The App Store is the only place to buy and install Shadowrocket. This guide is for first-time buyers and anyone reinstalling on a new device. Verify the app and device compatibility, complete the purchase and installation, then distinguish the app purchase from your existing service configuration and first connection. Buying the app is not the same as purchasing a service plan; connecting requires a service and subscription you already have.
1. Verify the app before you buy
If App Store search results include apps with similar names, don't rely on their position in the results or a rocket image alone. Open the product page and check the full name, Shadowrocket, the developer, Shadow Launch Technology Limited, and the app ID in the product link. Make sure all three match the same product before proceeding.
The official icon is a rocket outlined in blue and purple on a white background. Use the icon below to compare it with the product page. The icon alone cannot verify the app's identity; check the developer name and app ID as well.
The app ID is not usually shown as a separate field in the product page description. When viewing the product's share link, look for id932747118 in the URL path. This number identifies the app; it is not a version number, price, or order number. The App Store verification page on this site links to the same product and can help when search results are unclear.
Bottom line: verify the app before paying
If you can't confirm the name, developer, or app ID, return to the App Store verification page and open the specified product, then check the purchase details shown on your device.
2. Find, buy, and install Shadowrocket
These steps focus on iPhone and iPad. Before you begin, make sure your device can access the App Store and that you can verify purchases with your own Apple Account. Availability, currency, final price, and system requirements are determined by the current App Store product page—not search snippets or prices quoted in older articles.
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Find the app
Open App Store → Search, enter
Shadowrocket, and open the product page with the matching name. Don't identify the app by its icon alone in the search results. -
Verify the app
Check the developer, Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the official icon, and app ID 932747118. To verify the link, you can open the App Store from this site's verification page.
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Check compatibility
Review the device and system requirements in the product page's Information and Compatibility sections. Check the App Store page for compatibility with iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices.
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Confirm your purchase
Tap the price button, review the system purchase confirmation, and verify the app name and amount. Then follow your device's prompts to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your account.
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Wait for installation
After payment, wait for the download and installation to finish. Open the app when the button changes to “Open.” If a download is in progress, let it complete in the App Store rather than submitting another purchase.
App Store button labels and confirmation methods vary by device, system language, and purchase status. A price usually means the current account hasn't acquired the app. If you see a redownload icon or “Open,” check the existing status first. Payment and installation are separate stages: a completed transaction does not mean the download has finished.
3. What the one-time purchase covers and how to check your devices
Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app. The one-time purchase is for the app itself. You'll still need your own server or subscription configuration to connect. An App Store receipt does not provide a server address, port, authentication details, or subscription link. This site does not provide, sell, or recommend nodes or subscriptions.
| What to check | Where to look | What to use as a reference |
|---|---|---|
| App price | App Store product page and purchase confirmation | Use the currency, amount, and payment details currently shown |
| iPhone / iPad system requirements | Compatibility section on the product page | Refer to the App Store page |
| Mac / Apple TV / Apple Vision | Compatibility section on the same product page | Device compatibility, system requirements, and purchase eligibility are determined by the App Store page |
| Whether your existing service works | Service parameters and in-app connection tests | Check the configuration, network, and service status separately; a purchase result can't confirm them |
If you plan to use the app on another device, open the same product page in that device's App Store first. Don't assume every device is compatible just because the app opens on one of them. Check device compatibility, system requirements, and purchase eligibility separately. Family purchase eligibility is also subject to the App Store information and what your current account displays.
- Before buying: Make sure your device meets the system requirements listed on the product page.
- When switching devices: Make sure the App Store is signed in to the account that purchased the app.
- When migrating configuration: Check your server, subscription, and configuration files separately. Redownloading the app does not restore its configuration.
4. Troubleshoot purchase and download issues
First identify whether the issue occurs during search, payment, or download. Not finding the app in search doesn't mean your purchase history is missing, and a stalled download doesn't mean you need to pay again. Note the exact wording on the product page or system alert, then follow the relevant steps. This helps avoid repeatedly switching accounts or submitting duplicate transactions.
Why can't I find Shadowrocket in search?
Check the spelling first, then open the specified product from the App Store verification page. If the App Store says the app isn't available in your current storefront, check the storefront associated with your account and the app's availability there. Changing your search terms won't resolve storefront availability restrictions.
Why am I seeing a price if I've bought it before?
In the App Store, go to your account profile → Purchase History and check whether the current account shows a record for the app. The menu names may vary by system version. Then check the account under Settings → Apple Account → Media & Purchases. Your iCloud sign-in alone doesn't tell you which account made the App Store purchase.
What if the download keeps spinning after payment?
First check whether the App Store still shows download progress. Then check your network and go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage; on iPad, check the corresponding iPad Storage section. If the system reports a payment issue, review your account's payment information. Don't make another purchase to resolve a download queue.
Will my subscription return automatically after I reinstall?
Reinstalling restores access to the app; it does not guarantee that your previous configuration is restored. Open Home to check your server list, then Config to review your configuration files. If the list is empty, restore it from your own backup or existing service information. Don't delete the app before confirming that you have a backup.
If your account shows a purchase but the product page status still looks wrong, use the App Store's account and purchase support options to check the transaction. In-app controls such as the connection toggle, Global Routing, and Connectivity Test don't verify App Store payments. Changing them won't fix your purchase status.
5. Configure the app and check your connection
When you first open Shadowrocket, check Home for an existing server. Buying the app doesn't create a service configuration. If you already have a subscription, tap “+” in the top-right corner of Home to open the add screen, choose Subscribe under Type, enter your own subscription link, and save it. Then check the imported results. Don't share a complete link that contains authentication details.
- Check the list: Make sure the expected servers appear in Home. Subscription content comes from your existing service; the number of entries and their parameters depend on what that service returns.
- Select a server: Choose the server you want as the default in Home, check that it's selected, and then use the connection toggle.
- Authorize in iOS: If a system prompt asks to add a VPN configuration the first time you connect, review it, follow the prompts, and complete device authentication.
- Check the test result: Use Connectivity Test in Home to help assess connectivity. A successful test doesn't guarantee that every destination or rule will behave as expected.
Global Routing selects a routing mode; it isn't a purchase option. To avoid confusing “purchased,” “VPN connected,” and “traffic routed as expected,” check the current selection and the actual rules in Config. The comparison below is for recognizing settings after installation.
Config
RecommendedRequests are handled according to the rules and policies in the current configuration file. Requests that don't match a rule don't necessarily go direct; check rules such as FINAL and the policy assigned to them to determine where they go.
Best for: Routing traffic by rule with a verified configuration file
Proxy
Handles requests within the app's scope using the proxy mode. This can help distinguish rule selection issues from proxy connection issues; it doesn't mean you've purchased a service or that a server is available.
Best for: Temporarily checking whether Config rules affect a request
Direct
Handles requests within the app's scope using direct mode. Even if the connection toggle is on, this doesn't mean the request is using the selected proxy server.
Best for: Checking direct connections on your current network
If you use Scene, check its settings separately; don't assume it is a fixed Proxy or Direct mode. For an initial test, choose an option whose behavior you can verify. If you use automatic connections, also check Settings → On Demand so they don't get mixed up with App Store installation issues during manual testing.
6. App Store purchase and installation checklist
The purchase process is complete when the app is installed and opens successfully. Connecting still requires configuration and network checks. Keeping these stages separate makes it clear whether to return to the App Store for purchase help or check servers and rules in Shadowrocket.
- The product page shows the name Shadowrocket, developer Shadow Launch Technology Limited, and app ID 932747118.
- The purchase amount, system requirements, and device compatibility have been checked on the current App Store page.
- The App Store shows “Open,” and the app launches successfully on your device.
- If you need to connect, your own service configuration is in Home, and you've checked the default server and Global Routing.
- Before redownloading, check the account used for the purchase. Before restoring configuration, check your backup. Handle these separately.
If you haven't purchased the app, start at the App Store verification page and follow its link to the App Store. If the app is already installed, use the getting-started guide to check Home, Config, and the first connection steps. You don't need to buy the app again to troubleshoot connection issues.