This guide is for users who bought Shadowrocket on iPhone and want to use it on their own iPad. First check which account was used for the App Store purchase, then download the app again. A purchase record does not back up your configuration: check existing subscriptions, Config, and connection settings separately. Landscape orientation mainly changes how lists and details are arranged; it does not change protocol settings or rule-matching behavior.
1. Redownload with the same Apple ID; configuration does not transfer with the purchase
When your iPhone and iPad use the same purchasing account, you can redownload Shadowrocket on iPad without buying the app again. “Same Apple ID” here means the account used for Media & Purchases in the App Store, not necessarily the iCloud account shown at the top of Settings. These accounts can differ, so check the account used for the original purchase.
The initial purchase price has two tiers: iPhone / iPad: a one-time $2.99 App Store purchase; Mac (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows, Android, and Linux: free. Check the App Store page for iPhone / iPad system requirements. See the Download page for details on getting Shadowrocket for each platform.
2. Redownload from your purchases on iPad
Before you begin, make sure your iPad can access the App Store and that you have a way to verify the account used for the original purchase. Don't sign out of iCloud just to look for the app. Check the account page in the App Store and confirm the account used for Media & Purchases. Depending on your system version, the app list may appear under Apps or Purchased; use the option shown on your screen.
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Check the account
Open the App Store, tap your account photo in the top-right corner, and check whether the account is the one used to buy Shadowrocket on iPhone. If needed, go to Settings → Apple Account → Media & Purchases to check.
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Find your purchases
On the account page, open Apps or Purchased. If My Apps appears, open your app list. Search for Shadowrocket; don't rely on a similar-looking name in the search results.
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Redownload the app
Confirm that the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited, tap the cloud download button, and complete system verification. If a purchase price still appears, stop and check the account and purchase history before proceeding.
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Check the app's initial screen
Open Shadowrocket and make sure you can access Home, Config, and Settings. Leave the connection switch off for now; connect for the first time after transferring your data.
If the app doesn't appear in your purchase list, check whether the purchase is recorded, the app is hidden, or your current store region allows redownloading it. Don't confuse redownloading the app with restoring your configuration. If your purchase eligibility is valid but the download still fails, check your App Store account or system compatibility before changing any proxy settings.
3. iPad landscape split view vs. the iPhone single-column layout
On iPhone's narrower screen, you typically open a list item to edit it on a detail screen. On iPad, when in landscape with enough available width, the list and details can appear side by side. Select an item on the left to show its details on the right. Split view does not mean there are two separate configurations or independent connection switches.
| Area | On a narrow screen | What to check on a wide iPad screen |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Open an item from the connection list to view its details, then return to the list to choose a connection. | After selecting a different row, make sure the details show the correct name, address, and port so you don't edit another item by mistake. |
| Config | Open the configuration list, then open a configuration or its editing screen. | Distinguish the file you're viewing from the currently active configuration. Selecting a file to view does not activate it. |
| Settings | Open settings one section at a time. | Details may open in an adjacent pane; after editing, check that your changes were saved. |
| Narrow window | Navigation and back actions typically use a single column. | Split View or a narrower window may switch the layout back to one column. Widen the window before deciding whether split view is available. |
Switching between landscape and portrait should not change saved server ports, transport settings, or Config rules. If the list looks different after rotating, check the selected row and the current detail heading before importing the subscription again. The layout depends on the system version, app interface, and window width, so landscape orientation alone does not guarantee split view.
- Before editing, read the item name at the top of the details pane.
- After returning from the details pane, check that your changes were saved and confirm the selected connection.
- It's fine to use a single-column layout when the system's multitasking window is narrow; protocol features are unaffected.
4. Transfer existing subscriptions and Config separately
Before transferring, keep a usable copy of your configuration on iPhone. Record at least three things: existing subscriptions or manual entries in Home, the active configuration file in Config, and any settings you've changed in Settings. Copying a subscription URL alone usually won't transfer local rules, policy selections, or On Demand conditions.
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Record the original settings
On iPhone, check the current value of Home → Global Routing and the active file in Config. Record whether Settings → On Demand is enabled and note any existing conditions so you don't miss automatic connection behavior.
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Add an existing subscription
On iPad, go to Home → “+” → Type, select Subscribe, enter your own existing subscription URL, and save it. Then update the subscription in Home. Check that all expected entries appear; don't stop at seeing a group name.
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Transfer the configuration file
In Config on iPhone, use the share or export option for the relevant file to send a copy to your own iPad using system file sharing. Then import the file in Config on iPad and explicitly select it as active. Menu options may vary by interface version.
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Check each item
Check the protocol, address, port, and authentication details for existing entries. Then verify that the policy names referenced in Config are available on iPad. If names don't match, fix the references first instead of repeatedly toggling the connection to mask a configuration issue.
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Test manually
First, turn off Settings → On Demand. Manually turn on the connection switch in Home and follow the system prompts to add a VPN configuration. After confirming the connection and rule results, restore any automatic connection conditions you need.
https://example.com/sub?token=xxxxWhen transferring Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, Trojan, Hysteria2, or WireGuard entries manually, copy each setting from the original entry. The fact that two entries both use port 443 does not mean they share the same protocol, TLS, transport, or authentication settings. If your existing service limits the number of devices or simultaneous connections, app purchase eligibility does not change that limit; follow the terms of your existing service.
5. Choose Global Routing after transfer and check the rules
Global Routing works the same way on iPad and iPhone; landscape orientation does not change the routing mode. First check Home → Global Routing, then test websites and apps. Proxy, Direct, and other modes apply to traffic handled by the client; they are not an absolute guarantee for every connection on the system.
Config
RecommendedRoute connections according to the active Config and its rules. First make sure the rules and policy references are complete. Rules may specify a proxy, DIRECT, or another defined policy.
Use when: You want to keep using your existing rule-based routing after transferring your configuration.
Proxy
Route handled traffic through the current proxy policy so you can compare it with the results from Config. If Proxy works but a destination fails under Config, check which rule matched and whether its policy reference is correct.
Use when: You want to check whether a problem is related to rule-based routing.
Direct
Connect handled traffic directly, without using the proxy. Being able to open an ordinary webpage does not confirm that the proxy connection works; check the route actually used to reach the test destination.
Use when: You want to compare with a direct connection on your current network.
Scene
Switch routing behavior according to configured scene conditions. After transferring, check that the conditions match your current network. This is not a fixed global proxy switch.
Use when: You have configured scene conditions and want routing to change with the network environment.
When checking Config, start by reading the matching order in [Rule]. DOMAIN-SUFFIX matches domain suffixes, IP-CIDR matches IP ranges, GEOIP uses geographic IP classification, and FINAL handles connections that didn't match earlier rules. The action or policy name specified at the end of a rule determines the actual routing; importing rules does not automatically send all traffic through a proxy.
- For example,
DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,DIRECTmeans that the domain suffix uses DIRECT. This explains the syntax; it is not a rule you should add for everyday use. - For testing, use the same Wi-Fi, existing connection entry, and Config on both devices where possible to reduce variables.
- Run Connectivity Test first, then visit the destinations you actually need. A latency result does not mean every website and app will work.
- If the problem occurs only on iPad, first check the current policy, rule references, DNS settings, and connection parameters, then check network conditions.
6. Common questions about redownloading and transferring to iPad
Why does the App Store still show a price when I'm using the same account?
First open the App Store → account photo → Apps or Purchased and look for the original purchase, then check the Media & Purchases account. Using the same iCloud account doesn't mean you're using the same purchasing account. Don't confirm another purchase until you've checked. Also check hidden purchases and store-region availability.
Home is empty after installation. Do I need to buy the app again?
You don't need to buy the app again just because Home is empty. Add your existing subscription or manual entries, then import and activate Config. The purchase record gives you download eligibility; it does not transfer connection data.
Why is the layout still one column in landscape?
Exit Split View if the window is too narrow, or make the app window wider. Then check whether you need to return to the list from the details screen. The layout depends on available width and the current interface. If Home, Config, and Settings are accessible, a single-column layout alone does not indicate an installation problem.
Why does the connection turn back on after I switch it off?
Go to Settings → On Demand and check whether automatic connection and its trigger conditions are enabled. For troubleshooting, turn off On Demand, then disconnect and reconnect manually. Also check for conflicts with other system VPN configurations.
Can I use the app on two devices at the same time?
App redownload eligibility and connection limits imposed by your existing service are separate things. If one device connects but the other doesn't, note the circumstances and check the connection settings and any device or session limits on the service side. Repeatedly importing the same subscription won't resolve a session limit.
A successful transfer means your App Store download eligibility is correct, Home has all the required connection entries, Config is active and its policy references are valid, and real-world results match your rule expectations. Landscape orientation only changes the layout; handle purchase, data transfer, and connection testing as separate steps.