iPhone / iPad guide

Shadowrocket for iOS Setup Guide

Download on the App Store View the guide

A rule-based proxy client for iPhone / iPad, available for a one-time purchase on the App Store. Verify the app first, import your existing server details, then check your connection with rule-based routing.

  • Config / Proxy / Direct
  • VLESS
  • On Demand

Devices & App Store

iPhone iPad Mac Apple TV App Store

DEVICE & STORE

Getting Shadowrocket on iPhone and iPad

The App Store is the only place to get Shadowrocket. Before buying, review compatibility and pricing, then confirm which Apple ID you’re using for the purchase. Your app purchase record is separate from the servers, subscriptions, and configuration files on your device. After restoring the app, check that your own configuration is ready. Refer to the App Store listing for system requirements and universal purchase availability.

iPhone

Verify the developer and App ID on the App Store before purchasing and installing. When you first open the app, check Home to see whether your server details are in place. The system usually asks for permission to add a VPN configuration when you first connect; follow the on-screen instructions. This permission allows the client to establish a VPN connection on your device. It does not confirm that a server is available or replace a connection test.

For your first test, use a network that’s currently stable, then try your usual network. If the server list is empty, import your own connection details instead of repeatedly toggling the connection switch. Continue with the device-specific instructions on the Purchase page.

Go to the iPhone guide →

iPad

Use the same Apple ID you used to purchase the app to check your purchase history and download status in the App Store. Refer to the App Store listing for cross-device purchase availability. A larger display may change how lists and settings are arranged, but you can still find Home, Config, and Settings by name rather than relying on fixed screen coordinates from a guide.

A successful connection on another device doesn’t mean this device has the same server or configuration selected. After restoring, check the selected server, Global Routing, and active configuration file one by one. If you use iCloud sync, verify what actually synced before connecting; don’t assume an older configuration is current.

Go to the iPad guide →

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

View the getting started steps →
On the App StoreView Shadowrocket

SETTINGS BY PURPOSE

Explore features and settings by task

Start by identifying the issue, then adjust the relevant setting. Server details control the connection, Config manages rules and related configuration, and Global Routing determines how requests are handled. Change one category at a time and note its original state so you can tell whether a change came from the server, rules, or local network.

Rule-based routing: check the mode, then the order

In Home, select Config under Global Routing to route traffic according to the active configuration file. Proxy and Direct are useful for testing all traffic through the proxy or connecting directly. Open the active file in Config and check [Rule]. Rules are evaluated from top to bottom, and the first match determines the policy. Put specific domains before broader conditions and leave FINAL at the end. PROXY in an example uses the currently selected proxy; it does not provide server details. After saving rules, make sure the selected server can connect.

sample.conf / matching order
  1. [Rule]
  2. DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXY
  3. IP-CIDR,192.168.0.0/16,DIRECT
  4. FINAL,DIRECT

The rule snippet shown is an example of configuration syntax, not an app screen. Before using it for a real connection, adapt it to your own server, local network, and access needs. Don’t replace an entire working configuration with the example.

Read the rules and configuration guide →

FIRST CONNECTION

Three steps to check your first connection

These steps assume you already have your own server details or subscription. The goal is to establish a basic state you can test again: know which server is selected, which mode is active, and whether the test succeeds. Follow this shortest path first, then add complex rules or On Demand conditions.

01 / IMPORT

Add Server: import your existing details

Open Home and enter the details manually through Add Server, or import them using an existing QR code or link. Check Type, Host, Port, and authentication details before saving. Handle configuration file links in Config; don’t enter a rules file as an individual server address.

After importing, select the server you want to use in the SERVER group and confirm that the selection indicator changes. Adding a server to the list without selecting it is an easy step to miss during your first connection. If a subscription update fails, check that the URL is complete and still valid, and that your current network can reach it.

When checking uncertain parameters, refer to your original server details. If a QR code and text describe the same server, the key fields should match after import. Keep one known test server selected; don’t switch between multiple servers while troubleshooting.

02 / ROUTING

Global Routing: choose how requests are handled

Config handles requests according to the active file’s rules, Proxy sends requests handled by the client through the proxy path, and Direct connects without the proxy. Config is generally used for rule-based routing. To isolate the effect of rules, you can temporarily select Proxy to test the server connection, then restore your intended mode afterward.

After selecting Config, check which file is active on the Config page. Verify the policies and FINAL in [Rule], and make sure each referenced policy exists. A rule for a specific domain placed after a broad rule may never match because the earlier rule catches it first.

Record the mode alongside what happened. For example, if access works in Proxy but fails in Config, check rules and DNS before re-entering authentication details. Change one setting at a time and retest the same destination to get results you can compare.

03 / VERIFY

Connectivity Test: verify an actual request

Turn on the connection switch at the top of Home. On the first connection, follow the system prompt to allow the VPN configuration and complete any required device verification. Then run Connectivity Test and try the destination you need. A VPN status indicator only describes the connection state on your device; it doesn’t confirm that the remote service is available.

If the test fails, check your current network, selected server, and server parameters in that order. If the test succeeds but a particular destination doesn’t work, check the matching rule and DNS. Traffic in Data can offer a clue, but the actual request result is what matters.

Wait until the basic connection is stable before setting up On Demand. Test behavior after switching networks separately; a successful manual connection doesn’t guarantee the same result. If you need help, note the error text, current mode, and steps to reproduce it. Redact subscription URLs and authentication details before sharing.

View the full guide →

PURCHASE & VERIFICATION

Verify the app, review purchases, and understand costs

Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app sold through the App Store. This is the official Shadowrocket for iOS site and manual, with instructions for purchasing, configuring, and troubleshooting the app. Verify the listing using the information shown on its product page: search by app name, confirm the developer, official icon, and App ID, then check the price and compatibility for your device.

  • Developer Shadow Launch Technology Limited
  • App ID 932747118
  • One-time purchase on the App Store

Check the developer, icon, and App ID

On the product page, confirm that the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited, compare the icon with the official icon shown in this site’s header, and check for id932747118 in the product page URL. All three should identify the same app. Don’t rely on the name Shadowrocket alone; an identical or similar name doesn’t confirm an app’s identity.

The App ID is a stable way to identify the product page. Use it to verify the app when viewing the page on another device, rather than relying on the order of search results. Review screenshots, compatibility, and the purchase button only after confirming the app’s identity to avoid selecting a similar listing by mistake.

App Store availability depends on your storefront

The same product may have different availability and display currencies in different App Store storefronts. If the page isn’t available, check your account’s storefront and the product page notices, then review device compatibility and system requirements. Your device’s display language, current network location, and account storefront are separate settings; none alone determines purchase eligibility.

If you need to change your account’s country or region, first review the conditions shown by the App Store, including any notices about account balance, subscriptions, or payment methods. This guide explains the verification process, not the store’s account policies. Always refer to the App Store listing for system requirements and universal purchase availability; don’t infer your purchase status from what appears on someone else’s device.

The one-time purchase covers use of the app

The US storefront lists the price at around $2.99 as a one-time purchase; other storefronts display local currencies. The amount shown at checkout is the final price. An app purchase is not a service plan. Buying Shadowrocket gives you a license to use the client; connecting still requires your own server details or subscription. Their costs, terms, and management are separate.

This site does not provide, sell, or recommend servers or subscriptions. An empty list after installing the app doesn’t mean the purchase failed; follow the guide to import your own connection details. If an existing subscription has expired, buying the app again won’t renew it. Check your App Store purchase record and the status of your own service separately.

When changing devices, restore the app first, then check your configuration

To use Shadowrocket on another iPhone or iPad, first make sure you’re signed in to the App Store with the Apple ID used for the purchase. Then check your purchased items or the product page’s download status. Refer to the App Store listing for cross-device purchase and Family Sharing availability. Don’t assume your current account has the same purchase record just because the app was installed on another device.

Check app restoration and configuration restoration separately. Verify your server details, selected configuration file, Global Routing, and On Demand settings. Even if a file appears to have synced through iCloud, open it to confirm its contents and select the intended server. After restoring, run a complete connection test and make sure it works as expected on your usual network.

Manage app updates and configuration updates separately

Update the app through the App Store, where you can check release notes and automatic update settings. Refresh subscriptions and edit configuration files in the app. Changes to the server list don’t mean the app was updated, and an app update doesn’t refresh existing subscriptions. If the interface changes, look for controls by name, such as Home, Config, and Settings.

Keep a working copy before editing a configuration, and note the current mode and selected server. If access changes after an update, compare these settings and check the specific error before replacing the entire configuration. This guide doesn’t list specific versions or release dates; refer to the App Store product page for current release information.

Describe connection problems in a reproducible way

The connection switch being on and access to a destination succeeding are two different states. When reporting a problem, include your current network, selected server, Global Routing mode, active configuration file, and Connectivity Test result. If only a particular domain is affected, include the destination and matching rule details to help distinguish a server connection issue from a routing issue.

Don’t include full subscription URLs, passwords, or authentication details in a public support request. Logs and screenshots may contain them too, so review everything before sharing. Look up authorization, connection tests, rule order, and DNS checks in the troubleshooting guide. Verify the parameters against your own original details.

View the app verification steps → How to restore a purchase → View troubleshooting →

MANUAL NOTES

Guides to purchasing, first connections, and imports

Choose a guide for the step you’re on. If you haven’t purchased the app, start with pricing and how to restore a purchase. If you’ve imported your details but can’t connect, follow the first-connection steps. If you need another import method, check which types of content each option accepts. These guides cover app operations and assume you already have your own server details or subscription.

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