To redownload Shadowrocket, first check the Apple ID used for the App Store purchase, then review your purchase history and current storefront. This guide covers new devices, accidental deletion, and reinstallation. Follow the steps to find the app and distinguish purchase eligibility from configuration data and system connection permissions. Redownloading at no additional cost requires a valid original purchase, continued availability in the store, and a compatible device. Check the App Store for your current eligibility.
1. Confirm the purchasing Apple ID before paying again
Shadowrocket is a one-time purchase and a closed-source commercial app, available exclusively through the App Store. Completed purchases are linked to the Apple ID used at checkout, not to a particular iPhone. A new device does not create a new purchase record. If the original account is eligible to redownload the app, retrieve it from your purchase history instead of purchasing it with another account.
First, confirm you have the right app rather than relying on the name in search results. Check the developer, Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the official icon, and app ID 932747118. Our app authenticity check links to the relevant details. iPhone and iPad are the primary devices; compatibility with other devices, system requirements, and general purchase eligibility are as listed on the App Store page.
If you see a price, check your account first
If the product page still shows a price, return to your App Store account page and check the signed-in account and purchase history. The price button is not the way to restore an app you already own.
2. Find your purchased app in the App Store
The steps below use the English interface labels. Depending on your system version, the account page may show Apps or Purchased; other interface languages may use different labels. If the menu names differ, look for the list of apps previously acquired with the account rather than a restore button inside Shadowrocket.
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Check your App Store account
Open the App Store and tap the account picture in the top-right corner to check your account details. Use the Apple ID that originally purchased Shadowrocket. The account shown at the top of Settings alone does not confirm which account was used for App Store purchases.
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Open your app list
On the account page, open Apps → My Apps. If you see Purchased instead, open it and select My Purchases if needed. Check family purchases separately from your personal purchase history.
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Search for the app
Search the list for Shadowrocket. If Not on this iPhone is available, select it to find apps that are not installed. You can also return to All to check the full list.
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Tap the cloud download button
When you find the correct app, tap the cloud download icon and complete any verification requested by the App Store. If the button says Open, the app is already installed and can be opened directly.
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Check that installation is complete
Open Shadowrocket from the Home Screen or App Library. If installation stalls, check system alerts, your network connection, and available storage. Avoid repeatedly troubleshooting by deleting other important data.
The cloud icon means the store has found a record that may allow a redownload, but you may still need to enter a password, verify your device, or resolve an account billing issue. A verification screen does not mean you are buying the app again. Check the app name, price, and instructions shown on the screen. If a new payment confirmation appears, stop and check the account before proceeding.
3. App missing from Purchased? Check purchase history and hidden purchases
An app may not appear in search for several reasons: you are signed in with a different Apple ID, the app is hidden, the list is showing family purchases, or the product is unavailable in your current storefront. Identify which applies before deciding what to do next. Changing networks or restarting the app usually will not change which account owns a purchase.
- Check your purchase history: Go to Settings → your name → Media & Purchases → View Account → Purchase History and look for Shadowrocket. If date filters are available, select the period when you actually bought it. You can also check whether Purchase History is available from your App Store account page.
- Check past receipts: Search your email for the purchase receipt and check the app name, purchase date, and account details. A receipt can help identify the right account, but it does not transfer purchase eligibility to the account you are currently using.
- Check hidden purchases: Go to App Store → account picture → your name and look for Hidden Purchases. Follow the on-screen steps to verify your identity and unhide the app, then search the app list again.
- Check the purchase status: An order that has been refunded does not necessarily remain eligible for redownload. The store's current download status and purchase history are the final reference.
If the purchase record is clearly there but the Purchased list still offers no download, note the error message, order date, and current storefront, then use the Apple Support option on your device to resolve the store account issue. Before sharing a screenshot, hide your email address, order details, and payment information. Never share your account password or verification code.
4. If your storefront region differs, check the account and availability separately
Your App Store storefront region is an account setting. It is separate from the device region under Settings → General → Language & Region. Changing the device's region does not switch the store to the one used for the original purchase or resolve a purchase made with a different account.
Go to Settings → your name → Media & Purchases → View Account → Country/Region to check your current storefront, then compare it with the details from your original purchase. Even with the same account, an app may be unavailable after a storefront change. Check purchase history and current redownload availability separately.
| What you see | What to check first | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| No purchase in the Purchased list | Account used for Media & Purchases | Check Purchase History for the original purchasing account before changing the device region. |
| Purchase record exists, but the app is unavailable in this region | Country/Region and product availability | Keep the error message and check whether the app is available in your current storefront. |
| Unable to change the storefront region | Balance, subscriptions, Family Sharing, and pending transactions | Resolve the conditions indicated by the store, then decide whether a region change is actually needed. |
| Product page shows a price | Account, hidden purchases, and order status | Verify the purchase history before taking action; do not confirm a new payment. |
Do not treat changing the storefront region as a general fix. A region change may involve your balance, active subscriptions, Family Sharing, or local payment requirements. Follow the conditions shown by the App Store. If the app is still installed and working, save your configuration before making changes; do not delete it just to test availability in another storefront.
5. After redownloading, restore configuration and connection permissions
Redownloading restores the app itself, not necessarily all the content from your previous device. Home connection entries, services you already use, configuration files in Config, and preferences in Settings depend on your device migration, backups, and data retention. Deleting an app is also different from the system's offload-unused-apps process. The app icon disappearing alone does not tell you whether its configuration is still available.
- If the old device still works: Before deleting or erasing it, check existing entries in Home, the current configuration in Config, and any Settings options you want to keep. Save your own original materials in a secure location.
- If you restored a backup on the new device: Open Home and Config to check what is actually there. Confirm that your existing entries and current configuration are correct before importing anything again.
- If you need to import data again: Use only service details or configurations you already have. Buying Shadowrocket does not create a connection account or restore passwords or access entitlements for third-party services.
- Check your routing mode: In Global Routing, confirm that the selected Config, Proxy, Direct, or Scene matches your previous setup. A successful app installation does not mean your rules have been restored.
- Complete system authorization: The first time you enable a connection, follow the system prompts to allow a VPN configuration and complete device verification. VPN configuration permission is part of connection setup, not a second app purchase.
If you plan to delete and reinstall the app to troubleshoot, first make sure you can recover your data. Reinstalling will not fix an incorrect service password, an expired subscription you already use, or mismatched rules, and it may leave you with more information to enter again. Preserve your current configuration and error details first, then work through the setup guide step by step.
6. Common questions about switching devices and reinstalling
Why does my new iPhone still show a price?
Open your App Store account page and check that you are using the Apple ID that made the original purchase. Then check Apps or Purchased and Purchase History. A price button alone does not prove that your previous purchase is no longer valid. Check the account, order status, and storefront before proceeding.
Why can't I find the app even though I'm signed in to the original account?
Check Settings → your name → Media & Purchases. This may use a different account from iCloud. Then check Hidden Purchases and set the purchase history date range to include the original purchase.
Do I need to tap Restore Purchases in the app?
To retrieve the paid app itself, use the purchased apps list in the App Store. If the app is not installed, there is no need to look for a button inside it. If connection entries are missing after installation, follow the steps for restoring configuration data.
Can I redownload it on my iPad with the same account?
Sign in to the purchasing account in the App Store on your iPad, then search for Shadowrocket in the purchased apps list. Check the App Store page for compatibility with your device, system requirements, and general purchase eligibility. The same account does not guarantee that the app works on every device.
The cloud button does nothing. Do I need to buy it again?
First check whether verification is pending or a billing alert needs attention, then check your network and available storage. If you see an error, note its details and start by troubleshooting the store account. Do not try to resolve a stuck download queue by making another purchase.