Shadowrocket FAQ

Check the region of the Apple ID currently used for Media & Purchases in the App Store, rather than relying on your device language or physical location. In Settings, go to your Apple Account, then Media & Purchases, View Account, and Country/Region. App availability can vary by storefront. If a search returns no results, open the product page in the App Store from this site's purchase guide and read the store's notices. A missing search result does not necessarily mean the app has been removed, and similar names alone are not enough to identify the right app.

Check the developer name, Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the official icon shown on this site, and the app ID 932747118 in the product page URL. Similar names or icons are no substitute for checking all three. The App Store product page is the only place to get the app. Before purchasing, expand Compatibility and the purchase details to confirm that your device is covered. Refer to the App Store page for the price, system requirements, and purchase eligibility; don't rely on search snippets or old screenshots.

Your purchase gives you the right to use the Shadowrocket app. A one-time app purchase is not a service plan; payment does not create server details or a subscription. The US storefront lists a one-time price of $2.99; check the store page for the current price. Other storefronts show local currency. Before use, you'll need your own subscription or server details, which you can import from the original source. Your app purchase, subscription validity, and server availability are separate matters. This site does not provide, sell, or recommend servers or subscriptions.

Make sure the new device is using the same Apple ID that made the original purchase, then look for Shadowrocket in your account's Apps or Purchased list. If the purchase is eligible for redownload, that option will usually appear. If you see a price, check the account, purchase history, and current storefront before paying again. Restoring the app does not necessarily restore all connection details. Save your own configurations and subscription information before switching devices, then check whether they need to be imported again after installation. What can be restored depends on your backup and sync method.

First check your account's current region and the product page notices to confirm that the storefront is the issue. To change it, go to your Apple Account in Settings, then Media & Purchases, View Account, and Country/Region, and follow Apple's instructions. Changes may depend on your account balance, active subscriptions, Family Sharing settings, and payment method; take care of any requirements shown on the page first. Changing regions won't fix connection problems or replace checking device compatibility. When you're done, reopen the App Store to confirm the storefront in use.

Open the Shadowrocket product page in the App Store on your iPhone and check Compatibility and any current store notices. Refer to the App Store page for system requirements. If the download button is unavailable, check in order that you're signed in, your payment status is in order, your device has enough free space, and your system meets the requirements. If the download stays pending, first confirm that regular internet access works, then check whether the store asks you to resolve a purchase issue. After installation, open Home and prepare your existing connection details before importing them and testing the connection.

Shadowrocket is available through the App Store on compatible iPad models. Refer to the App Store page for system requirements and purchase eligibility. If you've already bought the app, check your Purchased list with the original purchasing account and see whether a redownload option appears. The layout and menu locations on iPad may differ from iPhone, but look for the relevant features under Home, Config, and Settings. Purchase eligibility does not automatically transfer all your configurations. Before first use, check your existing connection details, selected server, and Global Routing setting.

This is a system authorization prompt shown when the app requests a VPN configuration needed to establish a connection. Make sure the request was triggered by opening Shadowrocket, then follow the system prompts to allow it and complete any required authentication. If you previously denied the request, return to the app and try connecting again. If the configuration was deleted, the app will usually need to request it again. Allowing the configuration grants system permission; it doesn't mean the server is ready to use. After connecting, check your server details, Global Routing, and actual access.

First make sure you've imported connection details and selected a server. Then check whether the system is waiting for authorization to add a VPN configuration. Next, look in the system VPN settings for another configuration that is already connected, and check whether On Demand is triggering a different connection behavior. Keep any error message and follow it to check your details and system permissions; don't start by deleting every configuration. If the connection still drops immediately, disconnect, reopen the app, and try again. Save your current configuration before further troubleshooting to avoid losing existing details.

This manual keeps interface labels in English so you can find them directly: Home shows your connection and servers, Config manages configurations, Settings contains app settings, and Data shows usage statistics. To add connection details, look for Add Server or Scan QR Code. The displayed language may also depend on your system language, app language settings, and the languages supported by the app. Use the options available on your device. Don't reinstall just because the interface is in English; find the screen by its feature name and continue with the relevant steps.

First, confirm with your provider that your subscription URL is complete and valid. In Home, open Add Server, choose the Subscribe type, enter your existing URL, and save; the exact menu labels may vary. Wait for the subscription to load, check that the expected servers appear, then select one to test. A single-server share link and a subscription URL are different kinds of connection details and require different import methods. Subscription URLs may contain access credentials. Don't share them publicly, forward screenshots, or paste them into public troubleshooting posts.

First make sure the pasted content is complete. Remove any unintended spaces, line breaks, or explanatory text, then confirm it's a subscription URL rather than an account management page. Next, check whether your current network can reach the URL and whether the subscription has expired or been reset. If the request succeeds but the list is empty, ask the original provider to check the response format and client compatibility; avoid repeatedly changing server parameters. Note the error and the steps that led to it. Before asking for help publicly, hide the subscription URL, credentials, and other personal information to prevent exposure.

In Home, find the saved subscription and use its update action to refresh it manually; the exact menu location may vary. If automatic updates on app launch are enabled, they mean the app will try to request updated subscription content at the relevant time, not that every request will succeed. After updating, check the server list and any error messages. If the request fails, check your network, the URL's validity, and the response format. An update only syncs the content provided by the original subscription. It cannot extend the subscription period or automatically fix server-side problems or an account issue.

First check camera permissions, QR code clarity, and the scanning area. Avoid glare and cropped codes, and make sure you're not scanning a page code unrelated to connection details. A successful scan only means that the content was read. Check whether it contains a single server or a subscription URL, and whether the protocol and fields are supported. If it won't connect, compare the server address, port, and authentication fields against the original details instead of repeatedly scanning. QR codes can also contain access credentials, so keep them private. When troubleshooting, describe the error without sharing the full code.

A subscription is mainly used to retrieve and update a server list. A Config file organizes rules, policies, and related network settings; the two serve different purposes. Having servers does not mean the required rules are enabled, and having a configuration does not guarantee that all referenced policies and servers are present. After importing, check the selected server in Home and the active configuration in Config, then verify the policies it references. Keep a record of your own changes before updating so you don't mistake a subscription refresh for a rule update or accidentally overwrite existing settings with a new configuration.

Config uses the rules in the current configuration to determine connection policies. Proxy generally sends supported connections through the selected proxy. Direct generally connects through the current network. For everyday use with existing rules, select Config and check which rules match. Proxy and Direct can help with comparisons during troubleshooting, but they can't fix server or underlying network problems. These modes are a starting point for understanding routing behavior, not a guarantee about how every connection will be handled. Check the configuration and actual request records as well.

First disconnect and confirm that your Wi-Fi or cellular network can access the internet on its own. Reconnect, then check the selected server. Next, check Global Routing: if Proxy and Config behave differently, focus on rules, referenced policies, and DNS settings. If both fail, check your server details, subscription status, and server availability first. Change one setting at a time and repeat the test with the same destination. A connected status only confirms the VPN session state; it doesn't prove that a destination website, DNS lookup, or proxy exit is working properly.

Connectivity Test reports the result for the selected test method and target; it doesn't mean every website is reachable. A specific site may also be affected by DNS resolution, rule matching, the service's status, or restrictions on the server's exit. Keep the same network and server, compare with another ordinary destination, then check which policy the failed request actually used. If the issue occurs only in Config, check the matching rule and its referenced policy. If it occurs in every mode, check the underlying network and destination service separately. Don't draw conclusions from the test result alone.

On Demand triggers connection behavior when configured conditions, such as a network or domain, are met. Those conditions may be met again after you disconnect manually. To troubleshoot, note the current rules, temporarily turn off On Demand, and see whether manual connections work normally. Once the basic connection works, check each Wi-Fi name, cellular network condition, and domain matching range individually to avoid overlapping conditions. On Demand controls when a connection is triggered; it can't fix an invalid subscription, incorrect authentication, or unreachable server. Troubleshoot automatic triggering separately from connection failures.

First compare battery usage over equivalent periods in the system's battery statistics. Don't judge power use solely by the VPN icon in the status bar. Traffic volume, weak signal, frequent reconnections, continuous testing, and background activity can all affect battery usage. Stop repeatedly running tests and check whether failed connections are triggering constant retries, then compare changes in traffic under Data. Data is not a battery report or a carrier bill. Before adjusting settings, note your network conditions and current setup, and change one thing at a time. Don't disable system or security settings you don't understand just to reduce the reading.