For iPhone and iPad users who already use Shadowrocket and have noticed high battery usage or repeated connection attempts. This guide checks system battery readings, Settings → On Demand, network changes, and controlled comparisons, then explains how to choose between a persistent connection and On Demand.
Understand battery usage before deciding whether it’s unusual
On iPhone, open Settings → Battery and select a consistent reporting period. Check Shadowrocket’s share of battery usage and its background activity. The percentage represents its share of recorded usage during that period, not the proportion of total battery capacity consumed. If other apps use less during the same period, Shadowrocket’s share may appear higher. Check the system Battery page on iPad too; the exact layout depends on your device.
Record the observation period, battery level change, screen-on time, and whether Shadowrocket stays connected in Home. Note whether you’re on Wi-Fi or cellular and whether you’ve been moving in and out of coverage. These details help distinguish ongoing data transfer, a persistent background connection, and repeated connection attempts. A single screenshot can’t show that On Demand alone caused the battery drain.
Start with consistent conditions
When comparing battery usage with On Demand on and off, use similar time periods and habits. If one period involves heavy data transfer and the other has almost no network activity, the percentages aren’t directly comparable.
The system Battery page attributes usage to apps; it doesn’t break down battery use by individual connection or rule. If background activity is high, look for what’s keeping the connection active before removing existing settings. Keep your current configuration and connection details during troubleshooting so you can restore them after testing.
What On Demand does—and doesn’t do
Find On Demand in Shadowrocket under Settings → On Demand. It lets you set conditions that trigger a connection; the available conditions depend on what the app currently shows. Turning it on doesn’t guarantee the connection will drop when the device is idle, and turning it off doesn’t automatically stop a connection that’s already active. Before testing, check the connection status in Home and the VPN status shown by the system.
A persistent connection and repeated reconnects are different issues. A connection may stay active in the background while apps continue to make network requests. Reconnects happen when a connection is interrupted or network conditions change. If your device switches between Wi-Fi networks or cellular coverage is unstable, first check whether reconnects line up with those changes. Broader On Demand conditions can trigger connections more often, but actual usage still depends on network activity and conditions.
Global Routing controls routing behavior; it isn’t a substitute for On Demand. Proxy, Direct, Config, and Scene are different routing modes. Config handles traffic according to the rules in the selected configuration. Switching to Direct doesn’t necessarily mean the VPN tunnel is off. When troubleshooting battery usage, record routing mode and connection status separately so you don’t confuse how requests are routed with when a connection is established.
Compare the settings in a consistent order
Change one variable at a time. Before you start, record the existing switches and conditions in Settings → On Demand, the current Home status, the Global Routing mode, and the network you’ll use. Keep your existing connection details unchanged. Changing servers, updating a subscription, or switching rules during the test makes it harder to identify what affected the result.
Record a baseline
Open Settings → Battery, select a reporting period, and note Shadowrocket’s usage and background activity. Then check Home and record the connection status and current network.
Check the conditions
In Shadowrocket, open Settings → On Demand and review the switch and configured trigger conditions. Record the current settings first; don’t change Global Routing or Config at the same time.
Observe with On Demand off
Turn off On Demand and manage the Home connection as you normally would. Observe one full period of typical use, noting Wi-Fi and cellular changes and any connection interruptions.
Observe with On Demand on
During a similar usage period, turn On Demand back on and enable only the conditions you actually need. Keep the same configuration and use the network in a similar way; note any repeated connection attempts.
Compare and restore
Compare the system Battery page, background activity, and connection behavior before deciding which settings to keep. If the test conditions differed too much, restore the original settings and try again later.
Use a consistent everyday activity as a reference, such as opening the same webpage on the same network and then locking the device for a similar length of time. Don’t repeatedly refresh or download large amounts of content to generate readings; that turns the test into a data-load test. Battery statistics may not update immediately, so make sure you’re viewing the same type of reporting period when you check them.
If Shadowrocket’s share of battery usage drops with On Demand off, but connection time, background requests, or network conditions also changed, the records show a difference—not that On Demand was the cause. More useful evidence is whether network changes, reconnects, and background activity also change under the same location and usage habits.
If it keeps reconnecting, check the network and error messages first
If the Home status keeps changing, check when it happens: did the device just switch from Wi-Fi to cellular, enter a weak-signal area, or reconnect only after being unlocked? Retries after a failed connection can add network activity, while a persistent connection may carry requests from other apps. Both can show up as Shadowrocket background usage on the Battery page, so check the actual connection status as well.
The messages below are original network request errors, not errors specific to On Demand. If one appears, note the network type and Home status at the time, then troubleshoot accordingly. Don’t assume the battery or routing rules are at fault based on the error text alone.
Error: The request timed out.
Cause and fix: The request didn’t receive a response in time. This may be due to network quality or an unreachable destination. Retry on the same network, then compare the Home status with the timing of any network changes. If it keeps happening, check the connection details for your existing service.
Error: The network connection was lost.
Cause and fix: The network connection dropped during the request. Check whether Wi-Fi signal changes or cellular handoffs coincide with the error. Retry when the network is stable, then see whether On Demand keeps triggering new connections.
If the error only occurs on one Wi-Fi network, leave other settings unchanged and test again on a stable connection. If it appears only after switching networks, note the system VPN status and Home status before and after the switch. If failures continue on a stable network, check the current Config and your existing server details. Updating a subscription is a separate task and shouldn’t be done midway through a battery comparison.
Should you turn it on or off? Choose based on how you use it
Keep On Demand on if you want the device to connect automatically when conditions are met and are comfortable with possible reconnects after network changes. Use only the conditions you need. If you prefer to control connections manually, want clear periods when the connection is active or inactive, or are investigating unusual background activity, you can temporarily turn it off and control the connection from Home. There’s no universal answer for which option saves more battery; compare consistent records from the same device.
- Stable network, frequent use: First check for ongoing network requests. Usage while connected doesn’t necessarily come from On Demand itself.
- Frequent network changes: Record the sequence of Wi-Fi, cellular, and VPN status changes before considering narrower On Demand conditions.
- Occasional use: Try turning off On Demand and connecting manually. Check the connection status shown in Home when you’re not using it.
- Automatic connections needed: Keep On Demand on, but review its trigger conditions periodically so the settings still match your needs after testing.
Review Settings → On Demand, Home, and the system Battery page once more. If usage remains high, check background network activity and connection stability instead of repeatedly switching Global Routing in search of a single “battery-saving mode.” Shadowrocket is available through the App Store for Apple platforms; check the App Store listing for the system requirements for iPhone and iPad. This guide covers client settings only; use connection details you already have.
Verify the app and keep learning
Check the App Store listing on the app verification page. To review how to use Home, Config, and Settings, continue with the quick-start guide.
Visit the app verification page Read the guide