If you’ve already purchased Shadowrocket on iPhone, first check that the iPad uses the same Apple Account for App Store purchases, then redownload it from Purchased Apps. An app purchase record is separate from servers, Config files, and VPN authorization; redownloading does not mean your configuration has migrated. This guide is for users with their own service and subscription who want to use Shadowrocket on iPad. Follow the steps to verify the purchase, check the layout, migrate configurations, and test the connection.
1. Redownload with the same Apple Account
Shadowrocket is a one-time purchase available on the App Store from developer Shadow Launch Technology Limited. Its app ID is 932747118. Before redownloading on iPad, check which account the App Store is using for purchases, rather than relying only on the iCloud account shown at the top of Settings. These may be different accounts, which is a common reason an iPad shows a price even though Shadowrocket was purchased on iPhone.
Check the App Store listing for system requirements and purchase availability. The steps below apply only to getting the app; they do not change the term or device limit of any existing service. If the store still shows a price, pause and verify the purchase before confirming any payment again.
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Check the purchasing account
On iPad, open the App Store and tap the account icon in the top-right corner. Check that the account matches the original purchase. You can also check under Settings → Apple Account → Media & Purchases. You don’t need to sign out of iCloud on the entire device.
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Open your app list
On the App Store account page, open “Apps” or “Purchased”; the exact label varies by system version. Find your app purchase history and, if available, switch to “Not on this iPad” and search for Shadowrocket.
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Verify the product details
Open the product page and confirm the name, official icon, and developer, Shadow Launch Technology Limited. Visit the App Store verification page for the official App Store link.
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Redownload the app
If the page shows a cloud download button, tap it and complete any App Store authentication required. If it shows a price, check the purchasing account and purchase history first. Don’t treat the price button as a redownload option until you’ve confirmed which account made the purchase.
2. Check content in landscape and Split View—not just button positions
An iPad usually offers more screen width than an iPhone, but landscape orientation does not guarantee a particular two-column layout. The expanded interface, the amount of list content shown, and the location of navigation controls can vary with the app interface, window width, and system multitasking mode. Look for controls by their names; don’t tap based on button coordinates from an iPhone tutorial.
In a full-size window, locate Home, Config, and Settings before rotating the screen. If your device and system support Split View or window resizing, then narrow the window and check whether list names are truncated, forms need scrolling, or the keyboard obscures the save control. Needing to scroll more in a narrower window does not mean configuration data is missing.
- Home: Check the existing server list, current selection, and connection toggle. Even if landscape shows more text, open the edit screen to verify the full address and port.
- Config: Check that the rule configuration has been imported and selected. A file appearing in the list does not mean it is being used for the current connection.
- Settings: Check the app settings on this device. To troubleshoot automatic connections, go to Settings → On Demand rather than checking only the Home toggle.
- Split View or a narrow window: If you need to check a long subscription name or parameter field, first return to a full-size window. After saving, switch back to your preferred multitasking layout.
In short: use a full-size window to verify settings
For the first migration, use a full-size window to import, save, and test the connection before changing to landscape or Split View. This helps separate layout changes from configuration issues.
3. Migrate subscriptions, individual servers, and Config separately
Before migrating, distinguish among three types of data: a subscription URL retrieves and updates server entries; an individual server record contains protocol and connection parameters; and a Config file handles rules and related settings. Adding a subscription again does not restore manually edited rules, policy references, or device settings from the original iPhone.
If you already have your own subscription, on iPad go to Home → “+” in the top-right corner → Add Server, set Type to Subscribe, enter your existing subscription URL, and save. Then update the subscription. Use the complete original URL, preserving its path, query parameters, and capitalization. Don’t enter a service information page or account sign-in URL as the subscription URL.
| Item to migrate | What to use | What to check afterward |
|---|---|---|
| Existing subscription | Use your original subscription URL and add a Subscribe entry in Home | Whether the update succeeded, entries appeared, and the service allows this device |
| Individual server | Use your saved import details or enter the original parameters manually in Add Server | Type, address, port, authentication details, and protocol-specific parameters |
| Config file | Transfer the original configuration file to iPad securely, then use an available import option in Config | Current selection, rule order, referenced files, and policy names |
| Automatic connection settings | Check these separately in Settings → On Demand on iPad | Whether it is enabled and whether its conditions still suit the iPad’s network |
When adding a server manually, don’t assume two devices have the same configuration just because the server display names match. Parameters differ across Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, Trojan, Hysteria2, and WireGuard. Set each field according to the original Type. For example, if the original record uses port 443, that number alone does not identify the protocol or TLS settings; the port must match the actual configuration of your existing service.
When migrating a Config file, keep a usable copy on the original device before transferring it. You can use the system’s file-sharing options to send it to iPad. If Shadowrocket appears in the share menu, use that option; otherwise, return to Config and check the available file import options. After importing, verify that referenced resources are accessible. A file appearing in the list alone does not confirm a successful migration.
4. Global Routing determines whether rules are applied
Seeing the same server name on iPad and iPhone does not guarantee the same network path. In Home → Global Routing, check the current mode too. After importing a Config file, if Proxy or Direct is selected, the connection result can’t tell you whether the file’s routing rules are taking effect.
Config: use configuration rules
RecommendedRequests are handled according to the rules in the current configuration. Matching requests may use DIRECT, REJECT, or the corresponding proxy policy; unmatched requests follow fallback settings such as FINAL. They are not necessarily sent direct by default.
Best for: Checking whether an iPad gets the same routing results as a device already using rule-based configuration.
Proxy: route traffic through the proxy
Traffic within the handling scope uses the proxy path instead of being evaluated rule by rule against the regular Config routing rules. This can help distinguish server connection problems from rule selection issues.
Best for: Temporarily checking whether an existing server works, then restoring the mode you need for everyday use.
Direct: route traffic directly
Traffic within the handling scope uses a direct connection. A connection status in Home or a VPN indicator in the system does not automatically mean requests are going through a remote server.
Best for: Comparing results with direct access on your current network to see whether the difference comes from the proxy path.
Scene: use a configured scene
Behavior is selected according to configured scenes and their conditions. Check both the scene settings and current network conditions; Scene is not a fixed option equivalent to Config.
Best for: Using existing scene settings to apply different behavior on different networks.
When checking rules, also check their order. For example, DOMAIN-SUFFIX matches domain suffixes, IP-CIDR matches IP ranges, GEOIP matches against an IP geolocation database, and FINAL handles requests that have not matched earlier rules. Placing FINAL too early prevents later rules from working as intended. Don’t reorder rules during migration just to make the file look tidier.
- Check the current Global Routing mode before deciding whether Config rules are taking effect.
- Make sure policy names referenced by rules still exist after migration; copying the rule text alone is not enough.
- Keep the original working configuration as a reference. Change one setting at a time, rather than changing servers, rules, and routing mode all at once.
5. Test the first connection and On Demand in two stages
The first time you enable a connection on iPad, the system may ask you to allow a VPN configuration and authenticate on the device. This system authorization is separate from App Store purchase verification. Authorization on the original iPhone does not mean a new device can skip confirmation.
Start with a manual connection and confirm basic access before configuring automatic connections. On Demand manages connections based on conditions; it does not fix server credentials or add missing rules. If the connection comes back after you disconnect manually, first check whether On Demand is enabled and review its conditions in Settings → On Demand. Don’t delete the app as a first step.
- In Home, select a server with verified parameters and confirm that Global Routing matches your migration goal.
- Turn on the connection and follow the system prompts to authorize the VPN configuration. If it fails, note the message first; don’t repeatedly overwrite existing settings.
- Visit a familiar site you’re allowed to access, then check the destination and policy in the connection logs. A latency test returning a number does not guarantee that every request will complete.
- Disconnect and go to Settings → On Demand to check for automatic connection conditions. If you need to keep them, adjust them to the iPad’s actual Wi-Fi and cellular capabilities.
- Finally, test landscape, a narrow window, and network changes. Note which change triggers any issue.
Cellular testing is possible only on an iPad with the required hardware and an active cellular service. If your device supports Wi-Fi only, there’s no need to copy the iPhone’s cellular setup. Even on a Wi-Fi network with the same name, you may need to complete a web sign-in first.
6. Troubleshoot common issues: purchase, configuration, then connection
Why can’t I find Shadowrocket in Purchased under the same Apple Account?
First check the App Store purchasing account, not just the iCloud account. Then make sure you’re looking for the right product, check whether the app is hidden, and confirm that the original purchase belongs to this account. Check the purchase record and current availability in the store separately. If you still can’t confirm the purchase, keep your proof of purchase and don’t pay again.
Why aren’t my original servers in Home after downloading on iPad?
App access and configuration data are separate. First check whether any data was restored or synced, then migrate using your own original subscription URL or saved configuration. Don’t add many duplicate entries just to fill the list; import one first and check the update result and availability.
Why are connection results different even though landscape shows more?
Landscape changes the available screen space; it does not sync network conditions or settings between devices. Compare the selected server, Global Routing, current Config, and On Demand in order, then check the network the iPad is connected to. If your existing service limits the number of devices that can connect at once, check your service terms too.
Can I copy all my iPhone settings exactly?
You can use the original settings as a migration reference, but verify each item. On Demand conditions, Config files that depend on external resources, and the number of devices allowed by your service may all need adjustment for the iPad’s actual setup. Purchasing the app does not change these external conditions.
Migration is complete when you’ve verified the App Store purchase, confirmed that the existing configuration is intact, set the expected routing mode, and tested both manual connections and any required automatic connection conditions. After these checks, set up your usual landscape or Split View layout. You’ll then have a known-good baseline for future troubleshooting.