This guide is for users planning to buy Shadowrocket on an iPhone or iPad, and for those who have already purchased it and need to reinstall it. Follow the steps to find the app, verify its identity, purchase and install it, then complete the initial authorization. The guide also explains the difference between buying the app, setting up a connection, and granting VPN access in iOS, so you know what installation does—and does not—include.
Before you buy: Know the difference between the app, your device, and connection service
Shadowrocket is a paid client for Apple platforms and is available exclusively through the App Store. This guide focuses on iPhone and iPad. For compatibility, system requirements, and purchase eligibility on Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision, refer to the App Store listing. An app’s availability on one device does not guarantee that it meets the requirements of another.
Shadowrocket is a one-time purchase. Buying the app is not the same as purchasing a connection plan: your purchase grants the right to use the app but does not provide server addresses, an account, or a subscription. If you already have a connection service, get your subscription from your provider. If you haven’t set up your configuration yet, you can install the app and explore its interface before configuring a connection later.
Confirm what you’re buying, then check your connection setup
Verify the app’s identity before purchasing. After installation, check your subscription or server details separately. Keeping these steps separate helps prevent buying the app again to solve a connection configuration issue.
Search for Shadowrocket, then verify it on the product page
Open the App Store and enter the full product name, Shadowrocket, in Search. Search results can help you find the app, but they are not the place to make a final purchase decision. Open the product page and check the developer and app details. Search result order can change, so don’t assume the first result is always the right one or rely on a nickname to identify the app.
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Search by product name
In the App Store, go to Search and enter Shadowrocket. If you see several similar names, open each product page and check its details before confirming a purchase.
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Verify the developer
Check the developer name on the product page. It should be Shadow Launch Technology Limited. Verify the full name, not just whether it contains “Shadow.”
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Verify the official icon
The official icon features a rocket on a white background with a blue-purple outline. You can compare it with the official icon in this site’s header. A similar-looking icon is only a clue; also verify the developer and app ID.
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Verify the app ID
The product link should contain the ID
id932747118. If you copy the link from the App Store’s share menu, check the product ID. The regional path and query parameters are not the app ID.
For a direct link, first review the authenticity check guide on this site, verify the product details, and then open the App Store. If the store says the app isn’t available in your region, rely on the results for the store associated with your Apple Account. Don’t substitute a similarly named app or ignore a developer name that doesn’t match.
Purchase and install: Follow the App Store confirmation
After verifying the app, review the displayed price, currency, and compatibility details. Prices vary by App Store region and other factors, so this guide doesn’t list a fixed amount. Purchases are handled through the App Store. The required authentication depends on your device settings and may include confirming with the side button, Face ID, Touch ID, or your account password.
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Check your purchasing account
Open your App Store account page and confirm which Apple Account is being used for purchases. When you look for previously purchased apps later, check the account used for the original purchase. Being signed in to iCloud on the device isn’t enough to confirm it.
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Confirm the purchase details
Return to the product page and tap the price button. On the system purchase confirmation screen, verify the product name and price again, then follow the prompts to authenticate.
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Wait for installation to finish
After the purchase succeeds, wait for the progress indicator to finish. When the App Store button says Open, the app is installed on that device. You can also find Shadowrocket on the Home Screen or in the App Library.
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Open the app for the first time
Tap Open to launch Shadowrocket. Check Home for any existing configuration. A newly installed app with no server entries does not mean the purchase or installation failed.
First launch: Import your configuration, then grant VPN access
Installation, importing, and authorization are three separate steps. The App Store provides the app; Shadowrocket’s Home screen manages connection entries; and system VPN authorization allows the app to establish a connection. Even if Home, Config, and Settings open normally on first launch, you still need valid connection details.
If you already have a subscription, tap “+” in the top-right corner of Home, set Type to Subscribe, then enter the subscription URL from your provider in the URL field and save it. Subscription links often contain credentials, so don’t share the full URL in public screenshots, chat logs, or support requests. A subscription URL serves a different purpose from a regular website address; your provider’s homepage won’t work as a substitute.
- Home: Check that your server entries appear after importing, then select the one you want to use. If the list is empty, troubleshoot the import or update first instead of repeatedly toggling the connection.
- Config: Manage rule configurations here. Connection details and rule configurations serve different purposes. After importing a subscription, check that the selected configuration matches your needs.
- Global Routing: Check the current mode. Config routes traffic according to the selected configuration; Proxy sends traffic governed by this mode through the selected proxy; Direct connects directly. If you see Scene, check its selected settings—don’t treat it as an indicator that the connection is working.
- Connection toggle: When connecting for the first time, follow the system prompt to allow a VPN configuration to be added and complete any required device authentication. If authorization isn’t complete, resolve the prompt before checking the connection.
- Settings → On Demand: Use this to trigger connections under specific conditions. It isn’t required to purchase or install the app. For your first test, connect manually; set up On Demand after confirming that your configuration works.
After authorization, visit a website you normally use to check access. Seeing a VPN status in the system only confirms that a VPN session has been established; it doesn’t prove that every rule, server, or destination is working. If a site won’t load, note the current Global Routing mode, selected server, and what failed, then troubleshoot each item in the Getting Started guide.
Redownload a previous purchase: Start with your purchase history
If you delete the app or switch to another iPhone or iPad, look for it in the purchased apps associated with the Apple Account used for the original purchase. Your App Store purchase and your device configuration are separate: redownloading the app does not restore your subscription, server details, or rule files. Before erasing an old device, make sure your configuration backup and credentials are still available.
- Open the App Store, tap your account picture, and check that you’re signed in with the Apple Account used for the original purchase.
- Open your purchased apps list. Depending on the system version, the entry may be labeled Apps or Purchased. If you see Apps, open My Apps and search for Shadowrocket.
- Find the app and tap the cloud download button. Wait for installation to finish. The device and App Store must still meet the current availability requirements.
- Open the app and check whether your configuration is available. If Home is empty, restore it from your saved subscription or configuration backup. An empty list doesn’t mean your purchase is lost.
If the product page shows a price instead of a cloud icon, pause and check your account and purchased apps list. You can also check the record on your device under Settings → Apple Account → Media & Purchases → View Account → Purchase History. The menu labels may vary by system language and version; follow what your device shows. Purchase History confirms a transaction, while the purchased apps list helps you find the redownload option. They’re not the same thing.
FAQ: Search, charges, reinstalling, and connections
Can I verify Shadowrocket directly if it doesn’t appear in Search?
Use this site’s authenticity check page to open the direct product page and see whether the App Store reports regional or device restrictions. If the listing says the app isn’t available, follow the current store result. Not finding it in Search is not a reason to choose a similarly named app.
I was charged, but can’t find the app on my Home Screen. What should I do?
First, check the button on the App Store product page. If it says Open, launch the app and search for it in the App Library. If it shows download progress, wait for installation to finish. If you’re unsure about the transaction, check Purchase History to see whether the purchase is complete or still pending.
I switched devices and see a price button again. Do I need to buy it again?
First, check which account the App Store is using, then look for the original purchase under Apps or Purchased. If the purchase is listed but the product page still shows a price, contact support through the App Store’s purchase support options before paying again. Purchase eligibility is subject to the details shown on the App Store listing.
I purchased the app, but why is Home still empty?
Buying the app doesn’t automatically add a connection service. If you already have a subscription, go to Home → “+” → Type → Subscribe, enter the URL, and save. Then check the import result. Get your subscription from your provider; a purchase receipt can’t be used as a subscription URL.
I didn’t allow the VPN configuration the first time. Do I need to reinstall?
Return to Home, select a configured server, and try turning on the connection toggle again. Follow the system prompts to authorize it. If the device is managed or has system restrictions, check the restriction message first. Reinstalling usually won’t replace system authorization and may put your local configuration at risk.
Final check: Confirm purchase, installation, and connection separately
Use these three checks to track your progress from search to first use. If one isn’t complete, return to that step. Keep App Store payment issues, device installation issues, and connection configuration issues separate so you know exactly what needs attention when you switch devices or set things up again.
- Purchase verified: The developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the app ID is 932747118, and you can confirm the transaction under the account used for the purchase.
- Installation verified: The App Store button says Open, and tapping it launches Shadowrocket. Refer to the App Store listing for device compatibility and system requirements.
- Connection verified: Your configuration appears in Home, system VPN authorization is complete, the current Global Routing mode is correct, and you’ve verified access by testing a connection.