How to Download a VPN in China

Since 2017, the large majority of VPN providers’ websites have been blocked in China. Besides, Google Play doesn’t work either, and the App Store doesn’t let users located in China download any VPN apps.

Because of this, many people find themselves in the conundrum that to purchase a VPN in China, you first need a VPN.

Nonetheless, if you are already in China and need to download or purchase a VPN, there are still ways of doing so. In this article, we will explain how to do it and provide links accessible from China for some VPNs.

All of the VPNs that we mention in this article have good performance in China, but if you want to find out which VPN is best for you, I recommend checking our guide on the best VPNs for China.

Methods to download a VPN in China

1. Access to VPN mirror websites (easiest way)

The majority of VPN provider websites are blocked in China. Even so, the main providers have created “mirror” websites (exact copies of the website with a different URL) that are accessible.

Below is a list of the links to the mirror sites of some of the main VPNs:

Go to Express VPN’s website
Express VPN’s website link 2
Go to Nord VPN’s website
Go to VyprVPN’s website
Go to Ivacy’s website
Go to Surfshark’s website
Go to Astrill’s website
Go to StrongVPN’s website

Important: Keep in mind that these websites are also often blocked by the Great Firewall of China. If the link doesn’t work, let us know in the comments section and we’ll change it as soon as possible or you can try the link from another VPN.

2. Use a SIM card from another country

If you have a SIM card from Hong Kong or your home country, you can use the roaming service to surf the internet without restrictions.

Once you are connected, you only need to download the VPN app onto your cellphone and purchase a subscription. After that, you can switch to a Wi-Fi network or a Chinese SIM and enable your VPN.

Important: Roaming services can be expensive, so use this method carefully.

3. Ask a Friend or Family Member for Help

If you have friends in China who already use a VPN, the easiest way to access a VPN is to ask them to share their internet connection using a portable WiFi hotspot with the VPN activated.

If you don’t have friends in China with a VPN, you can always ask your family or friends back home to subscribe to a VPN for you and send you the app installation file. Notice, that a lot of file-sharing services and email providers are also blocked in China.

Important: Remember that Gmail is also blocked in China and you need an active email account to be able to register a VPN service. Make sure that you can access your email account in China before purchasing a VPN.

How to download and install a VPN in China

Windows and Mac

Downloading a VPN for Windows or Mac in China isn’t a problem as long as you can access the VPN provider’s website:

1. Access the website of your chosen VPN
2. Purchase a plan based on your needs
3. Access your account
4. Download the software for Windows or Mac from its website
5. Install the software on your computer
6. Connect your VPN and freely access the Internet in China!

Android

Downloading a VPN on Android isn’t very complicated. Because Google Play doesn’t work (unless you have an active VPN), you need to download the .apk file.

1. Access your chosen VPN provider’s website and purchase a plan
2. From your phone, access the VPN provider’s website
3. Download the .apk file
4. When the download finishes, open the file (avoid using Google Play to open the .apk file)
5. Open the app and connect the VPN
6. Use WhatsApp, Google Play and any other app blocked in China!

iOS (iPhone and iPad)

Downloading a VPN onto an iOS device in China can be a bit tedious, but if you follow a few simple steps, it isn’t hard.

Option 1: Using a computer

1. Access your chosen VPN provider’s website and sign up for a plan
2. Download the VPN on your computer
3. If you don’t have it, install iTunes on your computer (preferably with the VPN active)
4. Activate the VPN and open iTunes
5. Open the iTunes Store
6. Search and download the app
7. Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer
8. Open the device in your iTunes
9. Synchronize the device with iTunes
10. Open the VPN app on your iOS device
11. Use all the apps you want in China without restrictions!

Important : If you are unable to find the App in iTunes (with the VPN connected), you may have to change the region in the iTunes Store, for this you will have to create a new Apple ID.

Option 2: Directly from your iOS device

1. Access your chosen VPN provider’s website and purchase a plan
2. Look up or ask for the manual configuration settings for the VPN (preferably LTP2 or IKEv2)
3. Go to Settings–>General–>VPN–>Add VPN Setting and add the configuration that your VPN provider has given you.
4. Activate the recently configured VPN
5. Go to the App Store
6. Look for and install the VPN app
7. Disconnect the manually configured VPN and use the app
8. Use all of the apps that you want in China!

Important: If you can’t find the app even with the VPN connected, it’s possible that you will have to change the country of the App Store, and to do so, you will have to create a new Apple ID.

Download ExpressVPN in China

Windows and Mac

1. Go to Express VPN’s website through the link that we provide
2. If you still haven’t done so, purchase a plan with ExpressVPN
3. Sign on to your ExpressVPN account
4. In your personal account, you will find the link to download the software and the activation code
5. Download the program, install it, and activate it with the code

Android

1. Sign on to your ExpressVPN account
2. Look for the download link for the .apk file (in Configure ExpressVPN) and download it (don’t use Google Play)
3. Once the app is installed, open it and activate it with the code that you will find in your account

iOS

Download the VPN on your computer and install the App through iTunes or manually configure the VPN on your device.

To set up the VPN manually use these settings:

• Type: L2TP
• Description: ExpressVPN
• Server: You will find the list of servers in your account in the manual configuration section
• Account: your username (email)
• RSA SecurID: This has to be deactivated
• Password: The password for your account
• Secret: 12345678
• Send All Traffic: This has to be activated

Once you have manually connected the VPN, download Express VPN’s app from the App Store.

Download NordVPN in China

Windows and Mac

You can easily download the software on its website in the VPN Apps section by selecting your operating system.

Android

Download the .apk file that you will find in the VPN Apps section by selecting Android. The download link is found just beside the “Available on Google Play” icon.

iOS

You can install the app through iTunes on your computer or manually configure NordVPN by following the instructions below:

1. Go to NordVPN’s webstite
2. At the end of its website, click on tutorials
3. Click on IKEv2/IPsec, which is below the iOS section
4. Follow the instructions step-by-step

Once you have manually connected your VPN, you can download the NordVPN app directly from the App Store.

Download VyprVPN in China

Windows and Mac

You can easily download the software on its website in the VPN apps section by selecting your operating system.

Android

Download the .apk file that you will find in the VPN Apps section and select Android. The download link is found just below the “Get it on Google Play” icon.

iOS

Download VyprVPN on your computer and install the App through iTunes or manually configure the VPN on your device.

If you want to manually configure VyprVPN on your iOS device use the following settings:

• Type: L2TP
• Description: VyprVPN
• Server: us1.vpn.goldenfrog.com (a list of servers is available on Vypr’s website)
• Account: the email address for your VyprVPN account
• Password: the password for your VyprVPN account
• Secret: thisisourkey

Once you have manually connected your VPN, you can download the VyprVPN app directly in the App Store.

Download Ivacy in China

Windows and Mac

You can easily download the software from its website by going to the VPN Apps section and selecting your operating system.

Android

We couldn’t find the .apk file on its website. As a result, you have two options:

1. Download the app from an app repository that does work in China, such as apkplz.net
2. Configure the VPN manually and then download the app from Google Play. For more information, you can click here (you will need an active VPN).

iOS

You can download the VPN on your computer and install the App through iTunes or manually configure the VPN on your device.

If you want to manually set-up Ivacy use the following parameters:

• Description -> Ivacy VPN
• Server -> opt-cn1.dns2use.com
• Remote ID -> opt-cn1.dns2use.com
• Local ID -> Leave blank
• Authentication -> Username
• Username -> Email address
• Password -> Ivacy password

Once you have manually connected your VPN, you can download the Ivacy app directly from the App Store.

Download Surfshark in China

Windows and Mac

You can easily download the software on its website by going to the apps menu and selecting your operating system.

Android

The .apk file can be downloaded easily from its website. Just go to the apps menu and select “Android” and you will see a button that says “Download .APK.”

iOS

To manually configure Surfshark, you need to download files from a website that is blocked in China.

For this reason, the only solution is to install the app from iTunes on your computer or to contact the technical service so that they can send you instructions and files to manually configure the VPN on iOS.

Once you have manually connected your VPN, you can download the Surfshark app directly from the App Store.

Download Astrill in China

Windows and Mac

You can download the app for Windows and Mac directly from its website in the applications section (downloads) by selecting your operating system.

Android

The .apk file is easy to download from their website, Just go to the Download menu, select Android App, and tap the Download Astrill VPN button.

iOS

Download Astrill on your computer and install the App through iTunes or manually configure Astrill on your device.

If you want to set-up manually Astrill you can use the following settings:

• Type: L2TP
• Description: Astrill L2TP
• Server: lakv.asn247.net (a list of servers is available in the members area)
• Account: the email address of your Astrill account
• Password: the password of your Astrill account
• Secret: way2stars

Once you have manually connected the VPN, you can download the Astrill app directly from the App Store.

Download StrongVPN in China

Windows and Mac

You can easily download the software on its website in the VPN Apps section by selecting your operating system.

Android

Click here to download the .apk file.

iOS

You can install the StrongVPN app on your iOS device through iTunes on your computer or manually configure the VPN on your device.

To manually configure StrongVPN, you can find the instructions on how to do it at the bottom of the iOS page.

Once you have manually connected the VPN, you can download StrongVPN’s app directly from the App Store.

VPNs that can’t be downloaded in China

There are some VPNs that we usually recommend that at this time don’t offer the possibility of accessing their website from China. Therefore, you won’t be able to purchase them or download their apps easily if you’re already in China.

• VPN Area
• PureVPN
• TorGuard VPN
• TunnelBear VPN

Photo Credits: Photo by David_Peterson on Pixabay