How To Download Astrill On Iphone In China

You've probably heard that NordVPN is one of the few services that work in China. While I've tested VPNs that have better results for safely accessing the internet in China, NordVPN does occasionally work — but you need to do a couple of things beforehand.

First, you need to download the NordVPN app before entering the country. If you try to visit the NordVPN website from inside China, you'll find that you won't be able to access it. Second, you need to connect to an obfuscated server.

However, if you're already in China, I've shortlisted a few options you can try in order to download the VPN.

Before I continue, it's important to note that non-government-approved VPNs are illegal in China, but there have been no public cases of tourists being penalized by the Chinese government. The protection of a VPN, however, does not give you license to commit illegal acts, so please exercise a basic level of caution when using a VPN in China.

Top Tip: NordVPN doesn't always work in China, so I highly recommend having a backup VPN. ExpressVPN is one of the most reliable VPNs for China and it is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can buy in confidence.

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Download NordVPN before you get to China.
Open the app when you land in the country.
Connect to a server and start browsing securely! NordVPN has 450+ obfuscated servers in 14 locations (including Hong Kong, the US, and Italy) to access the world wide web.

NordVPN's website does not work in China, but you can still download it onto your devices with my simple solutions below. While you should exercise caution if you decide to use a VPN within China's borders, you likely won't be prosecuted for doing so. The common practice is that China fights VPNs by technologically blocking the services, and not by chasing after the people who use them.

However, remember that with China, things can change quickly. During my tests, I could only download the app from within China 8 out of 10 times. The only 100% guaranteed way to get NordVPN to work in China is to set it up before you arrive.

Tip: To save yourself a lot of time and hassle, download a VPN before you arrive in China. This will ensure you'll be able to safely access your online accounts the minute you arrive.

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1. Use an Alternative Domain

NordVPN has alternative domains designed to work in countries where its website does not work – specifically China. Luckily, NordVPN's team tests these domains regularly to ensure that they work.

https://cqxqlbe.site/download/
https://nord-help.com/download/

Screenshot of NordVPN live chat feature

NordVPN offers alternative domains you can use to get NordVPN in China

2. Download an APK VPN File (Android devices only)

If for some reason my first tip doesn't work, this is another option you can try – but you'll need an Android device. To download the APK file to your Android, "sideload" it by downloading it to your computer first. You can find the APK file on NordVPN's mirror site or by typing in the file link to your address bar (NordVPN's customer support sent it to me when I enquired about it).

6 Simple Steps to Sideload the NordVPN App

Go into your device's settings and select "Apps & notifications."
Depending on your Android device, either click "Advanced" or the three dots in the top-right corner
Click on "Special app access" and select "Install unknown apps."
Type this APK file link into your address bar – https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/android/generic/nordvpn-sideload/latest/NordVPN.apk
Switch on "Allow from this source" to sideload the APK file to your Android device.
Open the file and install NordVPN.

You should be able to download the APK file without using a VPN, but if you have trouble you can ask a friend to download the APK file and send it to you by email. For this step, I simply connected my Android device to my computer by USB cable. I then transferred the APK file from my email to my device's "Downloads" folder and installed it from there.

3. "Borrow" a VPN

As a last resort, if you know someone in China who uses a VPN, ask if you can connect your device to their personal hotspot. This way, you can use their VPN-protected connection to access the NordVPN website on your device.

Have your friend connect their device to a VPN.
Get them to set up a personal hotspot. This option will be found in their device's general settings, near the WiFi settings.
Connect to their personal hotspot by choosing it from your list of WiFi connection options. You'll need to enter a password that they choose.
Visit the NordVPN website and download the app! You'll need to stay connected to the hotspot until the app has downloaded and you've completed the setup.

If you find you can't connect to NordVPN when you're in China, there are several steps you can take to fix the issue you're having.

Update NordVPN. Once you've done that, connect to servers in either Singapore, Japan, Canada, the UK, or the US. These servers have the highest chance of connecting you from China.
Check NordVPN's troubleshooting guides. If for some reason the alternate domain links aren't working, use one of NordVPN's mirror site URLs to check troubleshooting and help guides specifically for connecting from China. Keep in mind that mirror sites may change or be removed without NordVPN's knowledge. If this happens, contact customer service for updated links.
Contact NordVPN customer support. Although NordVPN has a live chat feature, you may not be able to access it from China. Send customer support an email detailing the issue and they'll do whatever they can to help you fix it. In case you can't get to the website, remember to write down the email address – [email protected]

Stay safe online with ExpressVPN

NordVPN keeps you secure with many built-in features (like AES 256-bit encryption and an automatic kill switch), but its obfuscated servers were specifically designed for countries with heavy internet censorship. Unlike regular NordVPN servers, these specialty servers make your internet traffic impossible to interpret.

Although NordVPN's servers can be used while you are in China, they will not be effective at unblocking every site you want to visit. That's why I recommend always connecting to one of the 450+ obfuscated servers every time you browse.

Tip: The NordVPN iOS app doesn't have obfuscated servers! If you're using an iPhone or iPad, you'll need to set up the OpenVPN protocol on your device before you use NordVPN in China. Alternatively, you can check out the best iOS VPN apps for China.

4 Simple Steps for Connecting to an Obfuscated Server

Get the NordVPN app for your desktop or mobile device.
Open the "Settings" menu by clicking the cog icon on the upper right side of the interface.
Click "Advanced" in the Settings menu and switch "Obfuscated servers (OpenVPN)" to the On position.

On the NordVPN main interface, under "Specialty Servers" you'll see that "Obfuscated Servers" is now an option.
Choose a server to connect to. You can click the country marker on the map to connect or choose a specific country from the "Obfuscated Server" menu.

How does NordVPN bypass China's firewall?
Can I use a free VPN in China?
Why should I use a VPN in China?
Is using a VPN legal in China?
Why does China block websites and services?
Which websites are blocked in China?
Will my VPN work on my phone in China?
Can I use other VPNs in China?

How does NordVPN work in China?

NordVPN can help you access content and services you paid for in two main ways: staying out of China physically and using a special kind of server.

Not one of NordVPN's 5,800+ servers is located inside China. This means it isn't a government-approved VPN and it doesn't have to comply with the government's regulations. It's free to disregard China's data retention requirements and content restrictions, connecting you to servers beyond China's firewall.

NordVPN also uses obfuscated servers, providing an extra layer of encryption to hide your data and your connection type. An obfuscated server disguises your connection, changing its appearance to look like a regular HTTPS connection instead of a VPN. This makes the firewall think your VPN connection is standard internet traffic, letting it pass through without restriction.

Can I use a free VPN in China?

Free is always tempting, but using a free VPN in China is both a risky and frustrating experience.

There are some secure free VPNs that are great for casual browsing and streaming but simply can't access all content or services in China. Paid VPNs make sure they aren't detected by investing in the server network. Free VPNs don't have the technology or resources available to reliably get around these blocks.

Why should I use a VPN in China?

Using the internet without a secure VPN makes you subject to government monitoring. If the government deems your activity as a threat, they can confiscate your device or even arrest you. Using a VPN ensures that you can access all your online accounts and websites you would usually have access to at home.

Keep in mind that the protection of a VPN doesn't give you license to commit illegal acts (like downloading copyrighted content), so please exercise a basic level of caution when using a VPN in China.

In 2017, China enacted new, stricter laws that increased internet censorship. The new laws require all internet companies operating within China to register with the government, including VPN services. Registered companies must follow all Chinese laws, including following the government's internet restrictions. This also means they must comply with any government-issued data requests.

Is using a VPN legal in China?

It's complicated. Technically, VPNs aren't legal unless they are government-approved. However, you risk exposing your private data to the government unless you use a VPN with a strict no-logs policy, military-grade encryption, and other security measures. In my research, I've found that fines for using a non-approved VPN apply mostly to Chinese nationals rather than foreign workers or tourists anyway.

You can legally use a VPN that is registered with the government, but I wouldn't recommend it. Using a government-approved VPN won't protect your online activity or give you access to your home country's accounts (like Gmail or Netflix). Approved VPN services have to follow government-mandated restrictions, including blocking websites and logging user data – putting your activity and data at risk.

Why does China block websites and services?

The Chinese government restricts access to the internet in the name of protecting citizens from misinformation. While the intention to shield individuals from harmful content is respectable, the restrictions have grown in scope over time.

As a result, the use of any website that posts information considered to be "against the government" is forbidden. This could include celebrity rumors, criticism of the government or party leaders, or blog posts written by activists. Many controversial events, like the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest, are censored from the Chinese internet – and any foreign sites that mention them are blocked.

Which websites are blocked in China?

The Chinese government is continually blocking popular websites that people in other countries use freely every day. As the list changes so frequently, there's no way to tell just how many websites are blocked from public view.

Popular sites blocked in China include:

Search Engines – Yahoo and Google (including Google platforms like Google Docs and Google Drive)
News providers – NY Times and BBC
Messaging sites – Gmail, WhatsApp, and Snapchat
Social media – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Streaming services – Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify
Information providers – Wikipedia and Quora

Will my VPN work on my phone in China?

VPNs don't generally work well on mobile devices in China. Your smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device uses IPSec encryption with your VPN, and this protocol can be detected. As a precaution, I suggest you download a VPN that's been proven to work on mobile devices in China.

You can get the benefits of NordVPN on your phone by connecting your mobile device to your computer with a hotspot. As long as your computer is connected to a NordVPN server, your phone connection will be protected too.

Can I use other VPNs in China?

Yes, there are a small number of VPNs that currently work in China. During my extensive testing, I found 3 VPN services (other than NordVPN) that reliably bypass China's Great Firewall:

Astrill VPN is one of the most reliable VPNs I've tested for China. It had consistently fast speeds that let me stream from my Netflix account with minimal buffering.
ExpressVPN also performed well in all its tests with good speeds, military-grade security, and its ability to access every one of my online accounts.
The third VPN I tested, PrivateVPN, has a strict no-logs policy that keeps your data secure every time you connect.

Try the best VPN for China!

With a reliable VPN, you can enjoy internet privacy and freedom. If you're traveling to China for a holiday or work, you can stay in touch with friends, continue to access your streaming subscriptions, and even catch up on your local news.