OFFICIAL GUIDE · FAQ
Shadowrocket Troubleshooting
Choose a category based on when the issue occurs, then open the relevant answer. For purchase and device compatibility, check the account and product page first. Import and connection steps assume you already have your own subscription or server details; verify each item in order.
For first-time setup, start with the user guide. Find installers on the all-platform download page. For detailed subscription management and backup steps, see the subscription guide.
PURCHASE / ACCOUNT
Genuine app and App Store purchases
Keep app purchases, account region, and configuration recovery separate so you can troubleshoot each issue correctly.
Can you install Shadowrocket on iPad? How do you choose between iPad and iPhone?
Yes. Get Shadowrocket for iPhone and iPad from the App Store; check the App Store listing for system requirements. The iPhone and iPad version costs $2.99 as a one-time App Store purchase. The Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux versions are free. On iPad, open the product page to check device compatibility, then confirm which account made the purchase. Split View and landscape orientation can change the layout, but not the meaning of existing server settings or rules. To get started, import your own subscription or server details.
Can I connect as soon as I buy the app? What does the price include?
A one-time app purchase is not a service plan. The iPhone and iPad version costs $2.99 as a one-time App Store purchase; the Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux versions are free. After installation, you still need to enter your own existing subscription or server details and confirm that the service is active. This site does not provide, sell, or recommend servers or subscriptions. A payment record confirms the app purchase; it does not show whether your server service has expired or replace the connection details.
Why can't I find Shadowrocket in the App Store?
Check the country or region of the account currently signed in to the App Store, and whether content restrictions apply to the device. Shadowrocket is not available in the mainland China App Store. Use the App Store product page linked from the download page to check availability in your current storefront. To change your account region, go to Settings and open Apple Account > Media & Purchases, then check Country/Region and follow Apple's instructions for any remaining balance, subscriptions, or payment details. Don't switch regions repeatedly just to change search results; check storefront availability and device compatibility separately.
Do I need to buy Shadowrocket again after changing devices, reinstalling, or switching from iPhone to iPad?
Using the Apple ID that made the original purchase, look for Purchased or your app history on the App Store account page, then download Shadowrocket. The same purchasing account can generally restore the download on compatible iPhone and iPad devices. The iPhone and iPad version costs $2.99 as a one-time App Store purchase; the Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux versions are free. If you still see a purchase button, check the account and storefront under Media & Purchases, then verify the purchase history. Restoring the app does not restore local settings, so back up your own configuration and server details separately before changing devices.
How can I verify the Shadowrocket listing in the App Store?
Open the product page linked from the download page and check the name Shadowrocket, developer Shadow Launch Technology Limited, app ID 932747118, and official icon. You can verify the app ID at the end of the product page URL; don't rely on similar names in search results. The iPhone and iPad version costs $2.99 as a one-time App Store purchase; the Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux versions are free. For other platforms, choose an installer on this site's all-platform download page. Downloads should be under /dl/shadowrocket/ on this site.
INSTALL / FIRST LAUNCH
Installation and first launch on each platform
Check your operating system, processor, and download source before handling first-launch prompts.
Can I use Shadowrocket on a computer or Android device? Where do I install it?
Yes. The iPhone and iPad version costs $2.99 as a one-time App Store purchase; the Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux versions are free. For computers and Android, visit the all-platform download page and choose the installer for your system from this site's /dl/shadowrocket/ directory. On Mac, select the version for Apple silicon or Intel. Desktop and Android installers are unsigned, so the operating system may block them the first time you run them. First confirm the download source, then follow the steps for your operating system on this page. Permission settings differ by platform, so don't follow instructions intended for another system.
Which Mac version should I choose: Apple silicon or Intel?
Open the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select About This Mac. If it shows Chip and identifies Apple silicon, choose the Mac Apple silicon .dmg. If it shows an Intel processor, choose the Mac Intel .dmg. Don't guess based on the year of purchase or the computer's appearance. Open the downloaded .dmg, move the app to Applications, then launch it. If you see an unidentified developer warning, follow the Privacy & Security steps in the next answer. For updates, use the installer that matches your Mac's chip, and keep a backup of your configuration before replacing the app.
What should I do if Windows SmartScreen displays a warning?
First, confirm that you downloaded the Windows 64-bit .exe from this site's download page and that the file is under /dl/shadowrocket/. If Windows SmartScreen displays a protection warning, select More info, check the file you are about to run, then select Run anyway. If that option isn't available, an organization policy or system security setting may be blocking it; check with your device administrator rather than disabling system protection. If the app requests network access when you connect for the first time, grant only the permission needed for that action. Allowing installation and granting network access are separate steps.
How do I open Shadowrocket on Mac if macOS says the developer can't be verified or the app is damaged?
Confirm that the app came from this site's download page and has been moved to Applications. Try opening it once, then go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and check the blocked app notice. Select Open Anyway and confirm when prompted. If macOS specifically says the app is damaged, verify its source and location, then run xattr -cr /Applications/Shadowrocket.app in Terminal and try opening it again. This command clears extended attributes for that app; it is not a general fix for every launch failure. If the path differs, the device is managed, or the app is still blocked, check its actual installation location and your system policies first.
What should I know when installing Shadowrocket on Android or Linux for the first time?
On Android, use the arm64 apk from the download page. If installation is blocked, allow the browser or file manager you are using to install unknown apps; you can turn this permission off afterward. On Linux, choose deb, rpm, or AppImage for your distribution. For deb, run sudo apt install ./Shadowrocket.deb; for rpm, run sudo dnf install ./Shadowrocket.rpm. For AppImage, run chmod +x ./Shadowrocket.AppImage first, then launch it. The filenames in these commands are examples: replace them with the actual downloaded filenames and run the commands from the directory containing the files.
SUBSCRIBE / ADD SERVER
Importing subscriptions and servers
The steps below assume you already have your own subscription or server details. Keep the original information before editing or deleting entries.
Subscription import failed. What should I check first?
First, make sure your local network can access the internet. Check that the copied subscription URL is complete and doesn't include spaces, line breaks, or chat text. These steps assume you already have your own subscription. Save it from the relevant Subscribe screen and try updating. Distinguish a failed URL request from a parsing error: for a request failure, check that the URL is valid, access is allowed, and the network is working; for a parsing error, confirm the response is a supported subscription format rather than a login or error page. Don't share a full URL containing access credentials publicly. When reporting an error, you can include the status code but redact sensitive parts of the URL.
Can't connect after entering details in Add Server. Which fields are commonly wrong?
Check Type first, then verify the address, port, authentication details, and transport fields against your existing server configuration. The address field usually takes a hostname or IP address; don't append a web page path. The port and password are separate fields. If a Trojan configuration requires TLS, SNI, or specific transport settings, enter them exactly as provided. Don't infer defaults from the protocol name. Reopen the saved entry and check it again, especially for spaces introduced when copying. Change one suspect field at a time to help identify the cause.
Why are some settings still missing after using Scan QR Code or importing from the clipboard?
Scan QR Code can only read the information actually encoded in the QR code. Clipboard import also requires a complete share link; neither method fills in missing settings automatically. Check camera permission before scanning. If the image is blurry, use the original image or complete share text you saved. After importing, open the server details and verify Type, address, port, and authentication fields. Check whether the QR code contains details for a single server or a subscription URL. If the imported settings don't match the original, compare them field by field with the source instead of creating multiple similar entries and testing them at random.
Fewer servers appear after updating Subscribe. How can I find out why?
A subscription update refreshes its associated servers based on the returned content, so changed entries don't necessarily mean the app lost data. First check whether the update succeeded, then check whether the subscription expired, filters are enabled, or the returned content changed. Before updating, note the selected entry and back up any local settings you need. Don't repeatedly delete and recreate entries to troubleshoot the same request error. Use clear labels to distinguish multiple subscriptions with similar names. Set the automatic update interval according to your needs, then check the next automatic update after a successful manual update.
What should I back up before deleting a subscription or cleaning up duplicate servers?
Save the subscription URL, any server details entered manually, and the current Config separately. Note which group or entry you're using. Deleting a subscription may also remove its associated servers; keeping only a display name won't restore authentication details. When cleaning up duplicates, compare their source, address, port, and protocol, not just their names. Backup files and share links may contain passwords or access credentials, so store them somewhere you control. After restoring, check that all fields are present before testing the connection. A successful backup doesn't guarantee that every rule and permission has been restored.
GLOBAL ROUTING / DIAGNOSTICS
Rule-based routing and troubleshooting
Check your local network, connection permissions, server settings, rules, and DNS in that order. Change only one condition at a time.
The connection switch won't turn on, or turns off immediately. What should I do?
First, select a server with complete settings, then check whether the system asks to add or authorize a VPN configuration. On iPhone and iPad, confirm the system prompt the first time you connect; declining authorization may prevent the switch from staying on. If another VPN connection is active, disconnect it and try again. On a managed device, check for organization restrictions. If the issue continues, turn off the connection, restart the app, and note the error and the steps that triggered it. Don't reset all network settings as a first step. Before rebuilding the VPN configuration, save the current one and make sure you won't remove another work connection.
It says connected, but I can't access the internet. What should I check first?
Turn off the connection and verify that your Wi-Fi or cellular network works on its own. Reconnect and check the selected server's status and Global Routing. Temporarily use Proxy to check whether the selected server can handle requests, then switch back to your original mode. If Proxy works but Config doesn't, check which rules match, policy references, and DNS. If both fail, check the server details, service status, and whether the network restricts the transport in use. Change one condition per test and record the result. The connection icon shows connection status; it doesn't confirm that every website or DNS request succeeded.
How do I choose between Config, Proxy, and Direct in Global Routing?
Config follows the rules in the current configuration to decide where requests go. Proxy routes requests through the selected proxy path. Direct sends requests directly and can be used for comparison. For everyday rule-based routing, make sure Config is selected and the configuration is valid. To check whether a server is working, switch briefly to Proxy and compare the result with Direct. PROXY and DIRECT in rules are policy keywords, not interface modes. After switching, test the same destination again and restore your usual mode when you're done.
The interface is in English. How do I follow the steps in this guide?
This guide keeps interface labels in English. When looking for a setting, match names such as Home, Config, Settings, Add Server, Subscribe, and Global Routing rather than relying only on button positions. System language, app language settings, and platform differences can affect the labels and layout. If your system offers per-app language settings, check them in system settings; the display on your device takes precedence. Look up unfamiliar labels in the terminology guide using their English names. Don't change protocols, rule keywords, or server settings to make the interface look consistent; these aren't labels to translate.
Battery use increases after connecting. How should I check On Demand?
Compare similar usage periods and network conditions in your system's battery statistics; don't judge by a single change in battery level. Continuous data transfer, frequent reconnections, weak signal, and repeated tests can all increase battery use. Stop repeated tests, check whether the connection keeps dropping, then observe it under the same conditions. On Demand triggers connections according to its settings. Temporarily turn it off and connect manually to check for unexpected triggers. If you need diagnostic logs, enable them only while troubleshooting and restore your usual settings afterward. Don't leave frequent logging enabled for long periods by default.
Does a Connectivity Test result guarantee that everything will work normally?
No. A Connectivity Test depends on its target, method, and current network, so it can help narrow down an issue but can't replace testing the sites or apps you actually use. After the test, check the relevant site or app and look separately at DNS, connection establishment, and content loading. If the test passes but access still fails, note the affected destination and Global Routing mode, then check whether a rule sends it through a different policy. If the test fails, don't delete the server right away. Compare results on another working network, then recheck your existing server details and service status.