Shadowrocket for Mac and Windows: Choose the Right Build and Open It for the First Time

1. Check your device architecture and download source

Before installing Shadowrocket on a Mac, check the system information. The Mac’s appearance, screen size, and purchase year don’t tell you which processor it has; models in the same product line can use different architectures. Open Apple menu → About This Mac and check whether it shows Chip or Processor. Choose the Apple silicon build for an Apple silicon Mac, or the Intel build for an Intel Mac. Don’t try both installers to see which one works.

On Windows, go to Settings → System → About and check System type to identify your operating system and processor architecture. Then compare them with the download page’s compatibility information. Don’t assume Windows on ARM is supported just because the app is labeled for Windows; if device support isn’t specified, confirm compatibility first. A compatibility layer alone doesn’t prove native app support.

Choose your platform on the download page. Installers for Mac (Apple silicon / Intel), Windows, Android, and Linux are available on this site. Get the iPhone / iPad version from the App Store; the developer is Shadow Launch Technology Limited, and system requirements are listed on the App Store page. There’s no need to search for repackaged installers or download managers.

2. Mac: Install the DMG in Applications

A DMG is a disk image, not the final location of the installed app. Double-click the downloaded file to mount a volume in Finder, then drag Shadowrocket into Applications and launch it from there. Repeatedly opening the app from the disk image can make it unclear which copy is running and complicate future updates or removal.

1. Make sure the download has finished. Don’t try to open a temporary file while your browser still shows download progress.
2. Double-click the DMG, then drag Shadowrocket from the Finder window into Applications.
3. If macOS asks whether to replace an existing app, quit Shadowrocket first. Back up any configuration you want to keep from within the app.
4. When copying is complete, eject the disk image from Locations in Finder. Ejecting it won’t remove the app copied to Applications.
5. Open Finder → Applications → Shadowrocket. Read the full warning before deciding what to do next.

“This Mac isn’t supported” and “the developer cannot be verified” are different issues. For the first, recheck your Mac’s chip and the system requirements on the download page. The second is a macOS notice about the app’s source or verification status. Changing rules, DNS, or subscriptions won’t fix an architecture mismatch.

3. Mac: Allow only apps from a verified source

If you see a warning that the developer can’t be verified or macOS can’t confirm the app is free of malware, first check that you downloaded it from this site and copied it to Applications. A source warning alone doesn’t determine whether a file is safe. Proceed with the steps for this app only after confirming its source and understanding the warning.

1. Try opening Shadowrocket from Applications once so macOS records the block.
2. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and check the Security section for a block notice for Shadowrocket.
3. Verify the app name, then choose Open Anyway. You may need to authenticate with an administrator account, Touch ID, or your device password.
4. When the confirmation dialog appears, read it and choose Open. Continue launching the app from Applications.

In older versions of macOS, this option may be under System Preferences → Security & Privacy → General. Whether Open Anyway is available depends on the macOS version, the specific warning, and device management policies. If the button isn’t there, don’t use Terminal commands to remove quarantine attributes or disable security checks for the entire Mac. Keep the exact warning text and recheck the download source, architecture, and system requirements.

4. Windows: Tell SmartScreen warnings apart from security detections

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen may show “Windows protected your PC” when a file has limited reputation information. This differs from a specific threat detection by Microsoft Defender and from a User Account Control prompt asking for administrator permission. Identify whether the block happened during the browser download, when launching the file, or during a security scan.

1. Choose the Windows version on this site’s download page. After the download finishes, locate the file in your browser’s download history to avoid opening an older installer in the same folder.
2. If a SmartScreen window appears when you launch the file, first make sure it’s the file you just downloaded, then select More info.
3. Check the app name and Publisher information shown after expanding the details. If the publisher is unknown, don’t treat that as a verified source. Choose Don’t run if you’re unsure where the file came from.
4. If you’ve confirmed the source and want to continue, choose Run anyway. This option may not be available under every policy.
5. If User Account Control appears next, check the program name and request. Allow it only if the installation needs the requested permission—don’t automatically approve every prompt.
6. After installation, launch Shadowrocket from the Start menu. Make sure the app opens before setting up a connection.

If Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Protection history shows a specific threat, stop running the file and note the detection name. Don’t force it through using the steps for a reputation warning. If your organization’s policy hides Run anyway, changing browsers, repeatedly renaming the file, or disabling Microsoft Defender are not appropriate fixes.

5. After first launch: test the app, configuration, and rules separately

Seeing the main window only confirms that the app launched—it doesn’t mean a proxy connection is working. This guide assumes you already have your own service and subscription; buying the client does not include a service plan. This site doesn’t provide, sell, or recommend nodes or subscriptions. Before importing your details, make sure they’re still valid. Never post a full subscription URL containing access credentials in a public screenshot or support request.

Check imported connection entries in Home, and review configuration files and referenced policy names in Config. Use Settings to review related options. Desktop layouts may differ, so follow the controls shown in your version rather than assuming they’re in the same place as on mobile. If the system asks to add a network configuration or grant a related permission, read what it’s for and make sure the request came from the app you just launched.

These are three basic troubleshooting modes in Global Routing, not a complete list of its options. If you also see Scene, check its configuration first. Change one thing at a time: verify the selected connection parameters, compare Proxy with Config, then check the matching rule. Don’t change DNS, switch protocols, and reinstall the app all at once, or you won’t know what affected the result.

• The window won’t open: Check the installed copy, system requirements, architecture, and first-launch warning first.
• The window opens, but connections fail: Check the Endpoint, port, authentication details, and network reachability in your existing configuration.
• Proxy works, but a specific target fails in Config: Check the rule order, policy name, and target domain before reinstalling.
• Network problems after closing the window: Check whether the app is still running in the background. Disconnect using the in-app connection control, then check the system proxy settings.

6. Common first-install questions