Name: Shadowrocket
Price: 2.99 USD
Author: Shadow Launch Technology Limited

Where to find settings and how they work together

Shadowrocket features

Understand the difference between servers, configuration files, and routing modes before changing individual settings. The examples below explain syntax; they are not complete, ready-to-use configurations.

Rule-Based Routing and Global Routing

Rules determine whether a request goes through the selected server, connects directly, or is rejected. In Home > Global Routing, select Config to apply the rules in the active configuration. Proxy and Direct apply proxying or direct connections globally. Check which files are enabled in Config, then review the matching conditions, order, and final policy in Rule. Keywords such as DOMAIN-SUFFIX and GEOIP have different meanings. Keep a copy before making changes, and use specific request logs to see which rule matched; the connection toggle alone does not confirm that a rule is working.

DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXY
GEOIP,CN,DIRECT
FINAL,PROXY

Global Routing
Config / Proxy / Direct

On Demand connection conditions

On Demand starts connections when configured conditions are met. Set it up only after confirming that manual connections work as expected. Open Settings > On Demand and review the current conditions and what happens when the network changes before adjusting them. This changes when a connection starts; it does not replace server details, subscription updates, or routing rules. After enabling it, check the connection on your usual networks. If it reconnects unexpectedly, note what triggered it and temporarily disable On Demand for comparison. Avoid changing servers and several settings at once, so you can identify the cause.

Settings
  On Demand

Check in this order
Manual connection → Set conditions → Test network changes

Protocols and field checks

Shadowrocket supports protocols including Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, Trojan, and Hysteria2. Choose the Type that matches your existing server details; a newer protocol is not automatically a better fit. In Add Server, select a Type and check Host, Port, and authentication fields against the information you already have. Match the transport, TLS, and other parameters as well. The available fields vary by Type, so do not enter one protocol’s password in another protocol’s identity field. Refer to the app interface for supported protocols and available options.

Shadowsocks / VMess / VLESS
Trojan / Hysteria2 / WireGuard
HTTP / SOCKS5

Add Server
Type → Host → Port → Authentication details

Importing and updating Subscribe

Subscribe imports server entries from a subscription you already have. In Add Server, choose Subscribe, enter your subscription details, and save. Then check that the expected groups and entries appear. A successful import only means the content was read; it does not guarantee that every server can connect. When updating, check that the link is complete, the response is valid, and your local network can reach the address. Subscription links may contain personal credentials, so do not share them publicly. Before changing the update settings, confirm that a manual update works and note the original group names.

Add Server
Type: Subscribe

Import → Check groups → Update manually
→ Select an existing server → Test the connection

Config files and backups

Config manages rules and related processing options, while server subscriptions manage connection entries. Treat them as separate things. Before editing a configuration, confirm which file is selected and save a recoverable copy. When adding a Rule, consider its position: an earlier match can affect later rules. Understand the purpose and authorization scope of DNS, URL Rewrite, and HTTPS Decryption settings before changing them. If you use iCloud sync, check exactly which items and devices are included; syncing is not the same as a complete backup. Before switching devices, make sure your server details and configuration copies can be restored.

Config
  General
  Rule
  Hosts
  URL Rewrite
  HTTPS Decryption

Connectivity Test, Data, and diagnostics

Connectivity Test can help check whether a server is reachable. Data shows traffic-related records, and Diagnostics in Settings can help investigate connection issues. Results depend on the test method, destination, and current network, so they are not a direct measure of real-world browsing speed. Start troubleshooting by checking your local network, then the selected server, Global Routing, and individual request records. Change one condition at a time. Before saving diagnostic information for your own analysis, remove subscription links, authentication details, and personal browsing data.

Home → Connectivity Test
Data
Settings → Diagnostics

Local network → Server → Routing → DNS

When reviewing settings, think of the app in three layers: server details describe how to connect, Config describes how requests are handled, and Global Routing selects the handling mode in use. Importing a subscription usually covers only the first layer. If behavior changes after switching configuration files, check the other two layers instead of importing the same information again. Learn about routing modes →

Getting Shadowrocket on iPhone and iPad

Shadowrocket is available only on Apple platforms, and the App Store is the sole place to get it. Check your purchasing account first, then confirm that your device is compatible.

iPhone

Find the product page on the App Store and complete your purchase. When you first open the app, import your existing subscription or server details. When starting a connection, iOS displays a VPN configuration permission prompt; read it before confirming.

Check the App Store listing for system requirements. A connection icon only indicates that the system has enabled the relevant configuration. Test an actual request and review its logs to confirm that the selected server and routing mode behave as expected.

iPhone guide →

iPad

Check your purchases with the Apple ID used for the original purchase, then get the app on your iPad. Whether the purchase is universal across iPhone and iPad depends on the App Store listing. Purchase history and in-app configuration are separate; check each one independently.

On a wider screen, navigation and layout may differ. Look for interface labels such as Home, Config, and Settings. Check the App Store listing for system requirements, and test the connection on your device after importing your details.

iPad guide →

Shadowrocket is also available on the same App Store for Mac and Apple TV; check the store listing for compatibility.

Do not confuse purchasing the app with restoring its configuration. The App Store handles purchases and redownloading the app; subscriptions, selected servers, and custom rules must be checked separately. If another device prompts you to pay, first check the account currently used for the App Store and its purchase history. There is no need to repeatedly attempt a purchase.

See how to get the app →

Quick-start steps for Shadowrocket

These steps assume you already have your own subscription or server details. First verify a manual connection that you can repeat; then configure automatic updates and On Demand.

01 / IMPORT
Import with Add Server / Subscribe

In Home, open Add Server and choose a Type that matches your existing details. For an existing subscription, choose Subscribe. To enter server details manually, check the address, port, authentication, and transport parameters one by one. After importing, confirm the group and selected entry so you do not mistake similarly named servers for the same one.
02 / ROUTING
Choose Global Routing

To handle requests according to rules, select Config and confirm which file is active in Config. Proxy applies proxying globally; Direct connects directly. You can compare modes during troubleshooting, but note the original selection and restore the mode you intend to use after testing.
03 / VERIFY
Connect and test

Select an existing server and start the connection, then read the system permission prompt. Run Connectivity Test first, then check actual requests and rule matches. If it fails, narrow down the cause in this order: local network, server details, routing rules, and DNS. Change only one condition at a time.

Read the full guide →

What to check before and after connecting

Before connecting, check that your details are complete and the right options are selected. After connecting, check whether actual requests are handled as expected. A populated server list does not prove that authentication details are valid, and a test result does not prove that every destination uses the same rule. Describe the issue by specifying the destination, network, and mode that fail; this is more useful than simply saying “it won’t connect.”

If you already have a working configuration, keep it and make a separate copy for testing. Do not replace a subscription, change DNS, and adjust several transport parameters all at once; even if the connection works afterward, you will not know which change fixed it. For help managing groups, updating subscriptions, or backing up entries, read the subscription and server management guide.

App Store facts to verify

Authenticity, one-time purchase, and restoring purchases

Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app. To verify where to get it, check the App Store listing. To troubleshoot connection issues, check your own configuration. Handle these separately.

Developer Shadow Launch Technology Limited
App ID 932747118
One-time purchase

Check the developer, official app icon, and App ID

Search for Shadowrocket on the App Store and open its product page rather than relying on the name in search results. Confirm that the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited, that the icon matches the official icon in this site’s header, and that the product URL contains App ID 932747118. Similar app names do not mean they are the same product, so check all three details together. The “Get Shadowrocket on the App Store” link on this site opens the authenticity check page first, so you can verify these details before opening the store.

When viewing the product page, also review compatibility, price, and purchase information. Screenshots can help identify the interface, but they do not replace checking the developer and App ID. A button shown in a tutorial is not evidence of what the current store page displays. Always refer to the App Store listing for system requirements, universal purchase availability, and compatible devices.

Store availability and account region

Search results and displayed prices depend on the current App Store storefront. If you cannot find the expected product, open its product link from the authenticity check page, then review the store message, account region, and device compatibility. The page being temporarily unavailable does not mean your existing subscription is faulty, and importing servers again will not change App Store results. For account region or payment details, check the conditions shown by the App Store.

Before purchasing, confirm which account is currently used for the store, especially if you have switched purchasing accounts on the device. Being signed in to an account does not prove that past purchases belong to it; check the actual purchase history. Before changing devices, note the purchase associated with the original account and keep your configuration details separately.

What a one-time purchase covers

The US price is a one-time purchase of $2.99; actual prices vary by App Store storefront and are shown in local currency. Payment gives you the right to use the client app, not server connection details. App purchase ≠ service plan. This site does not provide servers or subscriptions. This manual only explains how to import and manage information you already have.

So an empty list after purchase does not necessarily mean the installation failed. Follow the guide to import your own details rather than purchasing the app again. An expired subscription, failed server authentication, and an app purchase record are separate issues. To update connection details, check your own subscription status and its response. To reinstall the app, check your App Store purchase history.

Using the app on two devices and restoring purchases

If you use the same Apple ID on iPhone and iPad, check your purchases for Shadowrocket and use the button shown in the store to download it again. Check the App Store listing to see whether the purchase is universal and which other devices it covers. If the button asks you to pay instead of offering a redownload, check the account and purchase history; paying again will not restore your configuration.

After redownloading the app, check your existing subscription, selected server, and Config file. Even if you use iCloud sync, check which items the app actually syncs, the sync status, and the results on your device. Restoring a purchase resolves access to the app; restoring configuration resolves your setup. Confirm both before testing the connection with your usual routing mode.

Manage app updates and subscription updates separately

Update the app through the App Store; refresh existing server details from subscriptions within Shadowrocket. An app update may change features or the interface, while a subscription update may change entry names, counts, or connection fields. Before updating, note the selected server and configuration. Afterward, check that your previous selection is still available to avoid misdiagnosing changes to the entries.

If behavior changes after an update, first identify which layer changed: the app interface, subscription entries, or Config rules. Note the steps you took, then compare each item separately; you do not need to redo every setting at once. This manual keeps interface labels in English so you can find the relevant screens by looking for Home, Subscribe, Config, and Settings.

Three common questions before getting started

Imported, but still can’t connect? Check the selected entry first, then distinguish a failed server test from a failed request. Next, review Global Routing and request logs. Troubleshoot connection issues →

Different results after switching Config? Compare the active configuration’s rule order, matching policies, and DNS options. Keep the original file for reference; toggling the connection off and on is not enough. Understand routing modes →

Can’t find an entry after a subscription update? Check whether the update completed, the group changed, and the entry is still in the returned content. Review what changed before importing again. Learn about updating and organizing subscriptions →

Settings and troubleshooting notes

Continue with guides to protocols, DNS, and speed issues. Keep your current configuration and verify each item in the order described.

Protocols

Hysteria2 explained: Why QUIC is fast and which network conditions suit it

Starting with QUIC transport and congestion control, this guide explains what to consider on high-loss, high-latency links and which fields to check when adding an existing Hysteria2 server in Shadowrocket. Choose a protocol that matches the server’s actual configuration.

Read the protocol guide →

Advanced Settings

Shadowrocket DNS setup: System DNS, custom DNS, and DNS over HTTPS compared

Compare how different DNS methods work, where to enter them, and how to verify the settings. If only some domains fail, first distinguish a DNS resolution problem from a connection problem, then review the DNS settings. Changing DNS is not a universal fix.

Read the DNS guide →

Troubleshooting

Shadowrocket running slow? Troubleshoot server, route, protocol, and local network issues

Break speed issues down into the existing server, route, protocol, and local network. Keep test conditions consistent, compare Wi-Fi and cellular data, and record actual performance to narrow down the cause instead of changing several settings at once.

Read the troubleshooting steps →

View all articles →

ShadowrocketUser Guide and Authenticity Check