Check the App Store listing and purchasing account
Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial application. When checking the App Store listing for iPhone / iPad, do not rely only on search results with similar names. Open the product page and confirm the developer, Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the official icon, and app ID 932747118. You can verify the app ID from the numbers in the product page URL. A different ID means it is not the listing described here. The download guide lists verification steps to check before purchasing.
App Store search results and availability depend on the store region associated with your Apple ID. The app is not available in the mainland China store. If you cannot find it, first check which purchasing account is signed in, its region, and the availability shown by the store instead of repeatedly changing search terms. If you need to change your account region, use the official process in account settings and check restrictions involving your balance, existing subscriptions, and payment methods first. Device language, time zone, and account store region are separate settings; changing the interface language does not change what you can purchase.
What the two ways to get it cover
iPhone / iPad: $2.99 one-time purchase in the App Store; Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux versions are free. The dollar price refers to the US storefront; other storefronts display local currency and their current prices. iPhone and iPad share purchases under the same Apple ID, so you do not need to purchase a separate copy for each device. Check the App Store listing for system requirements and compatibility on the target device rather than relying on system version numbers in an old guide.
The free versions for other platforms are also Shadowrocket. Mac downloads differ for Apple Silicon and Intel, while Linux has several installation formats; free does not mean the installers are interchangeable. Get desktop and Android installers from this site's download page, and return to the corresponding listing there for updates. If the system blocks the first launch, verify the source before following the instructions for that system. Do not broadly relax app security settings just to complete installation.
Before replacing a device or reinstalling, check purchases
If you replace an iPhone / iPad or reinstall after deleting the app, use the Apple ID originally used for the purchase to check App Store purchases. If the page shows a price again, first check the current store account and purchase history to avoid paying twice without verifying. The account used for iCloud may differ from the one used for App Store purchases, so checking only the account shown at the top of the device is not enough. Restoring purchase eligibility restores access to the app; it does not automatically restore all connection settings.
App files, subscription links, and configuration files are separate. After reinstalling, you may still need to import your existing subscription again, restore a configuration, or confirm system network permission. Before replacing a device, check the available export and sync methods in the app, save the files you need, and confirm that the backup can be opened. If you use iCloud sync, verify that everything is present on the target device before deleting the only copy from the old one. Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux users can get the installer for their platform again and keep their existing configurations separately.
Manage the client and connection services separately
A one-time client purchase is not a connection service plan. The app reads parameters, establishes connections, applies rules, and provides diagnostics. Whether a connection succeeds also depends on the availability of your existing server, authentication fields, network environment, and protocol requirements. This site does not provide, sell, or recommend nodes or subscriptions. The import instructions in this guide assume that you already have your own subscription or server details. Example domains explain fields and rule syntax; they are not working servers.
If the expected entries do not appear after importing, first check that the pasted content is complete, the type is correct, and the link is still valid. If entries are present but connections fail, check the fields required by the selected protocol, such as Host, Port, Password, and TLS. Do not treat a failed subscription update as a client purchase issue, or reinstall the app as a universal fix for connection errors. Identify whether the problem occurred while getting the app, importing details, or establishing a connection, then consult the relevant section.
Order for changing rules and applying updates
Keep a verified working configuration as a baseline. To add a rule, copy the file first, add one rule that explains its purpose, check the matching order, and revisit the target. If you change DNS, Global Routing, servers, and Rule all at once, it is difficult to identify the cause even if the result improves. After testing a connection, note the mode and configuration name used so you can reproduce the setup on another device. Keep PROXY, DIRECT, and REJECT unchanged in rules; do not replace them with translated words.
App Store manages updates for iPhone / iPad. For Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux, get app updates using the corresponding installers on this site. Subscribe updates the server collection; Config updates configuration content. These have different scopes. Back up before updating, then check the selected server and configuration and test actual access. If the problem began after a specific change, revert that change first instead of importing several files in succession and making the state harder to track.