If you already bought Shadowrocket on iPhone, first check that the iPad’s App Store is signed in with the same purchasing account. Then look for the app in your purchase history to redownload it. Eligibility depends on the original purchase and the details shown on the App Store page. This guide covers purchase checks, your first connection, landscape and split-view layouts, and settings you’ll need to verify separately on each device.
Same Apple ID: Check your purchase history before paying again
Shadowrocket is a paid app purchased through the App Store with a one-time purchase. If the app is covered by your account’s purchase history and is compatible with your current device, you can usually redownload it without paying for the app again. Here, “shared purchase” means using the same purchase on your own devices; it does not mean your configuration, connection details, or system permissions transfer automatically.
Be sure to distinguish your iCloud sign-in from the account used for App Store purchases. Signing in to the same iCloud account on iPad as on iPhone doesn’t, by itself, confirm that both devices use the same App Store purchasing account. Check the account details under your App Store profile and, if needed, verify them under Media & Purchases in system settings.
The developer listed on the product page should be Shadow Launch Technology Limited. Purchase eligibility for iPhone and iPad, compatibility with other Apple devices, and system requirements are as shown on the App Store page. If the product page still shows a price, don’t confirm payment again just because you remember buying it before. Follow the steps below to check your purchase history first.
Redownload on iPad: Find the app in your purchase history
The menu names can vary by system version and App Store display language. Some screens show “Apps” first, followed by “My Apps” or “Purchased.” The goal is to find the apps associated with your current purchasing account—not just check the price in search results.
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Check the purchasing account
Open the App Store on iPad and tap the account profile in the top-right corner. Check whether it’s the Apple ID you used to buy Shadowrocket. If you’re unsure, compare it with your original receipt rather than switching accounts repeatedly.
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Find your purchase history
On the account page, open “Apps” or “Purchased.” If you see “My Apps,” open that as well. Search for Shadowrocket, or check filters such as “Not on this iPad.”
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Verify the app
Open the product page and check the name Shadowrocket, the developer Shadow Launch Technology Limited, and app ID 932747118 in the product URL. Review the compatibility section as well.
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Redownload the app
If your purchase applies, tap the cloud download button and complete any authentication required by the App Store. If you’re asked to confirm a new payment, cancel and check the account and purchase history again.
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Check the app on first launch
Once installation is complete, open Shadowrocket and check what’s available in Home and Config. When you connect for the first time, follow the iPadOS prompt to authorize adding a VPN configuration. This permission must be granted on the iPad itself.
Landscape and split view: Follow the available screen width, not screenshots
The main difference between iPad and iPhone is the amount of screen space available. In landscape, longer names and setting descriptions may be easier to read. In a narrower window, the same content may wrap or switch to a drill-down view. Whether lists and details appear side by side depends on the current app layout; don’t assume every iPad uses the same arrangement.
There are two kinds of “split view” to distinguish: a list-and-detail layout within the app, and multitasking window arrangements provided by iPadOS. The latter depends on the device, system, and current app support. Placing a browser and Shadowrocket in adjacent windows won’t automatically import configuration details shown in the browser.
| View | What to check | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait, full screen | In Home, locate Global Routing and your connection entries by name, not by screen position. | A button won’t necessarily be in the same place as it is on iPhone. |
| Landscape, full screen | Check that the selected list item matches the detail heading, and that long names are fully visible. | More room to display text doesn’t mean the settings or routing behavior have changed. |
| Narrow window | If the detail view is no longer beside the list, use the visible back control to return to the list. | A temporarily hidden list doesn’t mean its entries have been deleted. |
| After changing orientation | Confirm which entry you’re editing and whether it’s saved before running a connection test. | A rearranged window doesn’t mean the VPN disconnected or reconnected. |
Bottom line: Navigate by screen name, not by screen position
On iPad, identify Home, Config, and Settings before looking for a specific option. If the layout changes in landscape or a narrow window, first check the current screen and selected item. Don’t immediately delete a configuration or reinstall the app.
First connection: Check your purchase, connection details, and routing settings separately
A one-time app purchase is not a connection plan. The steps below assume you already have your own service provider and subscription: set up the details you already have, then check the connection status. If the app is installed but Home has no usable entries, redownloading it won’t restore your connection details.
- Home: Check the names, protocols, and selected status of saved entries. If you already have a subscription, use the in-app option to import or update it, then verify the result. Don’t post a full link containing access credentials on a public page.
- Config: Check which configuration file is in use. For rule-based routing, make sure the file exists and that the intended configuration is selected.
- Global Routing: Check the selected option: Proxy, Direct, Config, or Scene. Scene depends on the existing in-app scene settings; it isn’t another name for Config.
- Settings → On Demand: Check whether On Demand is enabled and review its existing trigger conditions. If the VPN reconnects after you disconnect it manually, check this section before checking system status.
- Test the connection: In Home, use Connectivity Test to review the results, then open the website or app you actually want to use. A successful test doesn’t replace checking access to the target service itself.
The comparison below covers three routing options within Shadowrocket and provides a useful order for checking them. It doesn’t mean everyone should use the same mode. The behavior of rules depends on the configuration, so don’t assume that “matching traffic uses a proxy and everything else connects directly.”
Config
RecommendedRoute traffic according to the current configuration. Check the order of Rule matches and the policy used by the final FINAL rule. The configuration itself must also be valid.
Best for: Using a verified rule configuration to route traffic according to its rules.
Proxy
Use proxy routing rather than deciding how to route each request according to Config rules. This can help check whether an issue is related to rule selection, but it won’t fix invalid connection settings.
Best for: Briefly troubleshooting differences between proxy connections and rule-based routing.
Direct
Use direct routing. If a website loads in this mode, that doesn’t prove your saved proxy connection details are valid.
Best for: Checking whether the current network can reach a destination directly.
Between devices: Verify the purchase, then compare configurations item by item
If your iPhone connects but your iPad doesn’t, compare the actual settings and routing choices for entries with the same name. Don’t assume the issue is caused by the iPad’s landscape layout. Matching names make entries easier to recognize, but don’t prove that their server address, port, authentication details, or transport settings are identical.
If you use an existing subscription, check after importing it on iPad that the entries were created, the intended entry is selected, and the selection remains after an update. If you transfer a configuration file using a method you already have, keep the original file. After importing, check the active configuration and local permissions again—seeing the file appear doesn’t mean every setting is active.
| Item | What to check on iPad |
|---|---|
| App purchase eligibility | Check the original purchase and product-page eligibility under your App Store account. |
| Connection entries | In Home, compare the protocol, server address, port, and authentication details—not just the display name. |
| Rule configuration | In Config, confirm which file is active. If using Config routing, also check Rule and FINAL. |
| System VPN permission | Follow the prompt to authorize VPN access on this iPad. To review it, go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management. |
| On Demand | In Settings → On Demand, check the status on this iPad and note it before changing trigger conditions. |
A provider’s limits on the number of devices or sessions connected at once can also cause differences between devices. If an issue occurs only when both devices are connected, check the account terms with your existing provider. A one-time app purchase doesn’t mean a connection service allows unlimited simultaneous devices.
FAQ: Purchase history, repeat charges, and landscape layout
I bought it on iPhone. Why does the iPad still show a price?
Cancel the payment flow first. In the App Store, tap your account profile to check which account you’re using, then search for Shadowrocket under “Apps” or “Purchased.” If the details still don’t match, compare your original receipt, current storefront, and compatibility information. For purchase eligibility or order issues, use the App Store account support options.
It’s not in my purchase history. Do I need to buy it again?
Don’t buy it again right away. Clear any list filters, make sure you’re looking at your own purchase history, and check the original purchasing account. If you previously hid the purchase, look for hidden purchases in your App Store account settings. Menu names vary by system version.
After switching to landscape, I only see the details. Where did the list go?
Check the current window width and look for a visible back button. Return to the list in Home or Config and check the entry. You can temporarily restore the full-screen view to confirm. If the entry is still in the list, don’t import the same details again just because the layout changed.
Can I use my iPhone’s VPN permission on iPad after installing the app?
A permission granted on another device doesn’t authorize this iPad. Start a connection in Shadowrocket on the iPad and follow the system prompt to add a VPN configuration. Then check the device’s entry under Settings → General → VPN & Device Management.
Why does my iPad reconnect after I disconnect manually?
Open Settings → On Demand, note the current options, and check the trigger conditions. To test manual connections, you can temporarily turn off On Demand, disconnect, and observe what happens. Restore it afterward if needed. Avoid changing multiple settings at once so you can tell what made a difference.