Shadowrocket
App Store Guide

02 Check the Store Account Used for Purchases

Before buying or restoring a purchase, check which account the App Store is using. The account for iCloud and the account for Media & Purchases may differ, so the name at the top of Settings alone doesn't tell you which account owns a purchase. Subsequent downloads, purchase history, and update verification generally use the store account that obtained the app. Remembering your purchase account matters more than remembering which network your device was connected to at the time.

Check the country or region in Settings

1. Open Settings, tap your account at the top, then find Media & Purchases. The layout may vary slightly between system versions.
2. Select View Account and complete any required authentication. Open Country/Region to see the current country or region.
3. You don't need to submit a region change just to check the information. Confirm the current setting and go back, taking care not to turn a review into an accidental change.
4. Then open the App Store account page and check that the signed-in identity matches the one you just reviewed. Also check for any pending account verification prompts.

If the system asks for a password, enter it in the system account window. Don't share your password, verification code, or payment details with anyone. The paths in this manual help you locate settings; they don't require you to submit account information on a website. If you've forgotten your credentials, use the account recovery process provided on your device. Repeated guesses may trigger additional verification; repeatedly trying to download the app won't fix an account authentication problem.

Use purchase history to confirm which account owns the app

If you've obtained Shadowrocket before, check Apps, Purchased, or the equivalent section in your App Store account. The name varies by system version. Purchase history and the purchased-app list serve different purposes: the former helps verify transactions, while the latter is better for finding apps available to redownload. Search for the full product name and check for filters, such as showing only items not installed on the current device.

When you find a record, check the app name, the account used for the purchase, and the transaction status. A bank charge notification or payment authorization alone doesn't prove the app was added to the current account. Conversely, not seeing the app icon on your current phone doesn't mean no purchase record exists. If the transaction is pending, resolve the store billing status before trying to install. Don't make another purchase as a substitute for checking the original transaction.

What to note before switching store accounts

If you need to switch your own store account, first note which account owns the purchase, make sure you can still sign in to it, and check whether any installed apps need updating. If you're only changing the store identity, don't sign out of iCloud on the entire device unnecessarily. That can affect syncing, photos, and other services, and isn't required to install Shadowrocket. After switching, reopen the App Store account page and verify the identity; don't rely on the profile picture or displayed name alone.

You can keep account details in a secure personal record, but don't include them in help screenshots or public notes. When describing an issue, share results such as whether the current account matches the purchase account, whether the purchased-app list is visible, and what the product page button shows. There's no need to reveal the full account identifier. This preserves useful troubleshooting information without exposing account details unnecessarily.

After these checks, you should be able to answer three questions clearly: Which storefront are you using? Which of your own accounts obtained the app? Is there a purchase record in that account? If the answers are clear, follow the relevant steps in the restore section. If not, preserve the current state and keep checking. Changing the region, account, and device settings all at once makes it hard to identify what actually mattered.

04 One-Time Purchase Scope and Payment Checks

The iPhone / iPad version costs $2.99 as a one-time App Store purchase. Other storefronts charge in the local currency and amount shown on the page. The Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux versions are free. The one-time purchase gives you the right to use the client app; it doesn't buy server resources. Before paying, check the listing, account, device compatibility, and final amount. After paying, confirm the transaction and download status to separate store issues from usage issues.

Check these four things before purchasing

1. As described in the previous section, verify Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the official icon, and app ID 932747118. Make sure you're still on the correct product page.
2. Check the current store account and country or region. Make sure the purchase will be associated with the account you plan to use long term.
3. Review the product page's compatibility information. Refer to the App Store listing for system requirements; being able to view the webpage doesn't mean the app can be installed on your device.
4. Read the system purchase confirmation and check the app name, payment method, and final amount. Then confirm using the authentication method required by your device.

If the purchase window reports incomplete billing information, an unavailable payment method, or a verification requirement, address it in the store account settings. Don't keep tapping the purchase button or mistake a failed payment for a Shadowrocket network settings problem. The app may not have downloaded yet; no switch inside the client can affect a store transaction. Resolve the account billing status first.

Transaction complete, download complete, and connection working are three separate stages

A completed transaction means the store accepted the purchase. A completed download means the app is on your device. A working connection depends on your existing server details, network conditions, and configuration. Each stage can fail separately. If the download is still pending after payment, check the download queue, storage space, and system restrictions instead of purchasing again. If the app opens but shows no server list, that doesn't mean the purchase record is missing; it means your own details haven't been imported yet.

If a payment notification and the store status don't match, check purchase history to see whether the transaction completed or is still processing, and make sure you're signed in to the account you just confirmed. Keep the system transaction record for reference, but hide personal details in public help requests. For refunds or billing disputes, use the process available through purchase history in your account. The store decides eligibility based on the transaction; this manual can't guarantee an outcome.

One purchase across multiple devices

The same purchase account can usually redownload the app on compatible iPhone and iPad devices without creating another purchase just because you've switched to a different device form factor. This depends on using the correct account, the listing remaining available, and meeting device and store requirements. An app icon in a device backup doesn't mean the current store identity automatically becomes the original purchase account. When restoring a new device, check which account is actually being used for the download.

A one-time purchase doesn't remove all future restrictions related to devices, regions, or system status. System compatibility can affect installation, account verification can affect downloads, and storefront availability can affect restores. Keeping a record of which account owns the purchase helps you find the right troubleshooting path; it isn't a way to bypass system requirements. The next section covers the steps for restoring a purchase.

Subscription links may contain sensitive identifying information and should be treated like credentials. Don't post them in public forums. Updating a subscription inside the app requests the latest configuration from the service associated with that link; this is entirely separate from App Store purchases and app updates. For update steps, see the subscription update guide after installing. Don't mix these troubleshooting processes up during payment.

06 Family Sharing Requirements and Separate Accounts

Family Sharing lets members of an eligible family group access purchases that can be shared. It doesn't mean handing another member your account password or copying all purchase records into a different account. To check whether Shadowrocket can be shared, first review the current support information on its App Store product page. Then check the family group, purchase sharing, and members' store regions. Don't promise that other members can download the app if the product page or family settings don't meet the requirements.

Check app support before reviewing Family Sharing settings

Open the correct product page and look in the support or related information section for a Family Sharing label. That's separate from the standard download button. One family member having the app installed doesn't prove every member has the same access. If the page doesn't show the relevant support information, or what it shows differs from what you expected, rely on the live listing rather than treating past experience as a fixed rule.

In Settings on your device, check the family section to make sure members joined the correct group, invitations were accepted, and Purchase Sharing is enabled if needed. Family Sharing and purchase sharing aren't automatically equivalent in every situation. Being able to share a service within a family doesn't mean app purchases are shared too. Both the purchasing member and the recipient should check their settings rather than checking only one side.

Each member should find the app using their own store account

1. The purchasing member should confirm that Shadowrocket appears in their purchased apps and that the transaction isn't still pending.
2. The recipient should remain signed in to their own store account and open the family purchases or family member app list from the App Store account page.
3. Select the actual purchasing family member, search for the correct app, then verify the listing by developer, icon, and app ID.
4. If a cloud download button appears, install as prompted by the system. If a price still appears, check the sharing requirements first instead of assuming another payment is needed.

Family members generally need to meet the store's country or region consistency requirements. If a member recently changed regions, a family invitation hasn't taken effect, or purchase sharing settings were just changed, check the current status before refreshing the App Store list. You can refresh by leaving and reopening the list; there's no need to sign out of the entire device account right away. If a child account or Ask to Buy setting applies, the family organizer may also need to approve the request.

If the app isn't visible, check hidden purchases, region, and family membership

If the purchasing member hides an app, other members may not find it in the shared purchases list. The purchasing member should check hidden purchases rather than asking the recipient to search repeatedly. If the purchasing member can't find the record either, return to the previous section and check which account owns the purchase. Similar contact names, display names, or multiple personal devices can cause confusion; rely on the actual accounts and family membership.

Changes in sharing eligibility can affect future downloads and updates. Leaving a family group, changing purchase sharing settings, or changing regions may make the previous acquisition path unavailable. An installed app icon doesn't guarantee that you can always restore it the same way, so keep your own configuration data safe. If the system asks for authentication during an update, check how the app was originally obtained. Don't enter someone else's credentials on your device.

Sharing the app doesn't share servers or private data

Even when family members successfully obtain the app, each person still needs subscription or server details they're entitled to use. Store-level sharing doesn't grant access to a server and doesn't automatically sync each member's rule choices. Don't post configurations containing credentials in a family group chat just to help someone install the app. You can explain where to find Home, Config, and Global Routing without sharing sensitive data.

The iPhone / iPad version costs $2.99 as a one-time App Store purchase. The Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux versions are free. Family Sharing concerns how the former can be accessed under store rules. The latter are obtained from this site's downloads page; if the system blocks the first launch, follow the system installation guidance. Family group settings aren't required to install these versions.

08 Data and Configuration After Installation

When the App Store shows Open and Shadowrocket launches normally, the store acquisition stage is essentially complete. Next, import your existing subscription or server details and choose how traffic should be handled. Don't return to the store to purchase again just because Home doesn't show a server. A system authorization prompt during the first connection isn't a second purchase. App acquisition, server details, and system network permissions are three separate things to check.

Import your own details, then test one connection

Get subscription links from your own service provider, and use the original server details you are authorized to use for manual entries. Before importing, make sure the content is complete and check for truncation, extra spaces, or line breaks introduced during copying. The protocol selected in Add Server must match the details you have. Don't choose VMess, VLESS, or another type just because the address looks the same; protocols use different authentication and transport fields.

Don't include subscription links, passwords, UUIDs, or other authentication details in public screenshots. For troubleshooting, you can say whether fields are filled in, the protocol matches, or an update returned items without sharing actual values. After importing, check that the expected items appear in the list, then test a server you know is available. If the list is empty, troubleshoot importing and parsing instead of changing rules immediately.

Global Routing is unrelated to App Store purchases

In Global Routing, Config, Proxy, and Direct are the interface terms for configuration, proxy, and direct connection. Config follows the rules in the current configuration; Proxy sends relevant traffic through the selected proxy; Direct connects directly. Choosing an option doesn't change purchase eligibility or make a server with missing authentication details work. For rule-based routing, first confirm which configuration you're using, then select Config.

The following Shadowrocket .conf rules snippet illustrates the order; it isn't a complete configuration and contains no server details. The example uses only example.com. Rules are generally matched from top to bottom, and traffic is handled according to the matching policy. FINAL handles traffic that doesn't match an earlier rule. In actual use, make sure the proxy policy matches your existing configuration.

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

Don't paste this snippet over a configuration that hasn't been backed up. Save your current configuration first, then understand how DOMAIN-SUFFIX matches domain suffixes, GEOIP classifies addresses, and FINAL handles traffic that didn't match earlier rules. Domain requests, IP requests, and DNS handling can all affect the result; one website opening doesn't prove that every rule is correct. For more detail, see Proxy Modes and Global Routing: Config, Proxy, and Direct.

Permissions, Verification, and Ongoing Maintenance

When you first enable a connection, the system may ask to allow a network configuration to be added. Confirm that the prompt comes from the action you're performing, then grant permission if appropriate. Authorization only lets the app establish the connection; it doesn't prove the server works. After turning on the connection switch, test your own destination or use Connectivity Test. If you see an authentication failure, timeout, or DNS error, record what happened and follow the verification steps in Getting Started.

Once the manual connection is stable, consider automatic connection conditions such as On Demand. Enabling automatic triggers too early can make network changes harder to observe. For maintenance, distinguish App Store app updates, subscription updates in Home, and configuration changes in Config: each affects a different thing, so keep separate troubleshooting records. Before switching devices, return to the restore section on this page and confirm that both your purchase account and configuration data have a clear path.

This page covers store and purchase management. For the main setup flow, see Getting Started; for terminology, see the quick reference. Choose documentation based on the layer where the issue occurs to preserve working settings and avoid repeating a completed store process for an in-app connection problem.