FAQ Guide
Shadowrocket FAQ and Troubleshooting Steps
Organized into four sections: genuine purchase, first launch, importing an existing subscription, and connection troubleshooting. Each answer keeps Shadowrocket’s English interface terms and provides steps you can follow directly.
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Verify the storefront and account first, then address import and connection issues. During troubleshooting, change one setting at a time so the cause is easier to identify.
Genuine App & Purchase
App Store Product Page and Account Verification
Verify the developer name, app ID, price, and Apple Account before reviewing purchase history or storefront messages. The only official way to obtain the app is through its App Store product page.
How can I verify that the Shadowrocket app in the App Store is genuine?
Open the product page and verify these three details in order: the developer must be Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the app icon must match the official product page, and the app ID in the URL must be 932747118. Treat the name in search results as a clue only, and purchase after all three details match.
What should I do if I cannot find Shadowrocket in the App Store?
Open this site’s download guide first, then enter the App Store through the official product page for app ID 932747118. If the page says the current storefront is unavailable, check the Apple Account’s Country/Region, payment method, and store status. Availability and system requirements are determined by the App Store listing.
How much does Shadowrocket cost, and how is it billed?
Shadowrocket is a paid commercial app. The US storefront commonly lists a one-time purchase of $2.99; other storefronts show the price in local currency, so check the App Store checkout page before purchasing. A one-time app purchase is not a service plan and does not include a subscription or server information.
Do I need to buy Shadowrocket again after switching to a new iPhone?
Sign in to the App Store with the Apple Account used for the original purchase and find Shadowrocket in your purchased items; you can normally download it again. If the store asks you to pay, first confirm that the Apple Account, Country/Region, and purchase history match. Do not immediately pay a second time.
What should I do if my Apple Account region does not match the product page?
In the system Settings, open Apple Account, then Media & Purchases, View Account, and Country/Region to check the current storefront. If a change is needed, follow Apple’s account-region change process and first resolve any balance, payment method, or active-service issues shown on the page.
Installation & First Launch
Device installation, system authorization, and interface entry points
Get Shadowrocket on both iPhone and iPad from the same App Store product page. On first launch, complete the system VPN configuration authorization and get familiar with the four main entry points: Home, Config, Data, and Settings.
How do I install and open Shadowrocket for the first time on iPhone?
Complete the purchase and download from the official App Store product page. After opening Shadowrocket, start with Home. The first connection prompts the system to add a VPN configuration; follow the system instructions to verify the device. This authorization establishes the local network connection, and system requirements are determined by the App Store listing.
Can I install Shadowrocket on iPad?
Yes. Open the App Store product page with the same Apple Account; if the account already owns the app, the page will normally offer a download-again option. The iPadOS landscape layout and some control positions may differ from iPhone, but key interface terms such as Home, Config, Data, and Settings remain the same. System requirements are determined by the App Store listing.
Why does a VPN configuration prompt appear on the first connection?
This is the authorization step shown by Apple’s system when an app requests a network connection configuration. After confirming that the open app is Shadowrocket with the verified developer name and app ID, follow the system instructions. If authorization is denied, the connection switch in Home cannot establish a connection normally.
The Shadowrocket interface is in English. Where are the main entry points?
Use Home to select a server, view connection status, and operate the main switch; Config manages configuration files and rules; Data shows connection data; Settings contains options such as DNS, On Demand, and Log. When adding a server, the usual entry is Add Server, and subscription entries are labeled Subscribe.
Is it normal for the server list to be empty on first launch?
Yes. Shadowrocket is a client. On first launch, import an existing subscription or enter existing server details. A one-time app purchase is not a service plan; before importing, prepare valid information supplied by your own service provider.
Subscription & Server Import
Adding, updating, and verifying existing information
Before importing, confirm that you have complete and valid information. The link, protocol type, Address, Port, and authentication fields must correspond; run Connectivity Test after saving.
How do I import an existing subscription link?
In Home, open Add Server, choose Subscribe as the type, enter the complete existing subscription link in URL, and save it with an identifiable Remark. Return to Home and update the list. Once the server entries appear, select one and run Connectivity Test.
What should I check, and in what order, when subscription import fails?
First confirm that the link was copied completely, with no leading or trailing spaces or line breaks. Then verify that the link is still valid and that the network can reach its address. Next, confirm that the type in Add Server is Subscribe. If it still fails, record the message and time, then check the subscription status with the original service provider.
How do I update an imported subscription?
Open Home, find the relevant Subscribe item, and use its update action. Some interfaces also trigger an update when the list is refreshed. Afterward, check whether the server list and Remark have changed. If an error appears, do not repeatedly import the same link; check link validity, network connectivity, and service status in that order.
How do I manually add existing server details?
In Home, open Add Server and first choose the protocol matching the information you have, such as Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, Trojan, HTTP, SOCKS5, WireGuard, or Hysteria2. Then fill in Address, Port, Password, and any other required fields. Every field must match the information from the service provider; do not mix parameters from different protocols.
How should I use Scan QR Code and Import from Cloud JSON?
If your existing information is provided as a QR code, use Scan QR Code and verify the protocol and address before saving. If you have a cloud JSON file in Shadowrocket format, use Import from Cloud JSON. After importing, inspect the entry details instead of judging the configuration only by its Remark.
Rules & Troubleshooting
Locate the problem by connection mode
Check in this order: local network, current server, Global Routing, rule matching, DNS, and On Demand. Reconnect and test again after each change to avoid changing multiple variables at once.
How should I choose Config, Proxy, or Direct in Global Routing?
Config applies the rules in the current configuration file and is suitable for everyday rule-based routing. Proxy sends connections through the currently selected server and is useful for temporarily verifying server availability. Direct connects directly and helps determine whether the issue comes from the proxy path. Compare all three during troubleshooting, but use the mode that matches your normal configuration goal.
What should I do if the connection switch in Home will not turn on?
First confirm that a valid server or configuration is selected, then check that the VPN configuration authorization required for the first connection is complete. Close and reopen Shadowrocket, and if necessary restart the device before trying again. If an invalid VPN configuration exists in system Settings, verify its source first, then trigger authorization again through Shadowrocket.
It says connected, but webpages will not open. How should I troubleshoot this?
Switch Global Routing to Direct first to confirm that the local network itself works. Then switch to Proxy to check whether the current server connects. Finally return to Config to determine whether the issue is rule matching. If only Config fails, focus on the order and target policies of rules such as DOMAIN-SUFFIX, GEOIP, IP-CIDR, and FINAL.
Latency is normal, but domains will not open. Should I check DNS?
Yes. A latency test only shows that the test target responded; it does not confirm that domain resolution works completely. Restore the DNS-related items in Settings to their previously working values, reconnect, and test multiple domains. If IP addresses are reachable but domains fail, focus on DNS, domain rules in Config, and the local network’s resolution status.
What should I do if Shadowrocket uses noticeably more battery or connects automatically too often?
In Settings, first check whether On Demand is enabled and whether its triggers cover the current network; turn off On Demand when automatic connections are unnecessary. Then review Data and Log for repeated reconnects or excessive background requests. After troubleshooting, clear Log entries you no longer need and observe battery usage during a normal usage period.