How this works: China publishes no official list of blocked apps. Every status below restates our own verified guides — cross-checked against independent firewall measurements, government travel advice, and consistent traveler reports — current as of September 2026. The Great Firewall's targets change without notice, so re-check before you rely on any single service. Spotted something outdated or missing?أخبرنا and we'll re-verify.

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Gmail

محظور

Blocked since 2014 — the website, the app, and mail-client sync all fail on mainland networks. Normal in Hong Kong and Macau.

Google Search

محظور

Blocked — the whole google.com domain family sits behind the firewall, on the UK Foreign Office's permanent block list.

Google Maps

محظور

Blocked — and even over a VPN its China map data is years out of date. Amap Global or Baidu Maps is what actually navigates.

WhatsApp

محظور

Blocked since 2017 — texts, voice, and video all fail on mainland networks. Server-level block: reinstalling changes nothing.

Instagram

محظور

Blocked on mainland networks — restored by a VPN (installed before arrival) or a travel eSIM routed through Hong Kong or Singapore.

FaceTime

يعمل

Works without a VPN — 1-on-1 video at least. No group calls in the mainland; audio is disabled on iPhones bought in mainland China.

12306 (Train Tickets)

يعمل مع قيود

Works — passport real-name registration is accepted, and buying without a Chinese number has known workarounds.

Public Wi-Fi

يعمل مع قيود

Usable with habits — most hotspots demand a +86 registration code, and open networks are no place for passwords or banking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WhatsApp blocked in China?

Yes. WhatsApp has been blocked on mainland China networks since 2017 — text messages, voice calls, and video calls all fail, and it's a server-level block, so reinstalling or switching phones changes nothing. It works normally in Hong Kong and Macau. Travelers who need it restore it with a VPN installed before arrival or a travel eSIM routed through Hong Kong; for messaging inside China, WeChat covers it. See our WhatsApp in China guide for the full picture.

Which apps are blocked in China?

The big families: Google's services (Gmail, Search, Maps, Drive, Docs — blocked since 2014), Meta's (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), YouTube, X/Twitter, Telegram, TikTok's international version, and streaming/AI services with no China offering like Netflix, Spotify, ChatGPT, and Claude. Apple's services, WeChat, Alipay, and DiDi all work normally. The checker above covers 27 verdicts, each backed by a full guide.

Do Google services work in China?

No — Gmail, Google Search, Drive, and Docs have sat behind the firewall since 2014, and Google Maps is blocked too, with a second problem: even over a VPN its China map data is years out of date, so navigation runs on Amap or Baidu Maps instead. Outlook.com and iCloud Mail are Microsoft/Apple-operated and generally reachable. Details in our Google Maps alternatives guide and Gmail guide.

How do travelers access blocked apps in China?

Two standard routes: a VPN app installed before you fly (installation is the hard part — download and set it up while you're still home), or a travel eSIM that routes data through Hong Kong or Singapore, which sidesteps the mainland network entirely. Both are travel-planning basics covered step by step in our Internet Survival Guide and VPN for China guide.

Which messaging and payment apps work without a VPN?

WeChat (chat, payments, QR codes — register with your foreign number before flying), Alipay (international Visa/Mastercard accepted with travel-sized limits), WeChat Pay (works with an international card at a lower feature tier), DiDi for rides, and Apple's services including iMessage and FaceTime. For trains, 12306 accepts passport registration with known workarounds for foreign numbers.

Do blocked apps work in Hong Kong or Macau?

Yes — WhatsApp, Google, Instagram, and the rest of the blocked list all work normally in Hong Kong and Macau, which is why HK-routed eSIMs restore them for travelers. The block applies to mainland China networks only. Netflix is a separate case everywhere: it has no China service at all, so even the website opening from a mainland IP means nothing plays.

واصل التخطيط

Every status links to a full China Neighbor guide — the evidence, the exceptions, and the fix for that one service. Start with the Internet Survival Guide for the whole blocked-vs-works map, or the VPN for China guide to restore all of it.