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

Interface and purpose

Shadowrocket features

Understand the difference between connection details, routing modes, and configuration rules before deciding what to change.

The server selected in Home provides the details used for the proxy connection. Global Routing determines how traffic is handled, while Config stores the rules. These settings work together, but they are not interchangeable. If access fails, check the selected server and routing mode first, then review the rules and DNS. This helps avoid repeatedly editing a configuration before confirming the connection details. The six sections below explain where to find each feature, what it does, and how to verify it. The options available may vary by app interface.

Three Global Routing modes

ConfigProxyDirect

Global Routing is in Home. Config routes traffic according to the rules in the active configuration; Proxy sends traffic the app can handle through the selected proxy; Direct connects without the proxy. Use Config to route different sites separately, Proxy to check the proxy connection, or Direct to compare a direct connection. Changing modes does not add missing server details or switch configuration files. Change one mode at a time, revisit the same destination, and compare the results. Restore your usual setting when testing is complete so a temporary troubleshooting mode is not left in place.

Read about routing modes →

On Demand triggers and checks

Settings
On Demand

On Demand starts a connection when specified conditions are met. Find its options in Settings. It controls when a connection starts, not which rule applies to a particular site. First confirm that a manual connection and site visit work, then set up On Demand. Otherwise, if access still fails after an automatic connection, it can be difficult to tell whether the cause is the trigger condition or the server. After making changes, check what happens on the current network, when switching networks, and when stopping the connection. If the connection starts again after you stop it manually, check the On Demand conditions before repeatedly removing the VPN configuration from your device.

Read the Settings guide →

Importing and managing subscriptions

Add Server
Type → Subscribe

Subscribe manages subscription URLs you already have. Before importing one, confirm with your provider that the URL is complete and still valid. In Add Server, choose the relevant Type, enter the URL, and save; then check that the server entries appear. Updating a subscription retrieves the list provided by the service. It does not extend the service period or guarantee that existing server names will remain. If an update fails, first check the URL, network, and service status. Don’t delete the existing entries right away. Subscription URLs may contain personal access credentials, so hide sensitive parts before sharing a screenshot, sending feedback, or transferring the URL to another device.

Read how to import and update subscriptions →

Config and rule order

[Rule]
DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXY
FINAL,DIRECT

Config manages configuration files, and Rule determines how matching requests are handled. Rules are generally checked from top to bottom, and the matching rule’s policy applies. Place specific domain rules before FINAL. This syntax example sends example.com and its subdomains to PROXY, with DIRECT as the fallback for other requests. Keep a copy of the existing configuration before editing. After making changes, confirm that the edited file is enabled and Global Routing is set to Config. Change one type of rule at a time and test the target domain. Saving a file without enabling it won’t change how requests are routed.

Read about rule keywords →

Data and connection activity

Data
Connectivity Test
Settings → Diagnostics

Data shows traffic recorded by the app and can help you tell whether requests were made during a test. It does not replace your provider’s usage records, and traffic changes alone don’t confirm that a site loaded completely. When troubleshooting, note the current mode and server, make one specific request, then review Data alongside Connectivity Test and Diagnostics. When reporting an issue, include only the necessary error details, circumstances, and steps to reproduce it. Logs may contain domains, addresses, and connection details, so review and hide sensitive information before sharing.

See the connection troubleshooting steps →

Devices and access

Get Shadowrocket for iPhone / iPad

The App Store is the only place to get Shadowrocket. Check the App Store listing for system requirements, device compatibility, and general purchase terms.

iPhone

Check the app listing in the App Store, then purchase and install Shadowrocket. The first time you connect, follow the system prompt to allow the VPN configuration. This authorizes the client to handle the relevant network traffic; it does not add server details.

See how to get Shadowrocket and open it for the first time on iPhone ›

iPad

Use the Apple ID you purchased with to find your purchase history, and check the App Store listing for the current terms of any universal purchase. A larger screen can make configurations easier to review, but you’ll still need to check authorization, server selection, and routing mode on this device.

See how to get Shadowrocket and check purchase details on iPad ›

Shadowrocket is also available for Mac and Apple TV from the same App Store. Check the listing for compatibility details.

Before using a second device, distinguish between a restored app purchase and connection details that are ready to use. If the App Store offers the app again, that confirms the purchase is available to the account; it does not confirm that subscriptions, manually entered settings, or configurations from the original device have synced. Open the app and check them separately. Don’t erase the old device before verifying your details. Keeping the original configuration makes it easier to compare settings and restore your usual rules.

Download on the App StoreShadowrocket View setup steps →

First connection · Three-step overview

From existing details to a tested connection

Start with one manual connection you can repeat and verify. Add automatic triggers and detailed rules afterward.

Add Server: import your existing details

Prepare a subscription URL, share link, or server details you already have. In Home, open Add Server and choose the import method that matches your details. If you use Subscribe, save the subscription first and check that server entries are created. When entering details manually, verify Type, Host, Port, and authentication fields individually. A subscription URL is not a server Host.

After importing, select an entry and check that its name and settings match the original details. QR codes, clipboard contents, and share links may contain sensitive information; handle them only on your own devices. If you need help checking them, hide authentication details first.
Global Routing: choose a mode

For everyday rule-based routing, choose Config and confirm that the expected file is enabled in Config. To check whether an existing server works, temporarily choose Proxy. To compare with a direct connection, choose Direct. Changing modes changes the request path; it won’t fix an incorrect password or port, or an expired subscription.

For your first troubleshooting test, use the same destination throughout. Don’t change the server, DNS, and rules at the same time. Start with one clear baseline and change one setting per test so you can tell what affected the result.
Connection switch: authorize and test access

Turn on the connection switch in Home. The first time you connect, follow the system prompt to add the VPN configuration and complete any required device verification. Once the switch shows a connection status, run Connectivity Test, then open the destination page. A successful test only confirms that its specific test path is reachable; it doesn’t guarantee access to every site.

If the switch is on but pages still won’t load, check the server status, Global Routing, DNS, and rules—in that order. Note whether all destinations fail or only certain domains, then follow the relevant guide. Avoid applying the same fix to every issue.

Example rule configuration

Route only specific domains

[Rule]
DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,PROXY
FINAL,DIRECT

example.com here is a sample domain, not a connection server. The first rule covers that domain and its subdomains; the final rule handles requests that haven’t matched earlier rules.

PROXY and DIRECT are rule policies; Proxy and Direct in the interface are Global Routing modes. They operate at different levels. To route traffic using these rules, choose Config mode and enable the configuration file that contains them.

This example explains the structure of rules; don’t replace your entire configuration with it as-is. Keep any existing settings you need, then test the target domain and ordinary browsing after making changes.

View the full guide →

App authenticity and purchase details

Verify the app, then check purchase terms

Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app. Check its App Store listing for the official product details, current price, and purchase terms.

Three details to verify

Official icon · Developer name · App ID

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

If you find listings with similar names, don’t rely on the Chinese nickname alone. Compare the official icon shown on this site, then check that the product page lists Shadow Launch Technology Limited as the developer and includes id932747118 in the product URL. The icon, developer, and App ID should all match the same listing. A similar name alone is not enough to verify the app.

If you can’t find the app in the store, first check your current App Store account region and the details shown on the product page. A webpage loading does not guarantee the app is available to purchase in your account’s storefront. Check availability, payment terms, and system compatibility separately. If you need to change your account region, first review the instructions in the App Store on your device and check requirements such as account balance, active subscriptions, and payment methods. Repeatedly changing regions is not a way to fix connection problems.

See the full app verification guide →

What the one-time purchase covers

Buying the app ≠ buying a connection plan. The U.S. App Store price is $2.99 as a reference; other storefronts show local currency. The current App Store listing has the final price. The purchase covers the right to use the app. Server addresses, authentication details, subscription validity, and service traffic depend on services you already have.

This site does not provide, sell, or recommend servers or subscriptions. It explains how to import, use, and troubleshoot details you already have. If the list is empty after purchasing the app, connection details probably haven’t been added yet; they are not included automatically with the purchase. Prepare your own details and follow the Add Server steps.

Using two devices and restoring purchases

To use Shadowrocket on both iPhone and iPad, use the Apple ID used for the purchase to check your App Store history. Check the App Store listing for universal purchase availability, device compatibility, and Family Sharing details. Your device’s iCloud account and App Store purchase account are not necessarily the same.

When changing devices or reinstalling, look for Shadowrocket in your App Store purchase history first. If the product page shows a price again, check your purchase history and current store account before proceeding. After reinstalling, check your connection details, active configuration, and VPN authorization separately.

Updates, backups, and routine maintenance

App updates are delivered through the App Store, where you can also check the current update history. This guide does not list specific version numbers or release dates, so historical details aren’t mistaken for current requirements. Before updating, keep your current configuration and any essential settings. Afterward, test your usual scenarios first, and adjust settings only if something has changed.

Subscription updates and app updates are separate: the former retrieves the server list from a service you already use; the latter updates the client itself. Editing a configuration is a third, separate action. Keep track of each one so that, if an issue arises, you can identify which layer changed. To recover, return to the last working configuration, confirm the connection, then reapply changes one at a time.

When reporting an issue, include the current mode, affected destination, network environment, and steps you’ve already tried. There’s no need to share your full configuration. Keep complete subscription URLs, passwords, and authentication details on your own device. Hide them in logs or screenshots before sharing. This preserves the context needed to investigate the issue without adding unnecessary information.

Tips and guides

Rules, DNS, and connection troubleshooting

Once you have a connection, find the guide that matches the issue. Identify what’s happening first, then choose the relevant setting.

Troubleshooting

Shadowrocket is connected but there’s no internet: check the server, Global Routing, DNS, and rules in four steps

Check the server connection test, current Global Routing mode, DNS settings, and matching rules in order. Each step explains how to diagnose the issue and what to try next.

Read the troubleshooting checklist →

DNS & Network

Shadowrocket DNS settings: system DNS, custom DNS, and DNS over HTTPS

Learn how the three DNS options work and when to use each one. Find out how DNS results affect rule matching and how to check that changes have taken effect.

Read the DNS guide →

Rules

Route selected sites through a proxy in Shadowrocket: use DOMAIN-SUFFIX with FINAL,DIRECT for allowlist routing

See a practical rule example that sends only listed domains to PROXY and routes everything else to DIRECT, with steps to edit and test the rules in Config.

Read the routing steps →

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ShadowrocketUser Guide