(as of March 2021), Best VPNs for China in 2021 (+my strategy to use them). North Korea North Korea has blocked WhatsApp, the most popular instant messaging application. Originally, they were intended to allow people to access internal network resources remotely. What this means is that if open WhatsApp on your phone from within China, no matter if you’re using a network connection or a wi-fi connection, the app won’t work. The Chinese apps are unencrypted and subject to censorship. This page does not apply to Hong Kong and Macau where some Chinese laws do not apply.. WhatsApp has been widely blocked in mainland China by the country’s government, with text messaging as well as photo and video sharing not … Even with the use of a VPN, anything you say can be held against you. It is like whatsapp but virtually everyone in china uses wechat. Maybe you know some tricks when can whatsapp be used in China? Everything else i expected to be blocked is. It started with Facebook, Twitter, and Google but since then there have been many more websites and apps blocked in China. Yes.Whatsapp was blocked.Chinese use Wechat or QQ English (US) French (France) German Italian Japanese Korean Polish Portuguese (Brazil) Portuguese (Portugal) Russian Simplified Chinese (China) Spanish (Mexico) Traditional Chinese (Taiwan) Turkish Vietnamese As far as I know, whatsapp is not encrypted like telegram, so whats the fuss about whatsapp. If you’ve never heard of a VPN, you can think of it like a tunnel through a wall (for a more detailed description, see What is a VPN?). This is great advice but I would also recommend installing wechat. Is it better to activate international roaming on airtel Indian sim card and get express VPN activated before I leave the country? UPDATE (Aug 19, 2017 at 9.54pm CST): WhatsApp appears to be working normally again for some users in mainland China. Yes… and no. Others are still reporting sporadic access issues. Required fields are marked *. I’ll ask around. What is the alternative to whatsapp in China if it’s banned there? WhatsApp has been blocked by the Chinese Government during political campaigns because of the chat app’s strong encryption features. The best way is to use a VPN service to unblock WhatsApp in China. WhatsApp was an e2e encrypted messaging platform but after this ban, it can only be accessed through a VPN. The block started early Tuesday morning leaving users unable to send and/or receive messages. As a result, many people believe WhatsApp is now banned in China. BONUS: when you use this link for ExpressVPN, they’ll give you 3 months free on any annual plan. Or would I need to reinstall it? The Google Maps didn’t work when I was there for a day last time. You’ll learn how certain kinds of specialized anonymity services can allow you to access WhatsApp in China. Expert tips and travel advice for China tourists and expats. I currently use a China Mobile SIM. Wechat copied off line (by naver) when line became popular in asia. i am already in china and i don’t know that whatsapp has been blocked. can i still download the vpn? My final recommendation is a VPN that has been very reliable for numerous expats in China. I use this every day. Get some of the best China travel tips delivered to your inbox. Chinese authorities are sure to prosecute any speech deemed to be in violation of the law. HI Josh One of the most popular VPNs on the market that has one of the best phone apps I’ve seen. Or is it better in terms of access and budget to just get a Chinese sim card on arrival? The messaging service WhatsApp has been disrupted in China as the government steps up security ahead of a Communist Party meeting next month. “According to the analysis that we ran today on WhatsApp’s infrastructure, it seems that the Great Firewall is imposing censorship that selectively targets WhatsApp functionalities,” said Nadim Kobeissi, an applied cryptographer at Symbolic Software, a cryptography research start-up. If you’re visiting China and you want to stay in touch with WhatsApp users, you’ll need to get around this block. © 2021 CyberNews - Latest tech news, product reviews, and analyses. How can I navigate on my own in Shanghai without having access to google Maps? Hey Scott, this is a good and valid point. Regulations in China are very clear at the moment about WhatsApp access, and the service is well and truly blocked. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. What this means is that if open WhatsApp on your phone from within China, no matter if you’re using a network connection or a wi-fi connection, the app won’t work. While it’s not directly dangerous or illegal to use a VPN within China, you might run into a variety of other concerns. Over that period of time he has traveled by plane, train, car, motorcycle and even camel to explore almost every corner of the country. Since 2009, China has made efforts to block all of the major global social media platforms. But China went a little too far with blocking all popular apps. Yes, WhatsApp is currently blocked in mainland China. Using VPN for bypassing restrictions is amazing. But I think You should add a disclaimer to this. I would be careful which phone you install the app on and how you use it. Similar to Instagram in China, the WhatsApp platform does offers desktop apps, but most people interact with it on their phone. Potentially a user using a VPN and whatsapp could be committing a crime that puts them in danger of being arrested or deported. Hi Josh. Best of all, they have a 30 day money-back guarantee in case it doesn’t work well for you. WhatsApp is one of famous social media platforms that have been blocked by the Chinese authorities. is there something in the settings that needs to be changed to allow video chat? But not in China. NordVPN is another VPN that has an easy-to-use mobile app and a massive user base. It is true that people visiting China also have to deal with the restrictions, and VPN or Shadowsocks are really the only options. It will attempt to connect and then tell you that it can’t reach the server. These simple but often overlooked tips could make or break your trip! Thank you so much for the intensive information. I’ve been using free VPN and whatsapp works but very slow. WhatsApp is one of many blocked web services in China, the messaging app could be directly used in China in the past, it's only blocked since October 2017. If you purchase via links on our site, we may receive affiliate commissions. WhatsApp has been banned … In this case, the alternative is called WeChat or 微信 (Weixin) in Chinese. Hi Roger, I am unaware of any changes this past week. Even when China has censored everything, a VPN will tunnel through and give you access to sites like Facebook, Gmail and even WhatsApp in China. Josh is the founder of TravelChinaCheaper.com who has been living in China with his family since 2006. Very interesting…I’ve had it go off and on for me, but never partially like that. Using a VPN, you can unlock the restriction, faking a location outside China. The Chinese government could come up with all sorts of trumped up charges that explain why somebody is using illegal encryption (espionage, organised crime etc.). The most popular option would be WeChat. Hey josh! Whatever you do, be careful with your online posts and messages within the country. Hi my girlfriend is in china, she has a VPN and we can message and audio chat through whattsapp but when we try the video chat we can talk but not see each other, which is very frustrating! However, some general policies and suggestions can make the searching process easier: To access WhatsApp in China, you’ll need some kind of tool to make your Internet connection appear to originate from outside of the mainland. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. [ad_1] Popular messaging app WhatsApp has been largely blocked in China. The speed is staying slow, and I’m really happy by only using whatsapp, but maybe there are ways to speed up everything? For this reason, we won’t be listing specific solutions. Popular messaging app WhatsApp has finally been hit by the ban hammer of China after months of struggling to keep the service afloat. You can, but it’s going to be much harder. Beware, however – Chinese apps like WeChat will offer you no privacy whatsoever. Don't miss out on these 44 money-saving tips! Often, video chat is a product of internet speed. Thanks for sharing, Mario! Over time, these countries might allow it and others might block it depending on political issues in each country. WhatsApp is again experiencing service issues inside mainland China, with users in the country reporting problems viewing, sending and receiving images and videos, as well as audio messages. In China, though, WhatsApp is far less popular than local competitors like WeChat, which has over half a billion monthly active users. The fact is that WhatsApp has been blocked in China since June of 2017. WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, which is also blocked in China. 3. The Chinese government quickly shuts down or blocks VPNs, so recommendations are constantly changing. WhatsApp is also banned in some other countries, like North Korea, Syria, Iran, the UAE, and Cuba. However, I still use WhatsApp andI can tell you from experience that it’s entirely possible…as long as you’re prepared. Hi Hayley, each VPN service has a limit of “simultaneous devices”, which is usually around 5. You see, the Chinese government blocked WhatsApp back in 2017. This is the case of WhatsApp. Overcoming the Great Firewall of China is no small task. That’s also why I suggest purchasing services that offer 30-day money back guarantees. What ISN’T Blocked in China in 2021. This website uses cookies. Any individual who follows your advice is at risk of that and should probably be aware of that. Visit our, Subscribe for Security Tips and CyberNews Updates, WhatsApp is blocked in China, but here’s how you can access it. We’ve established that WhatsApp is most definitely blocked in China and will likely stay blocked throughout 2021. This is a list of the most notable such blocked websites in the country. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. You see, the Chinese government blocked WhatsApp back in 2017. Users have faced problems with the app for more than a week with services dropping in and out. If you need better speeds, you could look into our other best VPN options here: https://cybernews.com/best-vpn/. China sometimes blocks certain IP addresses, which can cause major connection issues no matter which VPN you use. Ideally, you’ve already setup your VPN prior to arrival in China, since it’s a huge pain to do so once you’ve arrived. Hey Hey! As we’ve seen, the answer to the query can you use WhatsApp in China is complex. If you get ExpressVPN set up, you’ll be able to use both WhatsApp and Google Maps when you arrive. At one point WhatsApp users could send text, but not images. The most important element of accessing any blocked site from within China is choosing the right VPN. I am travelling from INDIA to Shanghai solo next week and I am Struggling to figure out how to get access to internet at all times. If you are in China, you can't chat with your friends and family using this app, because the firewall blocks all the content. That means on the same subscription, you can connect 5 different devices at once (which is probably more than you’ll need unless you’re a family). If you want to use WhatsApp or any other blocked website/app in China, here are the three options I recommend. I would not install wechat unless someone pointed a gun to your head to do so. I live in China and was able to use WhatsApp on my Chinese mobile phone with a vpn until WhatsApp decided to update the app last week. So, albeit more popular, this isn’t the safest option. Note: This article contains affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I will be compensated if you use some of these services I recommend. Even so, as is the case with all blocked websites and apps in China, a local alternative always exists. Our readers help us create quality content. I don’t think China cares that much unless you are, in fact, using the software for criminal reasons. While it isn’t the end of the world to have these apps blocked, it’s probably something that you want to be familiar with before you go, just so that you aren’t relying on them when you do arrive there. China’s WhatsApp ban is related to the country’s attempts to censor free and open communication. 1. However, they do not provide end-to-end encryption, and they’re only using transport encryption. Google maps didn’t work because it’s blocked in China. I use NordVPN not only on my phone and computer but I’ve also installed this VPN on my Amazon Fire TV so I can watch my favorite shows on a TV. In other words, a VPN service will make it easy for you to unblock WhatsApp in China. WhatsApp isn’t the only messaging application that’s blocked in China. Can you access WhatsApp in China in 2021? In this case, since I first arrived in China in 2006, there have been no published cases of a foreigner being imprisoned, charged or kicked out just for using a VPN and a service like WhatsApp.