended mode.
It says connected, but I can’t access the internet. Should I check the server or the rules first?
Disconnect and make sure your current Wi-Fi or cellular connection works on its own. Reconnect and verify the selected server. If the underlying network is working, check whether all requests fail or only some domains. For all requests, start by checking the server and its authentication details. For specific domains, check DNS and which rules match. You can temporarily compare results using a different Global Routing mode, but don’t change DNS, protocol, and configuration at the same time. A connected status only means the system tunnel is established; it doesn’t guarantee that the server, DNS resolution, or every route is working.
Why is browsing still slow when the Connectivity Test result is low?
Connectivity Test results reflect a particular test method; they aren’t the same as download speeds or how every website performs. Actual results also depend on the destination, network congestion, DNS, server load, and transport conditions. Compare your own servers on the same network and at similar times, then test the services you actually use. One failed test doesn’t necessarily mean a server is permanently unavailable. Consider repeated results and error messages rather than switching configurations based on a single number.
How should I balance On Demand settings against high background battery use?
Compare similar usage periods in your system battery statistics, taking actual traffic, network changes, and background activity into account rather than relying on a single percentage. On Demand triggers connections based on conditions; it doesn’t guarantee lower battery use. Conditions that trigger too often can add overhead by repeatedly establishing connections. To troubleshoot, pause unnecessary automatic triggers, keep the network and server constant, and observe the results. Restore conditions one at a time. Configure tasks that need a persistent connection separately from occasional use, and check for immediate reconnections after disconnects.
Can traffic statistics show whether a rule is working or how much quota I have left?
Traffic statistics are only a reference for the data within the current observation period. They can’t by themselves prove that a domain matched the intended rule or replace quota information from the subscription source. To check routing, consider the current Global Routing mode, active Config, request logs, and the policy each request followed. To compare before and after a change, record the statistics’ scope and start and end times so you don’t mix different periods. Check remaining quota and validity with your own subscription source; local figures may not match its billing data.