downloading apps in china How to download VPN apps on iOS in China. Recently, Apple has removed all VPN apps from the China App Store. But there is a workaround to get these apps installed on your iOS in China! So, what can you do to download the VPN if you are in China? The answer is quite simple actually. The restriction can be bypassed by using a new iTunes account registered with a USA address. Although you can download any app without using a VPN, most of the apps that you download will require a VPN that works well in China in order to function properly. For example, the New York Times app can be downloaded without a VPN by following this method. However, the app itself will not function because the New York Times servers are blocked in China. Ok, here is how to create a brand new USA iTunes account. It’s not possible to change the country of your existing Apple ID without adding a credit card from the country you want to change to. However you can create a brand new Apple ID for any country you want without adding a credit card. In fact you can make a new account for each country’s App Store that you want to use. Just choose which account to log into depending on which Apps you need to download or update. Here are the steps I followed to create a new Apple ID for United States. Step 1 – Go to this page from a computer and create a new Apple ID with an email address that has not already been used for another Apple ID. Step 2 – On your iOS device, open the Settings and choose iTunes & App Store , then select your current account and log out. Step 3 – Open the App Store and try to download any App. When prompted, log in using your newly created iTunes account. Step 4 – You will be prompted that the Apple ID has not yet been used in the iTunes Store. Choose Review . Step 5 – Choose United States or other preferred country. Step 6 – Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this extremely long agreement and choose agree. Take a rest if your finger gets tired before you reach the bottom. It feels like about 1,000 pages. Step 7 – Under Billing Information choose None and then enter any US address and phone number. You can use this website to generate one. 2018 Update – Apple has now made it more difficult to confirm your account if you are not located in the same country as the iTunes account you are trying to make. If you don’t see any option for None under billing information, then you will need to connect to a VPN in the USA and try again. If your IP address is not in USA and you are trying to make a US account, then the None option will not be there and you will need to use a credit card. If you don’t already have a VPN app installed on your device, then this can be difficult. Classic chicken and egg type problem. The solution is to connect by L2TP using the iOS built-in VPN. Check with your VPN provider for specific instructions on setting up L2TP on iOS. I know that ExpressVPN L2TP is working in China because I tested it recently, but I’m not sure whether other provider’s L2TP servers are working in China right now. Please leave a comment below if you have used L2TP in iOS in China recently. Another option is to buy a visa gift card on Taobao and confirm your account that way. Search for “美国visa卡”, there are many sellers offering these. Step 8 – When you are finished downloading the Apps from United States App Store, just simply log out of the new account and log back into your original account if you need to download Apps from the China store which are not available on the USA app store. You can always switch between accounts to download different apps. Notes. If you have previously downloaded apps from the China App Store that have been removed, then it’s not possible to update these apps anymore. To update, you need to uninstall the app first, and then re-download it using your USA iTunes account. If you need to buy a paid app from the USA store but don’t have a US credit card, you can buy a US iTunes gift card on Taobao for a reasonable price (the link is just to the search results, not any individual seller – do your own research and buy from a reputable seller with higher sales volume). AppChina for Android. AppChina gives you a fresh way to find free, trending applications and games. Similar to Google Play Store and Apple App Store, this utility tool has an extensive catalog of mobile software that is exclusively distributed and developed in China. Find the app you want by typing the name on the search bar, or by simply looking at it in its category. It will be an easy transition from your current digital distribution service as the interface is plain and organized . This third-party app store can be download and used free of charge . What is App China? As the name suggests, AppChina is a Chinese application that allows people outside its country to download their apps. You'll hardly find any program from its catalog that is also available in Google Play or the App Store. Therefore, AppChina and its programs are mostly available in Chinese . You can change it to your language , but you'll need to find the Language or Translate button on the app first. This third-party app also offers more benefits for its international users. First is that all Chinese paid apps can be availed for free. Second is that it will upgrade your mobile apps and games without any charge. While the benefits are extensive, it still promises to use less RAM than other app markets. How do I download AppChina? You can download this Chinese app store onto your Android device in a few easy steps . First, make sure that the unknown sources option in your smartphone or tablet is on. The app will appear under Security, where you can also launch your new download. Tap the AppChina file to prompt the pop-up window to appear. You will then need to select the ‘Install’ button so it can begin integrating itself on your device. It will take less than a minute to complete the process. Afterward, you can now access all kinds of applications from China anytime and anywhere you go. Discover new international apps. AppChina is one of the tools you can use to bypass geographical restrictions . It is a suitable application for users that want a particular mobile app, but it’s only available in China. You can discover more mobile programs here by browsing through their different categories and featured lists. Note that the app is in Chinese by default, but you can change the language on the app. The Top 15 Apps for China Travelers. Apps are revolutionizing the way we travel, and nowhere is this more true than China. Downloading these apps before you get to China can make everything a whole lot easier, as it alleviates problems with the language and can help you get your bearings quicker. That's why we've listed the top 15 most useful China apps for travelers, whether it be language, directions, traveling, taxis, keeping access to your social media, or restaurants. 1. A VPN App — for Internet Access. You won't get very far in China without a VPN these days, as apps such as WhatsApp, anything Google (Google mail accounts, Google docs), Instagram, Facebook and Twitter all require a VPN for use. We've listed the best free and paid VPNs so that you can start your trip prepared! Language Apps. 2. Pleco (Free or Upgraded Version) In terms of getting to terms with the Chinese language, Pleco is one of the best language-learning apps, and will also save your time if you can't read things such as menus, signs, or can't translate a tourist attraction name into Chinese. You can either input using pinyin (the alphabetic system of Mandarin), or you can draw out characters in order to translate them. The dictionary from English into Chinese is also very good. 3. Learn Chinese Mandarin (Free or Upgraded Version) A great beginners' language app with sets of key phrases for the most important parts of traveling. Greetings, general conversation, numbers, directions and places, transportation, eating out, and emergency are all included in the free version. If you want to take your Chinese learning to the next level, consider paying $4.99 for the upgraded version which also includes vocab lists for time and date, accommodation, shopping, colors, regions and towns, countries, tourist attractions, family, dating, feeling sick, and more. Navigation Apps. 4. Google Maps (Free) Google Maps is the best comprehensive maps service throughout China, as it is fully available in English and makes it easy to navigate around even if you don't speak the language. Now google, facebook, twitter, youtube, and instgram have been blocked by China firewall. You'd better get a VPN before departure. See the Best VPNs for Use in China (Free and Paid). 5. China Travel Guide (Free) A travel guide with listings for popular tourist attractions throughout the country, including addresses, pictures, locations on the map, and other peoples comments on each of the popular tourist sites.