CHECK / App and usage details
Verify the app and prepare for first use
Shadowrocket Guide is the official Shadowrocket website and guide. Download sources, purchase records, server details and routing configuration each serve a different purpose. Check each one before use rather than assuming that completing one step completes the others.
- Shadow Launch Technology Limited
- App ID 932747118
- 2 ways to get it: one-time purchase for phones and tablets; other platforms free
Check the developer, icon and ID
On the App Store product page, check the developer name, Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the official icon and app ID 932747118. The icon should match the official icon in this site's header. Do not rely on a search result's name alone. A listing with a similar name may be a different app; if the page does not match these details, return to the product page linked from the download instructions and check again.
The app ID identifies the store listing; the developer name and icon provide two additional checks. Reviewing all three is more reliable than recognizing the name “Shadowrocket” alone. Get desktop and Android versions from this site's download page; mobile store search instructions do not apply to every platform.
Separate the app purchase from server service
One-time app purchase ≠ server plan. iPhone / iPad: $2.99 one-time on the App Store; Mac, Windows, Android and Linux versions are free. None of these options includes server service. Shadowrocket is closed-source commercial software for reading existing server details and handling connections according to your configuration. Your service provider supplies the server address, authentication method and service status.
This site does not provide, sell or recommend servers or subscriptions. Before use, have your own working subscription link or server parameters ready. If you do not have them, first confirm their source before continuing with import. Installing the app, allowing a VPN configuration or turning on the connection switch does not provide a working server.
Check store region and system requirements
For iPhone / iPad, system requirements are as listed on the App Store page. If the product page is unavailable in your current store, first check the country or region associated with your Apple ID for the App Store. The app is not available in the mainland China store, so not finding it in search does not necessarily mean the spelling is wrong. Account region and device language are separate settings; changing the system language does not change the store region.
If you need to change your region, first read the region-change requirements in your account settings and address any existing balance, subscriptions or payment information. Then follow the system process. Do not repeatedly try to change regions without checking your account status. The download page explains store availability and how to verify the listing; check the current product page before purchasing.
Switch devices or reinstall
iPhone and iPad share the same purchase record. If you use the original purchasing account and the device meets the requirements, you can redownload the app from Purchased in the App Store. iPhone / iPad: $2.99 one-time; Mac, Windows, Android and Linux: free. When switching devices, check the account and purchase record before buying again based on a search result.
Redownloading the app and restoring your personal configuration are separate tasks. Keep your configuration and any required information before deleting the app. After reinstalling, check the server, active configuration file, Global Routing and On Demand one by one. Even if a file has synced to the new device, confirm it is selected and working; its presence in the file list is not enough.
Choose Global Routing first
The three common modes are configuration, proxy and direct, shown in the interface as Config, Proxy and Direct. Config matches requests against the current configuration's rules; Proxy applies a proxy policy; Direct connects directly. For troubleshooting, switch modes temporarily only when you have a clear test in mind, then restore the original mode so it does not affect later rule tests.
You may also see Scene; check the contents of your own scene settings before using it. Importing a subscription does not choose Global Routing for you, and a rule file only handles routing as expected when the relevant mode and configuration are active. If a domain does not follow the expected route, check the mode first, then the matching rule and final policy.
Handle updates and troubleshooting separately
Update the iPhone / iPad client through the App Store. Get new Mac, Windows, Android and Linux installers from this site's download page. Client updates, subscription refreshes and configuration changes each affect different content. When something goes wrong, first determine whether the app will not open, a subscription will not update or a destination page cannot be reached after connecting, then follow the relevant instructions.
If only one server entry has stopped working, reinstalling the client repeatedly usually will not fix the server-side issue. First check whether the existing subscription can be updated, verify the port and authentication details, then check Connectivity Test and DNS. When reporting an issue to your service provider, include the relevant symptoms. Before sharing a screenshot publicly, hide the full subscription address, password and other authentication details.
First connection checklist: import your own subscription or server details, select an entry, check Global Routing, allow the VPN configuration request you just initiated, turn on the connection switch, and test actual access. Add rules, On Demand and sync one at a time after the basic connection works.
If Windows, desktop or Android installation is blocked by the system, first confirm the installer came from this site, then follow the steps for that platform. Do not disable all security settings just to complete installation; managed devices should follow their organization's requirements. The download page provides installation warnings and their remedies together for easy reference.