Buying Shadowrocket and getting a connection service are two separate things. This guide is for anyone considering a purchase or wondering why connection details are still needed after buying the app. First, verify the App Store price and app identity. Then distinguish the app purchase record from a provider’s service plan and subscription updates in the app. Finally, follow the steps to restore the purchase and set up a connection on a new device. This guide assumes you already have your own provider and subscription; it does not provide or recommend connectivity services.
1. How much does Shadowrocket cost? Check your App Store storefront
Shadowrocket is a closed-source commercial app distributed through the App Store and sold as a one-time purchase. The US price is about US$2.99. This is a price reference, not a standard charge across all storefronts. Other storefronts display prices in local currency. Check the App Store product page and system purchase confirmation for the current price, tax details, and final amount.
Before paying, verify the app and currency
Confirm that the app ID is 932747118 and the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited, then check the price in your current storefront. Don’t rely on a translated nickname or a price screenshot alone to identify the app.
“One-time purchase” describes how the app is billed. It does not automatically provide a working connection or cover future service fees. On first launch, you may need to add connection details, select a configuration, or authorize a VPN configuration. These are setup steps and do not mean the app purchase failed.
2. App purchase vs. connectivity plan: what to check
The app reads connection parameters, applies routing rules, and establishes connections. A provider operates the remote connectivity service it offers. Purchase records, validity periods, and support channels differ for each. An App Store receipt confirms the app purchase, not the remaining data on a connection. A provider’s plan record does not replace the App Store purchase record.
| Item | Where to check | What it confirms |
|---|---|---|
| App purchase | App Store purchase history and the list of purchased apps | Whether the app was purchased using the Apple Account currently used for App Store purchases |
| Connectivity plan | Your existing provider’s account page | Plan validity, usage allowance, and device limits, according to the provider’s terms |
| Subscription details | The relevant subscription entry in Home | Whether connection entries have been imported and what an update returned |
| Routing configuration | Config and Global Routing | Which rules are in use and which routing mode is selected |
Here, “subscription” usually means a set of connection details read by the app and the URL used to update them. It is not the same as an auto-renewing App Store subscription. Updating a subscription usually retrieves the list provided by the service; it does not renew the app or extend a provider’s plan.
3. What to verify before and after purchase
The App Store is the only place to get Shadowrocket. Our App Store purchase guide explains how to verify the genuine app; purchases are completed through the system App Store. iPhone and iPad are the primary devices. Compatibility with Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision is also listed on the App Store page. Check the App Store listing for system requirements.
- Verify the app. Check the name Shadowrocket, the official icon, developer Shadow Launch Technology Limited, and app ID 932747118. Don’t identify it by a similar name in search results alone.
- Check your App Store account. Verify the Apple Account currently used for App Store purchases. The account signed in to iCloud may differ from the one used for purchases, so check the latter when looking up purchase history.
- Check the price and authorize the purchase. Review the amount, currency, and payment details on the system purchase confirmation screen, then complete the required authentication. A price shown on a website may not be the final amount charged.
- Confirm the purchase. After purchase, the product page usually shows an option to open or redownload the app. If it still shows a price, check your purchase history and account status before trying to pay again.
- Have your existing connection details ready. Import them and configure the connection after opening the app. Installing the app and having an available remote service are separate things to check.
If the app does not appear in search results, first check your storefront region, content restrictions, and account status. Changing your search terms may not resolve storefront visibility. Not finding the app in search does not mean you need to obtain it elsewhere. For payment failures or charges, check the transaction details shown by the App Store.
4. Moving to a new device or using an iPad: purchase restoration does not sync configuration
To use Shadowrocket on another compatible device, first check your purchased apps using the Apple Account that originally bought it, then handle configuration migration separately. In general, apps you’ve purchased can be redownloaded on eligible devices under the App Store’s terms. Check the App Store page for compatible devices, Universal Purchase availability, and system requirements. Seeing a redownload option does not mean your connection details have also been transferred.
Recommended approach: check purchase restoration and configuration recovery separately
Check purchase history
- On the new iPhone or iPad, check which account is being used for App Store purchases.
- Open the Apps or Purchased list in your account and look for Shadowrocket. The exact label varies by system version.
- If a price appears, compare the original receipt with the account currently in use before deciding what to do next.
Check connection details
- Check Home for existing connection entries. An empty list does not mean the purchase is invalid.
- Check the configuration files and current selection in Config. Import your saved details if needed.
- When connecting for the first time, authorize the VPN configuration when prompted by the system. Also check your existing service’s device limit.
Restore the app first, then check your connection details and authorization. The same app purchase does not guarantee that a remote service allows simultaneous connections on multiple devices.
Don’t assume that redownloading the app will automatically restore subscription URLs, rule files, or the current selection. If you used a built-in sync or backup feature, check its status and recovery results separately. After migration, verify that Home shows the correct connection details, the configuration in Config works, and a real connection succeeds—not just that the app opens.
5. Can’t connect after purchase? Check routing and service status separately
If you’ve purchased the app but can’t open a webpage, that alone doesn’t point to a billing issue. First check the connection details and current selection in Home, then review Global Routing. These comparisons describe routing modes within Shadowrocket. The Config scenario assumes you already have a rule file and have checked it.
Config
RecommendedConnection behavior is determined by the rules in the current configuration. Each matched rule specifies where the traffic goes; it is not safe to assume that all unmatched traffic goes direct. Check fallback rules such as FINAL as well.
Best for: everyday rule-based routing with a configuration you’ve already checked.
Proxy
Uses global proxy routing to check whether the current proxy connection works. It does not fix incorrect server parameters or reactivate an expired service.
Best for: briefly checking whether rule-based routing is affecting a connection.
Direct
Uses direct routing to show how access behaves without a proxy. Turning the connection switch on does not necessarily mean current traffic is going through a proxy.
Best for: comparing direct access on the current network and checking for an unintended routing mode.
If you still can’t connect with Proxy, check your existing connection details: server address, port, authentication information, and service validity. If Proxy works but Config does not, check which rules match and where their policies send traffic. Keywords such as DOMAIN-SUFFIX, GEOIP, IP-CIDR, and FINAL handle matching and fallback behavior; they do not determine whether you’ve paid for the app.
- Connection list is empty: First check whether your existing subscription imported successfully and what the update returned. An empty list is unrelated to your App Store purchase record.
- One connection fails: Check the entry’s parameters and the provider’s service status instead of repeatedly updating the entire list.
- Automatic connection behaves unexpectedly: Check the conditions in Settings → On Demand. On Demand controls automatic connection triggers; it does not restore purchases or renew a plan.
- Manual connection still fails: Note the time, selected entry, and connection error. Then check your local configuration, current network, and remote service separately. Buying the app again is not a troubleshooting step.
6. Common questions about purchases and costs
I paid about US$2.99. Why can’t I connect?
That payment covers the app. First confirm the purchase in the App Store, then check Home for existing connection details. If you already have your own subscription, import its original details and check that it is still valid. The app price does not include a connectivity plan, and paying again will not add connections to the list.
The app says my subscription needs updating. Is Shadowrocket charging me again?
First distinguish updating the connection list from renewing a provider’s plan. An in-app update usually retrieves list contents; check your existing provider’s account to see whether the plan needs renewal. To find out whether the App Store charged you, check your system purchase history rather than relying on an update prompt.
The App Store still shows a price after I moved to an iPad. What should I do?
Open your App Store account page and check whether you’re using the same account as for the original purchase. Then look for Shadowrocket in your purchased apps. Check the app ID, purchase receipt, and device compatibility before taking further action. Being signed in to iCloud does not confirm which account is used for App Store purchases.
If I delete and redownload the app, will I lose my subscriptions and rules?
Purchase records and local data are stored separately. Redownloading the app does not restore local data. Before deleting it, check which backup or sync options are available in the app and save your own details securely. After restoring, check Home, Config, and connection authorization separately. Don’t share subscription URLs or authentication details publicly.
When checking a billing question, keep two separate records: the App Store receipt for the app purchase and the plan details for your existing service. The first confirms the app purchase; the second confirms connection permissions. Keeping these separate helps you decide whether to check your App Store account or your configuration and service status.