Shadowrocket Backup and Transfer: iCloud Sync, .conf Export, and New Device Setup

1. Separate Purchase History, Connection Details, and Configuration Files

Your Shadowrocket purchase is tied to your App Store account. Connection entries and subscription sources in Home, along with configuration files in Config, are app data. Redownloading with the original purchasing account restores access to the app, but does not guarantee that this data will reappear. A one-time app purchase is not a service plan. This guide covers saving and restoring data you already have.

Whether a .conf file includes connection settings depends on its contents. A file containing only rule sections such as [Rule] cannot restore all the connection entries in Home. Even if it includes [Proxy], do not assume that subscription groups, update settings, or all device preferences are preserved.

2. Back Up the Old iPhone in Order

For now, stop editing the same configuration on multiple devices and use the old device as the only source of changes. Note what currently works. Avoid bulk-deleting entries or resetting Settings before making a backup. This gives you a baseline to compare against if anything differs on the new device.

1. Note the routing mode. In Home, check Global Routing and record whether Proxy, Direct, Config, or Scene is selected. If you use Scene, note its conditions too; the name alone is not enough.
2. Confirm the active configuration. Open Config and identify the file that is actually selected. If several files have identical or similar names, open each and check [Rule] so you do not export an outdated draft.
3. Review connection sources. Distinguish manually added entries from subscription entries. Store subscription URLs, manual connection credentials, and protocol-specific settings in a secure location you control. Do not rely on display names alone.
4. Note device settings. Check Settings → On Demand and any DNS or subscription update settings you have changed. Record only options that are actually present and in use; do not fill in details from memory.
5. Make an offline copy. Export the configuration to a controlled location in Files, then open it to confirm it is not empty or an incomplete copy containing only a filename.

3. Check iCloud Sync, Not Just the Switch

iCloud sync, a manually saved copy in iCloud Drive, and a full-device backup are three different things. App sync covers the data the app supports; a .conf saved to iCloud Drive is a file; restoring a full-device backup is part of the system migration process. Do not assume one includes the others or guarantees that all connection data is covered.

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings → Apple Account → iCloud to check the account and available storage. Then check Shadowrocket's access in the list of apps using iCloud. System menu labels may change between releases.
2. If you save a cloud copy through Files, make sure iCloud Drive is enabled and that you can browse to the folder where the configuration is stored.
3. Check the iCloud-related options in Shadowrocket's Settings. The exact location, sync scope, and whether manual action is needed depend on what the current app interface shows. Do not assume one sync option backs up all data.
4. Let the old device finish syncing while it has a network connection, then check which files and entries actually appear on the new device. Do not substitute a fixed waiting period for checking the result.

The App Store Media & Purchases account may differ from the iCloud account signed in on the device. For purchase history, check the original purchasing account; for cloud data, check the original iCloud account. Troubleshooting these separately is more useful than repeatedly signing out.

• Files are missing: First check in Files that the cloud copy is visible and opens, then review the sync scope in the app.
• You see older content: Stop editing on both devices, keep both copies, and compare custom rules line by line before choosing which one to use.
• You deleted data on the old device and it disappeared from the new one: Sync may propagate deletions, so keep a separate export before migration.

4. Export a .conf and Check What It Contains

In Config, find the configuration you want to save, open its available action menu, and use the export or share option to save it to Files. Button locations and English labels can vary by interface, so follow what appears on your device. The goal is a reusable .conf file, not a copied filename, remote URL, or configuration preview image.

Give the copy a descriptive name that distinguishes its source, such as home-routing-backup.conf, and keep an untouched original. If the configuration relies on remote rule resources, exporting the main file may not bundle their contents. Check its references, note what each resource is for, and confirm that the new device can access resources you already use.

Use a Rule Snippet to Check That You Exported the Right File

This example shows only the [Rule] structure. It is not a complete connection configuration and does not include a working connection service. DOMAIN-SUFFIX matches a domain and its subdomains; IP-CIDR matches an IP address range. Keep FINAL after the relevant rules so it handles requests that do not match any preceding rule.

[Rule]
DOMAIN-SUFFIX,example.com,DIRECT
IP-CIDR,192.168.0.0/16,DIRECT,no-resolve
FINAL,PROXY

These rules are evaluated from top to bottom. If the original file includes GEOIP or other IP rules, preserve their order rather than rearranging them during migration. PROXY here is a routing policy; it does not create a server for you. If the new device has no usable connection, restoring this rule section alone will not establish a proxy connection.

5. New iPhone: Restore the App, Then Your Data

Shadowrocket is a paid client for Apple platforms and is available exclusively through the App Store. Use the original purchasing account to find the app in your purchase history and redownload it. If the page shows a price instead of a redownload option, first check the purchasing account and purchase history; do not assume missing data means you must buy the app again. Check the App Store page for the listed price, system requirements, compatibility, and whether the purchase is universal.

1. Verify the app. Check the developer, Shadow Launch Technology Limited, the official icon, and app ID 932747118 on the app verification page, then get the app from the App Store.
2. Check the sync results. Open the app and review the actual contents of Home and Config. If sync has already restored the entries you need, check them before importing another full set of data.
3. Import the configuration file. In Files, find the saved .conf and share it to Shadowrocket, or use the import option currently available in Config. After importing, inspect the contents and select the intended file as the active configuration.
4. Restore missing connection details. Re-enter any missing manual entries from your original records. For subscription entries, use the add option in Home, choose Subscribe, enter your own existing URL, and update it. Check for an existing entry from the same source before importing to avoid duplicate groups.
5. Confirm system authorization. When connecting for the first time, follow the system prompt to allow adding a VPN configuration. Authorization on the old device does not replace confirmation on the new one, and granting permission does not mean the server is reachable.

6. Verify the Migration in Three Passes

Turning on the connection only shows that the connection process has started; it does not prove that the configuration and rules are restored correctly. Check connectivity first, routing next, and automatic connections last. Change one variable at a time so you can tell whether an issue comes from the network, connection settings, or rules.

In Global Routing, Direct connects without a proxy, Proxy routes through a proxy, Config follows the selected configuration, and Scene switches according to configured conditions. Analyze traffic against the relevant rule file only when using Config. If Direct is selected, changing [Rule] will not produce the expected rule-based routing. Scene conditions need to be checked separately; Scene is not another name for Config.

• Connectivity test passes, but the resource is unavailable: Check the actual request path, DNS, and rule matches. A successful test does not mean every domain and protocol will work.
• Manual connection works, but switching networks causes problems: Temporarily turn off On Demand, confirm the connection is stable, then restore the automatic connection conditions one at a time.
• Behavior changes after restarting: Recheck the active configuration, Global Routing, and On Demand instead of simply importing the same file again.

7. Common Questions About Restoring on a New iPhone