Is Apple App Store blocked in China?
Yes. Apple App Store has been partly blocked in China since Apr 2024. Apple removed WhatsApp, Threads, Signal and Telegram from the China store at Beijing's request, and VPN apps before that.
The 3 VPNs that fit China
Don't use a VPN to reach Apple App Store. Which App Store you see depends on your Apple Account's country and payment method, not your internet connection, so a VPN won't change it. These picks are for privacy and the other blocks in China.
Votes come from visitors in China over the last 14 days.
Picked for heavy censorship: each can disguise VPN traffic.
ExpressVPN
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Obfuscation is automatic; keep the protocol on Automatic and update the app before you travel.
NordVPN
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to NordWhisper or obfuscated servers before connecting.
Proton VPN
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to the Stealth protocol before connecting.
Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs Surfshark, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost
Surfshark
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to NoBorders mode before connecting.
Private Internet Access
Doesn't connectNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to the Shadowsocks proxy option before connecting.
CyberGhost
Doesn't connectNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
CyberGhost says its service does not work in China.
We earn a commission if you buy a VPN through our links. It never changes what we report as blocked. How we pick and how we make money
The bigger picture in China
Google, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, Telegram, Signal and Discord are all blocked by the Great Firewall.
Before you connect: Install and test your VPN before you land. App stores in China do not list foreign VPN apps, and provider websites are blocked.
Everything blocked in China · Where is Apple App Store blocked?
Questions people ask
Is Apple App Store blocked in China?
Apple App Store has been partly blocked in China since Apr 2024. Apple removed WhatsApp, Threads, Signal and Telegram from the China store at Beijing's request, and VPN apps before that.
Can I use Apple App Store in China with a VPN?
Which App Store you see depends on your Apple Account's country and payment method, not your internet connection, so a VPN won't change it.
Is using a VPN legal in China?
Legal with restrictions. Only government-approved VPNs are legal. Enforcement against individual tourists is rare, but VPN traffic is actively detected and slowed, especially around political anniversaries.
Seeing something different? Report it on the China page.