Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify the role of digital shadow work(DSW) in the psychological mechanism that controls using and purchasing digital device accessories. More specifically, it is to reveal how the digital device user's perception of DSW is formed and how the formed DSW affects purchase and what results it will bring. Design/methodology/approach Ground theory method(GTM), one of qualitative appoaches, is adopted as research methodology. By interviewing total twenty five users, the data are analyzed by open coding amd axis coding. Two core codes are selected by selective coding and interpreted by DSW theory. Findings We find concern for potential DSW and generation of new DSW. Concern for potential DSW lead to the purchase of accessorie which would be supposed to reduce potential DSW. During purchasing accessories, quest type DSW, which provices flow experience and expertise, could be genterated. This means that there would be dynamics of DSW in the purchase process of digital device accessories.