This guide is for first-time Shadowrocket buyers and anyone who needs to redownload the app after switching to a new iPhone or iPad. Follow these steps: verify the app, check compatibility and your account, purchase and download, open the app, then restore your purchase if needed. This helps distinguish App Store purchase issues from connection setup problems. For connection setup, you’ll need your own service and subscription details.
1. Verify the app and what your purchase includes
Shadowrocket is a closed-source paid app available exclusively on Apple platforms through the App Store, primarily for iPhone and iPad. The product page also lists compatibility with Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision. Check the App Store listing for device compatibility, system requirements, and eligibility for universal purchase. Don’t assume your device is supported just because the app appears in search results on another device.
Shadowrocket is a one-time purchase. The current price, currency, and total charge depend on the App Store storefront associated with your account. Buying the app is not the same as paying for a connection service. Your purchase gives you access to the app; it doesn’t include a server, subscription URL, or service period. Use service details you already have.
Before purchasing, note that your iCloud account and the account used for Media & Purchases in the App Store may be different. To find your purchase history later, check the account that actually made the purchase—not just the account shown at the top of your device settings.
2. Find the app and verify its developer, icon, and app ID
On your iPhone or iPad, open the App Store, go to Search, and enter the full app name: Shadowrocket. The name, icon, and description in search results can help you find it, but open the product page to verify the listing. Don’t rely on search ads, similar names, or other apps.
| Check | What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| App name | Shadowrocket | Check the full English name. The Chinese name is only an additional way to identify the app. |
| Developer | Shadow Launch Technology Limited | Open the product page and verify the full developer name. Don’t rely on the search result snippet. |
| Official icon |  | Verify it alongside the developer and app ID; don’t rely on the rocket shape alone. |
| App ID | 932747118 | The App Store product URL should end with id932747118. |
If the search results aren’t clear, visit our official app verification and download guide, then use its App Store link to check the listing. The app ID identifies the product, but it doesn’t guarantee availability in every storefront. The listing status for your account’s storefront may affect what you see.
Bottom line: confirm all three before paying
If you can’t verify the developer, icon, or app ID, stop and check the listing first. A similar name or a top search result isn’t proof that you’ve found the right app.
3. Purchase and download in five steps
Before paying, check the product page for Compatibility, the age rating, and the current price. An unsupported device, account purchase restrictions, or an unavailable payment method may prevent the purchase from completing. These are App Store issues, not problems with rules or subscription settings in the app.
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Open the App Store
Go to App Store → Search, search for Shadowrocket, and open its product page. Verify that the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited, then check the icon and app ID.
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Check your account
Go to Settings → Apple Account → Media & Purchases and verify the account you’ll use to buy the app. If your device is set to Chinese, the corresponding option is “媒体与购买项目”. Don’t confuse your iCloud sign-in with your purchase account.
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Check the price
Return to the product page and review the price and compatibility details. After tapping the price button, check the app name, currency, and amount on the system confirmation screen. Your payment method and billing details must meet the requirements of your storefront.
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Confirm the purchase
Follow the prompts to confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your account password. Your device may ask you to double-click the side button. Follow the on-screen instructions, and don’t assume the purchase is complete until authentication finishes.
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Wait for the download
Make sure you have a working internet connection and enough storage, then wait for the download to finish. Open the app once the product page button changes to Open. If it still says Waiting or shows a spinner, check the download status instead of trying to buy it again.
If something goes wrong after you confirm the purchase, don’t assume the app is installed just because you received a payment notification. Likewise, don’t pay again just because the product page still shows a price. Check Purchase History in your App Store account to confirm the order status, then return to the product page and check the download button. A card authorization, a completed order, and download progress are separate statuses; verify each one.
4. First launch: check the purchase and connection separately
If the app opens, the download and launch are complete. Use Home to manage connection entries, Config for configuration files, and Settings for app preferences. The app doesn’t provide a working connection automatically when you buy it; you’ll need to add your own valid connection details. You don’t need to change every setting just to verify your purchase.
- Check the app first: Make sure Home opens normally and that Config and Settings are accessible. You can leave the connection off for now.
- Add your details next: To import a subscription you already have, go to Home → “+” → Type → Subscribe, enter your subscription URL, and save it. Subscription URLs often contain access credentials, so don’t share them in public comments or screenshots.
- Connect last: Confirm that the subscription has returned valid entries, select one you can use, and turn on the connection. The first time you create a VPN configuration, review the system permission prompt and confirm as needed.
- Leave automatic connection off for now: Settings → On Demand lets you trigger connections based on conditions. Test a connection manually first, then configure On Demand if needed. This keeps automatic connection behavior separate from purchase troubleshooting.
Another common question after buying the app is which Global Routing option to choose. Global Routing determines how Shadowrocket handles traffic; it doesn’t affect App Store purchase eligibility. Here’s how the three built-in modes differ. The Config recommendation assumes you already have a valid configuration and a working connection.
Config
RecommendedSelect a policy according to the rules in your current configuration. A match can route traffic through a proxy, DIRECT, or REJECT. This doesn’t mean all traffic uses a proxy; the outcome depends on rule order and FINAL.
Best for: Using a valid configuration to handle everyday traffic according to its rules.
Proxy
Use a proxy policy for all traffic handled by the app. Compare this with Config to see whether routing rules are causing an issue. It won’t fix an expired subscription, incorrect credentials, or an App Store purchase problem.
Best for: Temporarily troubleshooting rule-based routing when you have a working connection entry.
Direct
Use a direct policy for all traffic handled by the app. Direct doesn’t guarantee that network requests will succeed, and it won’t change your App Store storefront, the app’s price, or your purchase history.
Best for: Comparing direct connection results to distinguish proxy routing issues from basic network problems.
5. Redownload from your purchase history on a new device
To restore the app on a new iPhone or iPad, find the account that originally made the purchase and locate the app in its purchase history. Don’t search again and tap the price without checking. App purchase eligibility and in-app configuration are separate: redownloading the app won’t automatically restore subscriptions, rules, or all local settings from your old device.
- On your new device, go to Settings → Apple Account → Media & Purchases and verify the account used for the purchase. Sign in with the account that originally bought the app.
- Open App Store → your account profile, then look for Shadowrocket under Apps or Purchased. Menu names may vary by system version; you can also check My Apps and the list of apps not on this device.
- Once you find the listing, tap the cloud download button. If it says Open, the app is already installed on this device. If it shows a price, check your account and Purchase History before considering another purchase.
- After downloading, check whether your local configuration transferred to the new device. If not, restore it from a backup you kept or from a subscription you already have, then test each connection.
If you’re moving from iPhone to iPad or plan to use Shadowrocket on another compatible Apple device, check the product page for compatibility and universal purchase eligibility. Don’t assume the app will work on every device just because you’re using the same account. If your account’s storefront has changed, that can also affect redownload availability; changing your network won’t fix a listing or purchase history issue.
6. Common purchase and restore questions
Can’t find the app? Did I enter the name incorrectly?
Search for the full English name, Shadowrocket, then open the product page from our app verification guide. If the app is still unavailable, check the storefront for your Media & Purchases account, then review the app age rating and purchase restrictions under Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions. Menu names may vary slightly by system version. Don’t rely on search results alone to verify the app.
I already paid. Why does the App Store show a price again?
First, check the account signed in to Media & Purchases. Then go to App Store → your account profile → Purchase History and find the original order. Make sure you’re viewing the correct app and that the purchase hasn’t been refunded or reversed. If the account and purchase record are correct but the issue persists, contact App Store billing support rather than paying again.
The download is still pending after payment. Should I change app settings?
No. The app may not be fully installed yet. Check your device’s available storage, internet connection, App Store download progress, and any account verification prompts. In the App Store, check whether the download is paused and resume it if needed. Global Routing and On Demand can’t fix App Store orders.
The app is installed, but why is Home empty?
An empty list doesn’t mean the purchase failed. Once the app opens normally, import a subscription you already have via Home → “+” → Type → Subscribe. If no entries appear after saving, check that the subscription is valid and what it returns; you don’t need to buy the app again.
The app finished downloading on my new device, but where are my old settings?
Restoring a purchase downloads the app itself. Whether your configuration is restored depends on how you transferred data and what you backed up from your old device. Check the existing contents of Home and Config first, then restore anything missing from your own backup or an existing subscription to avoid importing it twice. Test the connection manually before changing Settings → On Demand.
You can wrap up by checking three things: the product page identifies the right app, the order appears in your purchase history, and the app opens normally on your device. After that, troubleshoot subscription parsing, connection timeouts, or rule matching as configuration issues—not by purchasing the app again. To continue setup, follow the Getting Started guide and verify each step as you go.