Country
- 🌍 All countries 44
- Australia 1
- Brazil 1
- Canada 0
- China 11
- Egypt 0
- Eritrea 1
- France 0
- Germany 2
- Global (Riot Games sanctioned tournaments) 0
- Greece 0
- Hong Kong 0
- India 1
- Iran 7
- Iraq 0
- Italy 1
- Japan 0
- Kuwait 0
- Netherlands 1
- Nigeria 1
- North Korea 2
- Norway 0
- Pakistan 1
- Qatar 0
- Russia 9
- Saudi Arabia 0
- Singapore 0
- Spain 1
- Thailand 0
- Turkey 1
- Turkmenistan 1
- UAE 0
- UK 0
- USA 2
Category
- All categories 17
- Apps & Websites 11
- Books 0
- Activities & Laws 0
- Products 0
- Food & Drink 0
- Games 1
- Movies & TV 5
- Music 0
- Clothing & Symbols 0
Fully blocked in September 2017, ahead of a major Communist Party congress. Its end-to-end encryption means the state cannot read messages. It has stayed blocked since.
- Status
- Banned
- Country
- China
- Category
- Apps & Websites
- Banned since
- 2017
- Last checked
- 02/11/2026
Yes. WhatsApp has been blocked in mainland China since September 2017. It was the last major app owned by Facebook (now Meta) that still worked in China, and its loss completed the company’s exclusion from the country.
A block in two steps
In July 2017, users in China found they could no longer send photos, videos or voice messages on WhatsApp, although text still worked. In late September, text messages stopped too. Security researchers told Engadget that China’s censors appeared to have learned how to detect and block the encrypted protocol WhatsApp uses for messages. The block came weeks before the Communist Party’s 19th National Congress in October 2017, a period of tight security.
Why China blocked WhatsApp
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, so neither the company nor the government can read message content. Chinese law requires platforms to censor content and give the authorities access to data, which WhatsApp could not do. At the same time, China was cracking down on unlicensed VPNs, making it harder to reach blocked apps.
WeChat fills the gap
Most people in China never relied on WhatsApp. WeChat, from Tencent, dominates messaging, payments and much of daily life, and it operates under Chinese rules. Foreigners living in or visiting China, and Chinese people with family abroad, were the ones most affected.
Can you use WhatsApp in China?
Only with a VPN, and the government licenses VPNs and blocks many of them. Travellers are usually advised to set one up before arriving. WhatsApp works normally in Hong Kong and Macau.
WhatsApp joined Facebook and Instagram behind the Great Firewall. Other encrypted messengers, such as Signal, are also blocked. Russia blocked WhatsApp too, in February 2026. See the China page for more.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WhatsApp banned in China?
Yes. WhatsApp has been blocked in mainland China since September 2017. It still works in Hong Kong and Macau.
Why did China block WhatsApp?
WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption means the authorities cannot read or censor messages. China restricted its features in July 2017 and fully blocked it in September 2017, ahead of a major Communist Party congress.
Can you use WhatsApp in China with a VPN?
Often yes, but China licenses VPNs and blocks many of them, so access can be unreliable. Travellers usually set up a VPN before arriving.
What do people in China use instead of WhatsApp?
WeChat, owned by Tencent, which combines messaging, payments and social features and operates under Chinese rules.