How To Download a VPN in China: 8 Working Methods (2025)
- How Do You Download a Secure VPN When You’re Already in China?
- 8 Ways To Download a VPN in China in 2025
- How To Install a VPN on Your Device in China: Step-By-Step Guide
- Quick Comparison Table: Best VPNs for China
- Our Methodology for Testing Ways To Download a VPN in China
- How Does China Block VPN Downloads?
- What if You Still Can’t Download a VPN in China? Troubleshooting Guide
- FAQs on Downloading a VPN in China
- Conclusion
China's App Store and Google Play versions don't offer popular VPN apps. Plus, the Great Firewall of China makes it almost impossible to download a reliable VPN using traditional methods. This leaves CCP-approved VPNs as the apparent alternative, but they often expose you to heavy surveillance and don’t even provide reliable access to sites.
Is it really possible to download a secure VPN in China? With 11,026 (over 25%) of apps removed from China’s iOS App Store by March 2023, including virtually all commercial VPNs, it’s not easy1. That is why we researched different ways to download VPNs in the country and shortlisted the most effective ways.
How Do You Download a Secure VPN When You’re Already in China?
- Get the VPN mirror site URL.
Request via live chat before your trip or via a non-Gmail email while in China. The best VPNs for China have mirror websites that are accessible from within China. - Download the VPN app.
Download and install the VPN as you normally would. You can get the normal app for desktop/laptop or the APK to sideload on Android. - Configure the app.
Install it with default settings, and make sure essential security features, like the kill switch, IP/DNS leak protection, and obfuscation (ability to mask VPN use) are enabled before using it.
8 Ways To Download a VPN in China in 2025
China’s tough internet restrictions demand a variety of strategies in order to download a commercial VPN. VPN users even get differing results when trying to download a VPN from different regions in China. Having trouble with the first method you try is likely, so feel free to use multiple ones until you get it working. Once you have a VPN, it’ll be easier to download other VPN apps in the future.
Description | Pros | Cons | |
Download a VPN before arriving in China |
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Use mirrored sites or dynamic links |
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Use a foreign SIM with roaming or eSIM |
Note: eSIMs are generally more effective than foreign SIMs with roaming. |
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Use another VPN-enabled device or ask a friend |
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Sideload VPN APK file (Android only) |
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Use your hotel's WiFi | Some international hotels, like Hilton, Marriott, Shangri-La, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Starwood, Sheraton have less restricted internet. Ask the front desk if VPNs are allowed, and then download as normal. |
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Visit Hong Kong or Macau | App stores and VPN websites are not restricted in Hong Kong or Macau. You can freely download VPN apps and then go back to mainland China. |
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Ask a friend outside of China | They can send the VPN file to you via a service like WeChat, Weiyun, email with attachments, or cloud storage (Dropbox/OneDrive work intermittently). They may also help pay for the subscription if your payment method fails in China. |
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How To Install a VPN on Your Device in China: Step-By-Step Guide
The best way to get a VPN working is to set it up before arriving in China. If that’s not possible, you can contact your VPN’s customer support from China to request the latest mirror link that works there. Do this for every device that you plan to use the VPN on, as virtually all download methods (website, app store, etc.) are restricted.
Either way, the installation instructions will be mostly the same. Below, I’ll guide you through the exact steps you need to take to download a working VPN in China:
How To Get a VPN on Windows and Mac
- Request a mirror URL from support. Be sure to specifically ask for the latest one that works in China, since some VPNs provide different URLs depending on the country.
If you're already in China, you can email support or look for it on Reddit
- Visit the mirror site. Click the link or copy-paste it to your browser’s address bar to open the mirror site.
Save the URL offline to use throughout your travels
- Download and install the VPN. You can sign up and purchase the VPN or simply download the apps if you already have an account. After downloading, run the installer and follow the installation instructions.
Except for iOS, you can usually transfer apps from your PC to other devices
- Log in to the app. Use the same credentials when creating your account or the activation code provided in your VPN dashboard.
- Configure the VPN. Connect to a server. You’ll also want to enable advanced built-in tools to make your VPN connection reliable and safe for use inside China.
How To Get a VPN on Android
- Enable Install unknown apps. Open the Settings app and go to Apps. Then, click the three dots in the top-right corner and select Special access. Tap Install unknown apps, then enable it for the method you will use. For example, the Chrome app for website downloads or My Files for USB transfer.
- Get an Android VPN app for China. The Google Play Store is not available in China, so download the APK file from the VPN’s mirror site. You can also sideload it from your PC via a USB cable.
- Use the VPN app. Run the VPN app and log in using your account credentials or activation code. You can now use the VPN app on your Android in China.
How To Get a VPN on iOS
- Change your Apple ID region. Go to Settings > Apple ID > Media & Purchases > View Account > Country/Region.
- Switch to a region where the VPN is available (e.g., US, UK). You may need a matching payment method.
- Download the VPN app. Open the App Store with your updated account. Search for the VPN app and tap Download.
- Log in to your account. Open the app, then sign in with your VPN credentials or activation code.
- Configure for China. Enable obfuscation/stealth mode in the app’s settings. This helps the VPN connect reliably in China.
Quick Comparison Table: Best VPNs for China
China’s heavy restrictions make downloading a VPN difficult for multiple reasons, from actually accessing the apps to paying for the service. So, a variety of download and payment methods, as well as good support, is crucial. Also, offering a reliable refund policy is a must, as there’s always a chance that China temporarily succeeds in completely cutting off access to a VPN.
Our Methodology for Testing Ways To Download a VPN in China
Due to China’s unique online landscape and stance on VPNs, there are different workarounds for downloading them. The main criterion was to be at least somewhat effective, as certain methods (like Tor) have been almost entirely blocked in China. We also ranked methods by how accessible and reliable they are to the average user.
As there is a near-total blackout of international content, some travelers might be desperate enough to resort to more extreme measures, like traveling to a neighboring country to get a VPN. Ultimately, you’ll likely have to try different ways of downloading a VPN to find one that works. So, go through the list by starting with ones that fit your budget, technical skills, and need for privacy.
How Does China Block VPN Downloads?
China’s Great Firewall (GFW) uses a multi-layered censorship architecture to block access to VPN providers’ websites, installer files, and app stores. These methods focus heavily on preventing the download or installation of VPN clients by blocking access to the necessary domains and files.
Even once a VPN is installed, similar techniques (especially DPI and probing) continue to interfere with its operation. The GFW’s ability to detect even fully encrypted traffic is continuously being upgraded. It does this by constantly trying to flag and block traffic patterns consistent with VPN/proxy protocols, making downloading harder.
These countermeasures take different forms, such as:
- IP and domain blocking. Known VPN domains and IP ranges are blocklisted at the network level, so HTTP/S traffic to these endpoints is dropped or rerouted.
- DNS poisoning. DNS queries for VPN sites return fake IPs (or no response) so the client never reaches the real server.
- Deep packet inspection / traffic fingerprinting. Encrypted traffic is inspected for telltale signatures (e.g., TLS handshake patterns, data entropy, packet lengths) and blocked if it matches VPN-like profiles.
- Active probings. The firewall may send test probes to suspected VPN endpoints to see how they respond and then dynamically block IPs or connections that look like VPN servers.
What if You Still Can’t Download a VPN in China? Troubleshooting Guide
Even after trying all the methods here, you may still struggle to download a VPN inside China. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s impossible — there are some tweaks to your network and device settings you can try.
The efficacy of certain methods and settings will change depending on where and when you use them in China. So, you may have to experiment with different combinations to get results.
- Switch networks. Try mobile data instead of WiFi (or vice versa), as restrictions can vary by ISP or hotel. More users report success with China Unicom than with China Telecom or China Mobile, for example.
- Try a different browser. Popular options like Chrome, Safari, and Edge may behave differently under the Great Firewall compared to more privacy-focused browsers, such as Firefox and Brave.
- Restart your router or device. This can refresh your IP and flush DNS, sometimes helping to bypass blocks temporarily.
- Change your device’s DNS settings. Using public DNS (like Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 or Google 8.8.8.8) in your OS settings can help resolve blocked domains.
- Use HTTPS versions of URLs. Some HTTP links are more aggressively blocked than HTTPS.
- Clear your browser cache and cookies. Cached redirects may force you to censored versions of a site or conflict with your IP.
- Test non-Google email or messaging services. If you can’t get Gmail to work in China, try Outlook, iCloud, or other file-sharing apps (like OneDrive). The same goes for local messaging tools, like WeChat.
FAQs on Downloading a VPN in China
Conclusion
Whether visiting China for a short trip, moving there for work, or living long-term, a VPN can make everyday life online far smoother. Downloading a VPN before arriving saves headaches, but if you’re already in the country, workarounds like mirror links and APK files can help.
Just keep in mind that no solution is guaranteed to work consistently, as China is always advancing its systems to block VPN access in the country. The best approach is to prepare ahead and stay adaptable. This way, you’ll have a far better chance of staying connected securely and reaching the global internet while in the country.
References
- https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/spot-check-apple-and-google-still-have-a-chinese-vpn-problem/
- https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/spot-check-apple-and-google-still-have-a-chinese-vpn-problem/
Your online activity may be visible to the sites you visit
Your IP Address:
216.73.216.42
Your Location:
US, Ohio, Columbus
Your Internet Provider:
Some sites might use these details for advertising, analytics, or tracking your online preferences.
To protect your data from the websites you visit, one of the most effective steps is to hide your IP address, which can reveal your location, identity, and browsing habits. Using a virtual private network (VPN) masks your real IP by routing your internet traffic through a secure server, making it appear as though you're browsing from a different location. A VPN also encrypts your connection, keeping your data safe from surveillance and unauthorized access.
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