At a Glance

This guide is for users who have already purchased Shadowrocket and are getting a new device or reinstalling the app. First, check the App Store purchase account, then redownload the app from your personal purchase list. After installation, separately check your servers in Home, configuration in Config, and connection authorization. Your purchase and local configuration are separate: restoring the app does not necessarily restore all your previous connection settings.

1. Redownloading Restores Your Purchase

Shadowrocket is a paid app distributed through the App Store, developed by Shadow Launch Technology Limited. The purchase is linked to the Apple Account used at the time—not to a particular iPhone's device ID. In most cases, you can redownload a previously purchased app under the same account without paying again for the same purchase. Current store availability and device compatibility requirements still apply.

Shadowrocket is primarily for iPhone and iPad. Compatibility information for Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision is also listed on the same App Store product page. Check the App Store page for system requirements and purchase availability. Before switching devices, distinguish between having purchased the app and migrating data from your old device; these are separate recovery steps.

1 Store
The only place to get the app: the App Store
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App ID to verify the product
2 Checks
Redownloading the app and restoring existing configuration are separate tasks

Bottom line: Check the purchase account first

If the new device shows a price, stop before buying. Check the App Store account and purchase history first. Having the app installed on an old phone does not prove that the current account owns the purchase.

2. Check Your App Store Purchase Account Before Switching Devices

Your iCloud account may differ from the account used for Media & Purchases. Having your photos and contacts synced does not confirm that the App Store is signed in with the account that originally purchased Shadowrocket. Check the account actually used for store purchases, not just the name at the top of Settings.

  1. On your iPhone, open Settings → your name → Media & Purchases to check the account currently used for purchases. If needed, tap View Account and complete any verification prompts.
  2. Open the App Store and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner to check the account details shown on the account page. Compare them yourself; do not share your full account details or verification information with anyone.
  3. If you can't remember which account made the purchase, check your Apple purchase receipts. You can also go to Media & Purchases → View Account → Purchase History and adjust the date range to find Shadowrocket.
  4. If the account shown in either place does not match the original purchase, first make sure you can sign in to the original account, then switch the store purchase account as prompted by the system. Don't sign out of iCloud on the entire device just to troubleshoot one app.

3. Redownload from Purchased Apps

Depending on your App Store version, the entry may be labeled “Apps” or “Purchased.” On newer interfaces, go to Apps → My Apps from your account page; older interfaces usually show Purchased directly. The steps below use your personal purchase list—the exact label depends on what appears on your device.

  1. Open Your Account Page

    On your new iPhone or iPad, open the App Store and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner. Confirm that this is the original purchase account before opening the app list.

  2. Open Your Personal List

    Select Apps → My Apps. If your device shows Purchased directly, open that instead. If a family list appears, select the purchase record associated with your own account.

  3. Find the App

    Search for Shadowrocket in the list. You can select a filter such as Not on this iPhone to find apps that aren't installed; the wording on iPad may differ.

  4. Tap the Cloud Download Button

    Find Shadowrocket and tap the cloud download icon. Follow the prompts to verify your identity, then wait for installation to finish. Verification may simply confirm a redownload, not a new purchase; read the system prompt carefully.

  5. Check the App on First Launch

    When installation is complete, open Shadowrocket and check whether Home and Config contain your data. If the lists are empty, continue below to restore your own service information. An empty list does not mean your purchase is invalid.

If the App Store shows Open, the app is usually already installed; try finding it with device search. If its icon is waiting or spinning, check your network, available storage, and any store verification prompts. Repeatedly tapping the download button won't fix an account mismatch or device incompatibility.

4. Troubleshooting Missing Purchases or a Price Display

Check in this order: account, hidden purchases, store region, and device compatibility. Don't try paying again first, and don't assume changing regions will solve the problem. Region changes can involve account balance, subscriptions, and store availability; follow the prompts on your Apple account.

I Bought It—Why Is There Still a Price?

First, go to Settings → your name → Media & Purchases to check the account, then open your personal app list from your App Store profile and search there. If the purchase is also missing from Purchase History, check the account and date range on your receipt. Don't make a new purchase until you've confirmed the details.

It's in Purchase History, but I Can't Find It in the List

Check whether you previously hid the app. Go to App Store → profile picture → account name, complete verification, and look for Hidden Purchases. If Shadowrocket appears, use the available unhide or redownload option, then check your personal list again.

What If the Store Says It's Unavailable After I Switch Devices?

Go to Settings → your name → Media & Purchases → View Account → Country/Region to check the current store. An existing purchase does not guarantee that redownloads will always be available in every region. Follow the current App Store prompts, then check the compatibility section on the product page.

The Cloud Button Does Nothing—What Should I Do?

First, check whether the App Store is asking you to sign in or verify your account. Then check your available storage and whether your current network can reach the store. If an error appears, note its exact wording. If the account and purchase record are correct but you still can't download the app, contact Apple Support through the option on your device.

5. Restore Home and Config After Reinstalling

The App Store restores the app itself; it does not provide servers, subscriptions, or configuration files. After transferring to a new device or restoring from a backup, check the app to see which data is actually present. If your old device is still available, confirm the configuration works on the new device before wiping the old one.

Deleting the app may also remove local data, so reinstalling shouldn't be the first step when troubleshooting a connection problem. If you already have a service, keep your subscription URL, server details, and rule files somewhere safe. Don't delete the app before backing them up. Subscription URLs often contain access credentials, so avoid sharing them in public screenshots or chats.

6. Verify Recovery with Global Routing

Being able to open the app only confirms that installation is complete. Seeing a server in the list does not prove that routing rules have been restored. In Home, check Global Routing and the current routing mode, then test a familiar website that you are authorized to access. Comparing Config and Direct helps distinguish whether rules are working from whether the device's basic network connection is available; this is not a service quality test.

Config: Check That Your Rules Are Restored

Recommended

Select Config in Global Routing to handle connections according to the rules in the active configuration. First, confirm that Config has the original file selected, then test access expected to use PROXY and DIRECT. The results should match the rules—don't rely on the connection toggle alone.

Best for: Restoring the same rule-based routing setup you used before switching devices

Direct: Check Basic Network Access

Select Direct in Global Routing to check direct access on your current network. This does not prove that your previous proxy configuration has been restored. After checking basic network access, return to your usual routing mode and verify your servers and rules.

Best for: Confirming the network itself works before attributing a connection problem to purchase recovery

Bottom Line: Verify in Three Stages

Check in order that the App Store can open the app, Home contains your own valid service details, and Config and Global Routing match your previous settings. Troubleshoot the layer where the issue occurs; connection problems don't require purchasing the app again.