Official GuideApp Store purchase and installation
Shadowrocket Download
App Store verification
Paid app, one-time purchase, available only on the App Store. Check the storefront and purchasing account first, then verify the app's identity.
Developer: Shadow Launch Technology Limited
Check the App Store page for pricing, system requirements and universal purchase availability.
Storefront and account region
Purchase and install Shadowrocket through the App Store. The app is not available on the mainland China storefront, so if it doesn't appear in search, check your storefront region rather than repeatedly changing your search terms. The country or region associated with your Apple ID determines which storefront you see. Your current location and device language are separate settings; changing the device language to English won't switch your purchasing region.
The button on this page links to the US product page for app ID 932747118. Being able to view the page in a browser only means you can see the listing; it doesn't mean the account currently signed in for purchases meets that storefront's transaction requirements. After opening the link in the App Store on your device, check for any region notices and rely on the app, price and purchase terms shown in the storefront.
Check the account used for Media & Purchases
On your device, go to Settings → Apple ID → Media & Purchases → Country/Region. Some versions of the system first show “View Account”; authenticate if prompted, then open “Country/Region.” Check the region currently shown before deciding whether to change it. The account used for Media & Purchases may differ from the one used for other account features, so checking only the account name at the top of Settings isn't enough to confirm your App Store purchasing account.
If you need to change your region, use the option provided on that page and follow the system prompts. Your remaining balance, subscriptions, pending transactions, Family Sharing settings and payment details may affect the process. The account page explains the applicable requirements and restrictions. This guide explains where to find the option but cannot guarantee that every account can change regions. Don't repeatedly submit a request without first reading the prompts.
Verify the app
Developer, icon and app ID
Check all three identifiers on the product page, then use the official screenshots to familiarize yourself with the interface. Search placement and a similar name are not proof of identity.
Shadowrocket
Developer: Shadow Launch Technology Limited
App ID: 932747118 · The product page URL ends with id932747118
Check the listing details, then confirm the official icon
First, check the developer. Open the app's product page and confirm that the full developer name is Shadow Launch Technology Limited; don't rely only on the app title in search results. Second, check the icon: the official icon shown here is a rocket with a blue-purple outline on a white background. Third, check the app ID in the product page URL: id932747118. All three details should match. If any one doesn't, go back and check which page you opened.
“Little Rocket” is a Chinese nickname for Shadowrocket, and search results may include apps with the same or similar names or icons. A nickname, dominant icon color or search ranking alone cannot confirm an app's identity. Before purchasing, open the product page and check the developer name and ID in the URL character by character. If the page describes a different product, don't buy it just because its title contains the same keywords.
The screenshot on the right is the official Home screenshot uploaded by the developer to the App Store. It shows Not Connected at the top, followed by Global Routing and Connectivity Test, then the SERVER section and Add Server. Use it to become familiar with the interface; it doesn't mean a new installation will include the server entries shown or that your device is connected.
It's normal for your list to differ from the screenshot: it depends on the information you've imported and your current configuration. App updates may also change the layout. Use the interface only as a visual reference; verify the app's identity using the three App Store details. An empty list doesn't mean the installation failed. First check whether you've imported your own subscription or server details.
Use Add Server only with your own existing details
The second official screenshot shows Add Server. It includes fields such as Type, Host, Port, Password and Method, with Scan QR Code and Import from Cloud JSON at the bottom. The fields vary by Type, so don't assume that one set of fields applies to every server.
Use these fields to enter server details you already have. The Host, Port, authentication details and protocol parameters must all come from the same valid set of information; don't combine values from different examples. If the list is empty after you buy the app, you can still verify that it installed correctly. First confirm the app's identity, then enter, scan or import your own details as appropriate.
This page covers the App Store listing and purchase verification. For full import and connection steps, see the setup guide. Examples in the guide explain how to use the app; they don't provide connection resources. Subscription URLs and authentication fields may contain personal access credentials. Hide them when asking for help, and don't post full QR codes or screenshots that reveal credentials.
Device guide / iPhone
Buying and opening Shadowrocket on iPhone
On your iPhone, open the App Store product page linked here and check the developer, app ID and compatibility before confirming the purchase at the price shown. The App Store page lists the system requirements; don't infer compatibility from your device model or someone else's installation experience. If the page says your system isn't compatible, review its compatibility details before deciding whether your device meets the requirements.
After purchase, wait for the App Store to finish installing the app, then open Shadowrocket from your Home Screen. On first launch, check Home, the list status and Global Routing. A new installation won't automatically include your server details just because you've purchased the app. Have your existing subscription or server information ready and import it as appropriate. If you don't have the details yet, you can read about the interface first; there's no need to try connecting right away.
VPN configuration permission and purchase are separate
When you first start a connection, the system may ask to allow adding a VPN configuration and require device authentication. This prompt grants permission to configure networking on your device; it isn't a request to purchase the app again. Authorize only when you're using Shadowrocket and have confirmed what triggered the request. If you previously denied permission, return to the app and start a connection again, then follow the system prompts.
Allowing a VPN configuration doesn't guarantee that a server is available, and a successful purchase doesn't mean the connection will work. Check each step separately: whether the app finished installing, whether your details were imported, whether a valid server is selected and the actual state of the connection switch. If the App Store download hasn't finished, resolve the store issue first. If the app opens but can't connect, follow the troubleshooting steps in the FAQ to check your network and configuration. Don't confuse these two stages.
Device guide / iPad
Installing on iPad and universal purchase
After a one-time purchase with the same Apple ID, you can get Shadowrocket from the App Store on compatible iPhone and iPad devices. If you bought it on iPhone, first check that the iPad is signed in to the same purchasing account under Media & Purchases, then find the app in your purchase history. Check the App Store page for system requirements and universal purchase availability. If a price appears again, check the account and purchase history before assuming you have to buy it again.
An iPad offers more display space, and layouts may vary between portrait and landscape. Identify entries such as Home, Config and Settings by their actual interface labels. Screenshots illustrate relevant fields; your screen doesn't need to match them pixel for pixel. When using Split View or changing orientation, check the selected item before editing to avoid confusing a list selection with an enabled configuration.
An app purchase record, in-app configuration and device system permissions are three separate things. After restoring the app on iPad, check that your subscription has been imported, the required configuration files are present and you've granted VPN configuration permission before connecting. Don't assume that an iPad has the same configuration just because Shadowrocket works on your iPhone. Check the server, Global Routing and actual results separately on each device.
Check the same App Store listing on other Apple devices
The compatibility section on the same App Store product page lists Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision. If you plan to use Shadowrocket on one of these devices, check the listing in the App Store on that device. Universal purchase availability, system requirements and other conditions are shown on the App Store page. The same product page remains the place to get the app; the iPhone and iPad steps on this page aren't device-specific instructions for other platforms.
Purchased apps / new device
Switching devices, reinstalling and restoring configuration
When switching devices or reinstalling, sign in to Media & Purchases with the Apple ID used for the original purchase. Then go to App Store → Account → Purchased, find Shadowrocket and download it again. Some system versions may label the apps section of your account differently; use the label shown on your device. Restoring from the original purchase usually doesn't require another payment. What matters is using the same purchasing account, not the same device.
If you can't find the app in your purchase history, check the current purchasing account, transaction records and availability in your current storefront. The fact that an icon once appeared on your Home Screen doesn't prove that the current account owns the purchase. If the product page still shows a price, don't confirm payment yet. Check which account owns the original transaction, then use the purchase history and support options in your App Store account to resolve any transaction issue.
Restore your own details after reinstalling
Reinstalling restores access to the app; it doesn't necessarily restore all your server details and configurations. After installing on a new device, import your existing subscription or server information and check that the required configuration files are present in Config. If you can still use your old device, check which details you need to keep and handle any authentication information securely. Don't rush to delete related records from the old device until you've confirmed that everything works on the new one.
After restoring, verify everything in this order: confirm your existing details are readable, select a server, check Global Routing, then authorize and connect. Use Config for configuration mode, Proxy for proxy mode and Direct for direct mode. Choose the mode that matches your configuration. For more on how rules are matched, see the rules reference. Don't use repeated mode switching as a substitute for checking your configuration.
For Family Sharing, check the current sharing eligibility listed on the App Store and review your family's account settings. Family Sharing doesn't automatically transfer a purchase between any accounts, nor does it guarantee that app data is available on every device. Eligibility depends on the App Store listing and account prompts. This guide makes no restoration promises beyond what the store specifies.
Purchase cost / connection details
One-time purchase and what you'll pay
Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app. The client is a one-time purchase on the App Store, with no monthly app purchase fee. The US reference price is $2.99; other storefronts show local currency. Check the App Store page and final confirmation screen for the actual price, transaction terms and amount charged. This reference price isn't a universal price across storefronts and shouldn't replace checking the store for your account before paying.
Before purchasing, review the price on the product page and confirm that the purchasing account and payment details belong to the account you're using for this transaction. After purchase, check the transaction in your account's purchase history. If the process is interrupted or the page hasn't refreshed, check the purchase status before trying again. For pending transactions, payment issues or questions about duplicate charges, refer to the App Store transaction records; the app's connection status doesn't show whether a purchase succeeded.
The client reads configuration, selects servers, applies rules and establishes the corresponding connection. The validity, authentication status and availability of the actual service depend on your existing service details. If the app is purchased but the list is empty, you probably haven't imported any details yet. If the list has entries but the connection fails, check that the details are valid and the parameters are correct. Neither issue can be fixed by purchasing the client again.
App updates are provided through the App Store, where you can check the current product information and release notes. Updating the app, refreshing subscription content and editing configuration files are separate actions. An app update won't renew your service or ensure that manually edited rules suit a new device. After making changes, check the active configuration and connection results, and keep a copy of your personal configuration that you can restore.
Purchase FAQ
Common questions before and after downloading
Identify whether the issue concerns the storefront, purchase history, device installation or app configuration, then address the relevant step.
Why can't I find Shadowrocket on the App Store?
Shadowrocket is not available on the mainland China App Store. Check the country or region for the Apple ID used for Media & Purchases, then open the App Store product page linked here. Your device language and current location do not automatically change your account's storefront. Check your Apple Account page to see whether a region change is available.
The product page opens, but the download won't complete. What should I check?
Note the exact App Store message, then check your account region, payment status, available device storage and system compatibility. If the purchase is complete, check your purchase history and transaction records before trying to confirm payment again. App Store download issues and connection issues within the app are separate and should be troubleshot independently.
Do I have to pay again when switching devices or reinstalling?
Sign in with the Apple ID used for the original purchase, find Shadowrocket under your App Store account's Purchased section, and download it again. Usually, there is no need to pay again. If a price appears, check which account is signed in to Media & Purchases and review your purchase history. After restoring the app, you'll still need to import your own subscription or server details.
I bought Shadowrocket on iPhone. Can I install it on iPad?
Yes. After purchasing once with the same Apple ID, you can get Shadowrocket from the App Store on compatible iPhone and iPad devices. Check the App Store page for system requirements and universal purchase availability. A purchase record doesn't sync your configuration, so check your subscriptions, configuration files and VPN configuration permissions on the new device.
Can I use Shadowrocket on Mac, Apple TV or Apple Vision?
The compatibility section on the same App Store product page lists Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision. Check compatibility, system requirements and universal purchase availability in the App Store on your target device. Follow the App Store page for the latest details; the same product page remains the place to get the app.
The app opens in English. How do I match the labels to this guide?
The official screenshots on this page show the English interface. Look for labels such as Home, Global Routing, Add Server and Config. Under Global Routing, Config, Proxy and Direct refer to the corresponding routing modes. The interface language does not verify whether an app is genuine; check the developer, official icon and app ID.