Will My Apps Work in China?
China’s Great Firewall blocks much of the Western internet — Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and dozens more stop working the moment you land. Tap the apps you rely on and see in 10 seconds what breaks, what survives, and what to install instead. We re-verify the list monthly.
Tap the apps you use
Search & Maps
Messaging
Social Media
Email & Work
Streaming & Music
AI & Tools
Travel & Payments
Full list: what’s blocked in China (verified August 2026)
Every app in the checker above, in one table — blocked apps first.
| App | Status | Works instead | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Search | Blocked | Bing | Firewall-blocked. Bing works in China without a VPN and handles English searches fine. |
| Google Maps | Blocked | Amap / Apple Maps | Blocked — and its China map data is wrong even with a VPN. Use Amap or Apple Maps instead. |
| Wikipedia | Blocked | — | Blocked in every language. VPN required to read or edit. |
| Blocked | Blocked. Get WeChat — you'll need it for daily life in China anyway. | ||
| Messenger | Blocked | — | Blocked along with Facebook. Move important group chats before you fly. |
| Telegram | Blocked | — | Blocked. Messages won't send or arrive without a VPN. |
| Signal | Blocked | — | Blocked. Agree on a backup channel with your contacts before you land. |
| Discord | Blocked | — | Blocked. Text and voice both fail without a VPN. |
| Blocked | — | Blocked. Feed, DMs, and posting all need a VPN. | |
| Blocked | — | Blocked since 2009. VPN required for everything Facebook. | |
| X (Twitter) | Blocked | Blocked. Weibo is the local equivalent if you're curious; otherwise VPN. | |
| TikTok | Blocked | Douyin | Not offered in mainland China — Douyin is the separate Chinese version with separate accounts. |
| Blocked | — | Blocked. VPN required to browse or post. | |
| Snapchat | Blocked | — | Blocked. Your streaks won't survive without a VPN. |
| Blocked | — | Blocked. Boards won't load without a VPN. | |
| Blocked | — | Blocked since 2023, when Microsoft pulled its China version. VPN required. | |
| Tinder | Blocked | — | Blocked. Swiping and matches don't load without a VPN. |
| Medium | Blocked | — | Blocked. Articles won't load without a VPN. |
| Gmail | Blocked | Outlook | Blocked — mail silently stops arriving. Outlook works normally, or use a VPN. |
| Google Drive & Photos | Blocked | iCloud | Blocked, including background photo backup. iCloud syncs fine in China. |
| Dropbox | Blocked | iCloud | Blocked. Files won't sync — download what you need before arrival. |
| YouTube | Blocked | Bilibili | Blocked. Bilibili is China's video giant if you want something local; otherwise VPN. |
| Netflix | Blocked | iQiyi / Tencent Video | Not firewall-blocked — Netflix simply doesn't operate in mainland China. A VPN restores your library. |
| Disney+ | Blocked | — | Not offered in mainland China. Download shows before you fly, or use a VPN. |
| Twitch | Blocked | — | Blocked. Streams won't load without a VPN. |
| ChatGPT | Blocked | — | Blocked, and OpenAI doesn't serve mainland China. VPN required. |
| Claude | Blocked | — | Not available in mainland China. You'll need a VPN to reach it. |
| Gemini | Blocked | — | Blocked along with the rest of Google's services. VPN required. |
| Google Translate | Blocked | Apple Translate / DeepL | Blocked. Download Apple Translate's offline Chinese pack before you fly, or use DeepL. |
| Google Play Store | Blocked | — | Blocked. Android users: install every app you'll need before arrival — no downloads once you land. |
| Uber | Blocked | DiDi | Uber exited China years ago. DiDi is what everyone uses — it has a full English mode. |
| Slack | Unreliable | — | Connects some days, times out others. Don't rely on it for work without a VPN. |
| Notion | Unreliable | — | Unreliable without a VPN — pages hang and sync fails at random. |
| Spotify | Unreliable | Apple Music | Loads inconsistently without a VPN. Apple Music operates officially in China and just works. |
| Steam (International) | Unreliable | — | Intermittent — the store and downloads often fail. Steam China is a separate, limited version. |
| GitHub | Unreliable | — | Reachable but heavily throttled — cloning and pushing crawl without a VPN. |
| Airbnb | Unreliable | Trip.com | The site loads, but Airbnb pulled all mainland listings in 2022. Book stays on Trip.com. |
| Apple Maps | Works | — | Works out of the box with accurate local data — the easiest map option for iPhone users. |
| Amap (Gaode) | Works | — | China's best navigation app: accurate, free, and it has an English mode. |
| Bing | Works | — | Works without a VPN — the default search fallback for travelers. |
| Works | — | The one app you must have in China: chat, payments, taxis, translation — everything. | |
| iMessage | Works | — | Works normally — one of the few Western messengers that does. |
| FaceTime | Works | — | Audio and video calls both work in China without a VPN. |
| Microsoft Outlook | Works | — | Works without a VPN — the easiest way to keep email flowing in China. |
| Microsoft Teams / Office 365 | Works | — | Works. Microsoft's cloud services are generally reliable in China. |
| Zoom | Works | — | Joining international meetings from China works fine. |
| iCloud | Works | — | Works — photos, iCloud Drive, and backups all sync normally. |
| Apple Music | Works | — | Works — Apple Music runs an official mainland China service. |
| Duolingo | Works | — | Works — your streak is safe in China. |
| DiDi | Works | — | Works, with English support — ride-hailing in every Chinese city. |
| Alipay | Works | — | Works and links to foreign cards. Set it up before you land — street vendors rarely take cash. |
| Booking.com | Works | — | Works for hotels in China and everywhere else. |
| Trip.com | Works | — | China's biggest travel platform — best for trains, domestic flights, and hotels. |
| Amazon (Global) | Works | — | The global site works for browsing and shipping to your home country. |
| PayPal | Works | — | Works for logins and payments abroad. |
| Meituan | Works | — | Works — food delivery and local deals, though the app is Chinese-only. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WhatsApp blocked in China?
Yes — WhatsApp is blocked in mainland China, so messages won't send or arrive on hotel Wi-Fi or a local SIM. Install WeChat before you arrive (it's what everyone in China uses anyway), or set up a VPN to keep WhatsApp working.
Does Google Maps work in China?
No. Google Maps is blocked, and even with a VPN its mainland map data is outdated and visibly offset from reality. Use Amap (which has an English mode) or Apple Maps, which works out of the box with accurate local data.
Can I use ChatGPT in China?
No — ChatGPT is blocked and OpenAI doesn't offer service in mainland China. Claude and Gemini are unavailable too. If you rely on an AI assistant, install a VPN before you arrive.
Do I need a VPN for a short trip?
If you can live without Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram for a few days, you can skip it. Most travelers can't — so either install a VPN before you land, or use a travel eSIM that routes data through Hong Kong, which makes blocked apps work with no VPN at all.
Does iMessage work in China?
Yes. iMessage and FaceTime both work normally in mainland China without a VPN — they're among the few Western communication tools that do. Apple Maps, Apple Music, and iCloud work fine too.
What happens if I open a blocked app in China?
Nothing dramatic — the app just spins, times out, or shows a connection error, as if you were offline. There's no warning or penalty for trying, and your account is unaffected. Everything works again the moment you connect through a VPN or leave the mainland.
App availability last verified: August 2026. The firewall changes — we re-test every app on this page monthly.
arrow_backBack to ChinaLensGuide