If you bought Shadowrocket on your iPhone, first check that the App Store on your iPad uses the same Apple Account and review your purchase history, then get the app from the store. Purchase history, in-app configuration, and system VPN authorization are separate steps. This guide covers each one and explains how landscape, narrow windows, and Global Routing relate. Check the App Store listing for purchase eligibility and system requirements.
Separate Purchases from Configuration
A purchase under the same Apple Account lets you find the app on another device; it does not mean the settings on both devices are identical. Check service configurations, subscription lists, the current selection, and rule files separately in the iPad app. Seeing the Shadowrocket icon on the Home Screen does not mean the connection is configured.
Here, “same account” refers specifically to the Apple Account used for App Store purchases. The account signed in to iCloud may differ from the one used for Media & Purchases, so the name at the top of Settings alone does not confirm which account made the purchase. Check the store account and purchase history first; this is more useful than paying again to troubleshoot.
Find Your Purchased App on iPad
Open the App Store on your iPad, tap the account icon in the upper-right corner, and check which store account is signed in. Depending on the system version, your app history may appear under “Apps,” “Purchased,” or a similar label. Open your account’s app history and look for Shadowrocket. A different label from the one on iPhone does not mean your purchase history is missing.
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Check the Account
Open the App Store and tap the account icon in the upper-right corner to check the account used for purchases. You can also check the current store account in Settings → Apple Account → Media & Purchases. The purchase record determines which account owns the purchase.
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Find the Purchase
On your App Store account page, open “Apps” or “Purchased” to view your purchased apps. If “Not on this iPad” is available, use it to narrow the list, then search for Shadowrocket.
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Verify the App
Open the product page and check the developer, Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the official app icon, and app ID 932747118. Check the App Store listing for compatibility, system requirements, and purchase eligibility.
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Get the App
Follow the store’s prompt to download the app again. If the button says “Open,” the app is already installed. If a price is still shown, check the account and purchase history before proceeding; paying again will not restore your configuration.
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Open for the First Time
Launch Shadowrocket and check the contents of Home, Config, and Settings. When the app asks to add a VPN configuration, read the system prompt and complete authorization as required by your device.
If you can’t find the app in your purchase history, check your purchase records, hidden purchases, and the store region. A hidden app is not the same as an app you never purchased. Also check whether the product page is available in your current region. For account or order issues, follow the App Store prompts and account support process rather than repeatedly trying to buy the app.
Check Configuration Separately
After installation, check whether Home already contains a usable service configuration, then check Config for the expected configuration file. If the lists are empty, you still need to set up the app; this does not mean the purchase failed. Even if old entries appear after migrating a device, confirm that the subscription is still valid and the correct item is selected. An old entry alone does not mean the connection is ready.
To use an existing subscription, tap “+” in the upper-right corner of Home to open the add screen. Select Subscribe under Type, enter your own subscription URL, and save it. Then update the subscription from Home. The URL may contain access credentials, so copy it in full, including all query parameters. Don’t include it in public screenshots, shared documents, or troubleshooting notes.
| What to Check | Where to Find It | What to Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Service configuration | Home | Check that the current selection, protocol, server address, and port match your service details. |
| Subscription contents | Home → subscription entry → Update | Check that the list looks right after updating. Updating a subscription does not update rule files in Config. |
| Rule file | Config | Check that the required file exists and is selected, and that the policies named in the rules have corresponding configurations. |
| Routing mode | Home → Global Routing | Check whether the current mode is Config, Proxy, Direct, or Scene. Don’t infer it from the screen orientation. |
| Automatic connection | Settings → On Demand | Check whether it’s enabled and whether its trigger conditions match your network and usage plans. |
System VPN authorization applies to the current device. Allowing VPN configuration on your iPhone does not authorize it on your iPad. If your iPad is subject to device management or system restrictions, check those as well. Changing the subscription URL won’t resolve a system authorization issue; they are separate layers.
Landscape Changes the Layout
Landscape orientation on iPad usually provides more room to read long addresses, configuration files, and lists. A wider screen does not change protocol parameters, rule behavior, or the current routing mode. The layout can vary with the app version, system, and window width. Look for entries by their names, such as Home, Config, and Settings, rather than relying on how many pixels they appear from the edge of the screen.
When switching from iPhone to iPad, it’s easy to confuse the item currently visible in a list with the item actually selected. A wider list may show more content, but you still need to check the selection indicator. Opening a file in Config does not mean it is active. Return to Home and check Global Routing to see how requests are handled by the selected configuration.
- Home: Check service configurations, the current selection, and Global Routing. After rotating the screen, confirm the item name and selection state instead of relying on its position in the list.
- Config: Check configuration files and their rules. More editing space can make them easier to read, but rule order is still determined by the file contents.
- Settings: Check app settings, including Settings → On Demand. Landscape orientation does not automatically enable connection on demand.
- Narrow windows: Side panels and controls may move. If a button seems to have disappeared, widen the window, dismiss the keyboard, and look for the same interface label.
For example, DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,DIRECT sends matching domain suffixes through DIRECT; FINAL,DIRECT is the fallback when no earlier rule matches. Rotating the iPad to landscape does not change their order or behavior. Keep a recoverable copy before editing a configuration, so you don’t mistake a layout adjustment for a rule change.
Check Global Routing
If the same destination behaves differently on two devices, first compare Home → Global Routing, then compare the current selection and Config file. The options below describe Shadowrocket’s routing modes only. “Recommended” assumes you have a prepared and verified rule file; it does not mean every configuration is ready for everyday use.
Config
RecommendedRouting behavior is determined by the rules in the selected configuration. Requests may use DIRECT, a proxy policy, or REJECT; unmatched requests follow the fallback rule, so not all traffic goes direct.
Best for: Everyday use with a complete rule file that routes traffic by destination.
Proxy
Routes traffic handled by the app through the proxy, which can help you check the current proxy path. It does not guarantee that a destination will be reachable or verify that your service configuration is valid.
Best for: Temporarily comparing results with Config to narrow down a rule-related issue.
Direct
Routes traffic handled by the app through a direct connection so you can compare it with your local network path. Selecting Direct does not disconnect the app or remove the system VPN configuration.
Best for: Checking how a destination behaves over your current network’s direct connection.
Scene
Uses the in-app scene settings. The result depends on the configured scene and its conditions; Scene is not a mode specifically for landscape or Split View.
Best for: Use when scenes are configured and you can verify the active scene’s conditions.
Match Conditions Before Comparing Devices
When comparing iPhone and iPad, use the same network, Global Routing mode, service configuration, and rule file, then revisit the same destination. One device loading a page while the other does not is not enough to blame the landscape layout.
Using Split View and Windows
Whether iPad offers Split View or windowed apps depends on the device, system, and app support; check what’s available on your iPad. See the App Store listing for system requirements. If supported, place Shadowrocket next to a browser to review a configuration while checking access to a destination. After narrowing the window, recheck the current page and selection.
Split View is not a traffic-splitting rule or a switch for assigning different proxies to two windows. Shadowrocket’s system VPN configuration and in-app routing settings do not depend on which side of the screen a window is on. Moving the browser to the other side, switching Shadowrocket to the background, or rotating the device does not show that the routing policy has changed.
- Start in a full-size window: Note the current selection and Global Routing on Home, then check which file is in use in Config.
- Then adjust the window width: Check whether lists and controls move. If the keyboard covers content, dismiss it first. Don’t tap repeatedly when you’re unsure which button to use.
- Change one condition at a time: For example, change only Global Routing, then make the request again. Don’t update a subscription, switch configuration files, and change routing modes all at once.
- Distinguish new requests from cached content: Reload the destination after changing a setting. Existing connections and cached content may affect what you see, so don’t judge by whether the original page is still displayed.
- Check connection on demand: If connection behavior changes after switching networks, check the status and conditions under Settings → On Demand to see whether connection on demand triggered it.
If access becomes unreliable after the app leaves the foreground, first check the system VPN status and On Demand, then check how many simultaneous connections your provider allows. A provider’s limits may affect connections when multiple devices use the same subscription, but this is separate from the App Store purchase record for the app.
Common Issues and What to Check
I bought Shadowrocket on iPhone. Why does it still show a price on iPad?
First check whether the App Store is signed in to the account used for the original purchase, then check the order history, hidden purchases, and current store region. A displayed price alone does not mean you need to buy the app again. Check the App Store listing for purchase eligibility. If the order exists but you can’t download the app again, follow the store’s prompts to resolve the account or order issue.
Shadowrocket is installed on iPad, but the Home list is empty. What should I do?
First check whether you have a service configuration. If not, add a configuration or subscription using your own service details. Installing the app and importing a configuration are separate steps. After updating a subscription, also check the current selection and Config. Seeing an entry does not mean rule files have synced.
What if I can’t find the same settings after rotating to landscape?
Widen the window or switch back to portrait, then look for Home, Config, or Settings by name. If the controls have only moved, there’s no need to delete your configuration. Don’t change Type, the port, or rule contents just to find a button; a layout change does not require different connection parameters.
Can the two apps in Split View automatically use different routing policies?
Don’t use Split View position as a routing condition. Check how the current configuration matches requests—for example, with the DOMAIN-SUFFIX domain rule, the IP-CIDR address rule, and the FINAL fallback. The position of a window does not create these rules automatically.