For users who purchased Shadowrocket on an iPhone and want to use it on their own iPad. First, verify the App Store purchase account, then download the app again from your purchase history. The app purchase and connection settings are separate: after installation, check your own subscription, Config, and connection permissions. Landscape and Split View change the available screen space, not the basic logic of rule matching.
Same Apple ID: purchase sharing does not sync configuration
When your iPhone and iPad use the same purchase account, you can usually redownload your purchased copy of Shadowrocket on another compatible device without paying again. Here, “same Apple ID” means the account used for App Store purchases; Apple now calls this an Apple Account. It may differ from the account used for iCloud, so checking only the name at the top of Settings is not enough.
This applies as long as the purchase remains associated with that account and the current storefront and device support redownloading. The iPhone / iPad version costs $2.99 as a one-time App Store purchase; the Mac (Apple silicon / Intel), Windows, Android, and Linux versions are free. Check the App Store listing for iPhone / iPad system requirements. See the download page for all platforms.
Redownloading restores access to the app; it does not mean that server lists, passwords, rule files, or connection state have been transferred. Even if both devices use the same iCloud account, check what was actually imported on the iPad instead of assuming it's set up based on how the iPhone connects.
Download from Purchased: verify the purchase account first
Follow these steps on your own iPad. Depending on your iPadOS version, the App Store may show “Purchased” or place it under “Apps”; follow the wording on your account page. If you see a price button, stop before confirming payment. Check your purchase history before proceeding.
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Verify the purchase account
Open Settings → Apple Account → Media & Purchases and check that this is the account used to purchase Shadowrocket. If needed, compare it with the account in the same place on your original iPhone. Do not check only the iCloud account.
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Open your purchase list
Open the App Store → tap your account picture in the upper-right corner → “Purchased.” If the screen first shows “Apps,” open it to see your app list. If needed, switch to “Not on this iPad.”
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Find the app listing
Search the list for Shadowrocket and verify the developer, Shadow Launch Technology Limited, and app ID 932747118. Do not rely on a similar-looking name in the search results.
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Redownload the app
Tap the cloud download button and follow the prompts to authenticate. If the app is already installed, you may see “Open.” If a price still appears, return to your account page and check the account, purchase history, and storefront region.
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Check the app on first launch
After opening the app, check the existing items in Home and Config. When you connect for the first time, review the system prompt to add a VPN configuration and allow it only if you initiated the action.
If the app is missing from your list, first check your purchase history and hidden purchases, then check whether you changed your purchase account or storefront region. Do not repeatedly sign out of iCloud on the entire device to troubleshoot a download; switching accounts may affect other synced content and will not automatically restore purchases made under another account.
First connection: check your subscription, Config, and permissions separately
These steps assume you already have your own service and subscription. After installing the app on your iPad, check that Home contains the expected server entries, then check that Config has the configuration you need selected. Having items in both places does not mean the account credentials, rules, and policies match those on your iPhone.
- Import an existing subscription: Go to Home → “+” in the upper-right corner → Type → Subscribe, enter your own subscription URL, and save. Return to Home and pull down to refresh, then confirm the entry has updated. Do not include the full subscription URL in screenshots or public notes.
- Check the connection settings: Verify the server address, port, and protocol. Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, Trojan, Hysteria2, and WireGuard use different parameters. Do not reuse settings across protocols or change Type just to make both devices look the same.
- Check the selected configuration: Open Config and verify which configuration file is in use. Copying server details does not transfer rules. If you use custom rules, preserve them separately and check the corresponding configuration.
- Check automatic connections: Go to Settings → On Demand and review any automatic connection conditions. Before troubleshooting, note the original settings, temporarily turn off automatic triggers, then connect and disconnect manually to avoid mistaking an automatic reconnection for a failed disconnect.
After transferring your setup, select one known-working entry and test the same website on your iPhone and iPad. If they behave differently, keep the test destination and network the same while checking settings one at a time. Changing the server, rules, and Wi-Fi at once makes it hard to identify the cause.
Landscape and Split View: check available width before looking for controls
Landscape gives you more room to view long server names and configuration details. It does not guarantee a fixed two-column layout: what appears depends on the current app screen, iPadOS, and window width. In Split View or a smaller window, a list and its details may no longer appear side by side and may instead open on separate screens.
- Wide window: Locate Home, Config, and Settings, then select a list item to view its details. If the current screen uses columns, make sure the selected item matches the content on the right. Do not mistake details from a previous selection for the current one.
- Narrow window: You may need to tap Back to return to the list after viewing details. If the list is temporarily out of view, that does not mean the item was deleted. Go back one level before checking whether the data is still there.
- Edit configuration: The on-screen keyboard reduces the available height. Scroll within the editing area to review long rule lines; do not assume a rule is complete based on the text currently visible.
- Compare in Split View: If your device and system support Split View, you can keep instructions on the other side. Copy one item, save it, then return and verify the result. Avoid changing several hard-to-revert settings at once.
Split View availability depends on your device, system, and current app support. The controls may differ across system window-management modes; you do not need to enable Split View just to connect. Rotating the screen or resizing a window changes the layout, not Global Routing, and does not automatically change Config to Proxy.
What to do: restore the window width first
If you can no longer find the list or an action button after changing the Split View proportions, first widen the Shadowrocket window and check Home. Reimport only if data is actually missing, so a layout change does not lead you to add the same subscription twice.
Global Routing: distinguish routing modes from window layout
Check the current mode in Home → Global Routing. Window orientation, the number of columns, and the selected server are separate settings. For everyday use with existing rules, first make sure the Config file is valid, then select Config. For troubleshooting, you can temporarily change the mode; note the original setting and restore it when testing is done.
Config: route according to the configuration
RecommendedHandle connections according to the rules and policies in the current configuration. This does not mean “anything that does not match goes direct”; the final route also depends on FINAL and any referenced policies.
Best for: everyday use with verified rules and policies.
Proxy: test with proxy routing
Route connections handled by Shadowrocket through the proxy path to check whether rule-based routing is causing the issue. This still requires a working server and correct settings.
Best for: briefly comparing the result with Config.
Direct: compare with a direct connection
Route handled connections directly to see whether the local network can reach the same destination. Direct does not mean the VPN is disconnected.
Best for: isolating proxy-path issues from local network issues.
Scene in Global Routing involves scene settings. Do not treat it as a fixed Proxy or Direct mode before checking the scene conditions. When setting up an iPad for the first time, use a clearly selected Config, Proxy, or Direct mode for a single-variable test, then restore your existing scene settings.
When checking rules, consider both their order and their targets. For example, DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,DIRECT matches a domain suffix; IP-CIDR,192.168.0.0/16,DIRECT matches an IP range; GEOIP,CN,DIRECT relies on the relevant IP geolocation data; and FINAL,DIRECT specifies the final action when no earlier rule matches. These examples explain the syntax only; they are not recommendations to overwrite your configuration.
Common questions: check downloads, disconnections, and Split View separately
Why does my iPad still show a price when I use the same account?
First, check the current purchase account on the App Store account page, then open your purchase history and confirm the original order belongs to that account. Hidden purchases, a storefront region change, or a different purchase account can affect what you find. Do not pay again until you know why. Also verify the app ID so you do not open a similarly named listing.
Why can’t I use my iPad just like my iPhone when the iPhone connects?
App purchase eligibility is separate from connection settings. Compare the protocol, address, and port in Home; check the active Config file, Global Routing mode, system VPN permission, and whether your own service limits simultaneous connections. First test both devices on the same Wi-Fi, then compare other conditions such as cellular data.
Do I need to reconnect after switching to another app?
Usually, leaving the app in the background alone does not require reconnecting. Check the system VPN status and actual access to determine whether you are still connected; do not rely only on whether Shadowrocket is visible on screen. If the connection drops, check network changes, your existing service status, and the trigger conditions in Settings → On Demand.
Can’t find a button in landscape. Should I reinstall?
First dismiss the keyboard, widen the window, and go back one level. Then check where Home, Config, and Settings are. Reinstalling may remove local configurations that have not been backed up, so it should not be your first step for a layout issue. Before assuming data is missing, check whether you are simply in a detail screen or using a narrow window.