How to unblock Microsoft Teams in China, UAE, Iran, or elsewhere

Microsoft Teams is a critical application for many organisations and individuals. This causes a huge headache when it’s blocked. The good news? You can use a VPN to unblock Microsoft Teams in China, the UAE, Cuba, Iran, North Korea (DPRK), Sudan, and Syria.

Remote work depends on Teams, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint working reliably. Unfortunately, users in China and the UAE often find Teams blocked when traveling for work or on vacation. A VPN lets you pretend to be back home, so you can make VoIP calls on Teams and log in to access all your Microsoft Teams projects from anywhere.

China’s Great Firewall forces ISPs to block or throttle many Western services, including Microsoft 365 sign-ins, Teams VoIP, and the Microsoft Authenticator app. Internet restrictions in China make logging in, receiving MFA codes, and using Microsoft apps impossible unless you use a VPN.

In the UAE, many VoIP services are restricted, and Teams calling is often limited. Teams Direct Routing is an organisation-level solution for lawful PSTN calling, but your employer must implement it with a licensed local carrier and an SBC. If your organisation can’t set that up, or you only need app-to-app Teams calling, a reputable VPN is the best fix.

Keep reading to learn how to unblock Microsoft Teams and which VPNs we recommend.

Why is Teams blocked in China and some other countries?

In some instances, Microsoft Teams is blocked alongside other Western services such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter. China’s government enforces sweeping censorship for political and cultural reasons, so the Great Firewall actively blocks many Western platforms.

Censorship is one reason. Authorities in some countries restrict content and communications platforms they consider politically sensitive. A second reason is the protection of local telecom revenue. In countries such as the UAE, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, the government holds a significant stake in the local telecommunications industry. These countries don’t want consumers making free VoIP calls. That’s why they restrict calling on apps like Microsoft Teams, Viber, Telegram, Zoom, and FaceTime.

Note that in countries that block VoIP specifically (by blocking ports or using DPI), text messaging and other Teams features may still be available.

A third reason Teams might be unavailable overseas is due to US sanctions. When governments impose export controls, Microsoft and other vendors must cut or limit services in regions such as Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria – usually for legal and political reasons.

If you visit a country that blocks Teams or other Western apps, you will need a VPN to obtain an IP address from your home country.

What are the best VPNs for Microsoft Teams?

In a rush to get the best VPN for Microsoft Teams? Below, you can see which VPNs work best to unblock Teams and VoIP calling in countries where they are blocked.

1. NordVPN: Best VPN for Teams. It has fast servers for streaming and making video calls, as well as a large server network that can bypass censorship in any country.
2. Surfshark: Best Teams VPN for people on a budget.  Surfshark is a highly reliable and speedy VPN that is perfect for bypassing blocks abroad.
3. IPVanish: An excellent all-round VPN with many advanced features and a massive choice of US server locations.
4. ExpressVPN: Ideal for users seeking a highly effective premium VPN. Works to unlock Teams, WhatsApp, Viber, Zoom, and other restricted calling apps.
5. PrivateVPN: Strong on privacy. Private VPN offers easy unlocking from anywhere in the world.

How to unblock Microsoft Teams with a VPN

If you are living in or visiting a country where Teams is blocked, you can regain access with a VPN.

Here’s how to use Teams in the UAE, China, or elsewhere:

1. Choose a VPN that works to unblock Teams. Many VPNs fail in the UAE and China, so you must pick carefully. We recommend NordVPN, as it is fast and reliable. Alternatively, Surfshark is highly secure and represents unbeatable value for money.
2. Subscribe to the VPN. You can get a large discount by following the link in this guide. We have agreed on a coupon code for our readers, meaning you’ll get a steep discount by clicking our links.
3. Download and install the VPN app. Our recommendations have apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. This ensures you can unblock Teams on any device.
4. Connect to a server in a country where Teams is not blocked. A US or EU server is usually the best option to bypass blocks on Teams and other VoIP calling apps. If you don’t know which server is optimized for Teams, contact your VPN’s live chat support.
5. Launch the Microsoft Teams app or teams.microsoft.com. You should be able to log in and use the app without restrictions, thanks to your VPN.

That’s it! If calling is still blocked, try a different server or switch protocols in the VPN app. Some servers unblock chat but not VoIP. If the VPN is failing with the standalone Teams app, we advise testing the website instead. Still stuck? Clear your cookies and cache. Trackers left in your browser during previous sessions can cause a conflict with your VPN. Once these have been cleared, everything should work as hoped.

Where is Microsoft Teams blocked?

Are you having problems using Microsoft Teams to make calls or access work projects? To help you out, we’ve included a list of countries that are either blocking or have a history of blocking Microsoft services and apps. You can use this list to identify whether you need a VPN:

China

Teams is blocked and throttled by the Great China Firewall to control content, enforce surveillance, and limit cross-border communications. Microsoft 365 sign-ins and the Microsoft Authenticator App are frequently affected.

• Duration: Long-standing and persistent. Teams access problems are continuous rather than temporary.
• Still blocked? Yes. Chat and some Microsoft services may work, but signing in to Teams usually fails without a VPN.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

In the UAE, regulators tightly control VoIP to protect licensed carriers and telecom revenue. Skype faced long-standing blocks, and authorities restrict Teams calling unless providers use lawful routing (Teams Direct Routing).

• Duration: Long-standing policy with consistent blocks on VoIP calling features in Teams and many other platforms.
• Still blocked? Partial. Teams app and chat usually work, but VoIP/PSTN calling is blocked unless you use Teams Direct Routing with an approved carrier or a VPN.

Turkey

Blocks in Turkey on Teams and other Western services, such as social media, are usually occasional and temporary. During elections, protests, or other flashpoints, authorities often order social and cloud services offline for political reasons.

• Duration: Episodic and targeted, usually tied to specific events.
• Still blocked? Expect intermittent throttling or temporary restrictions.

Iran

In Iran, the government controls internet access with strict censorship and access restrictions. This leads to periodic shutdowns and sanctions against Western internet services.

• Duration: Intermittent. Netizens in Iran experience recurring outages and selective blocking during protests or other politically motivated events.
• Still blocked? Partial. Access is unreliable with many Microsoft cloud services and other Western services blocked intermittently.

Cuba

In Cuba, export controls and sanctions limit the official availability of Microsoft online services.

• Duration: Long-standing, policy-driven blocks caused by US sanctions.
• Still blocked? Yes.

North Korea (DPRK)

National isolation and international sanctions mean no official access to Microsoft cloud services and various other Western platforms and services.

• Duration: Permanent
• Still blocked? Yes.

Sudan

Sanctions and export-control rules restrict Microsoft services and other platforms.

• Duration: Policy-driven and long-running.
• Still blocked? Yes.

Syria

Sanctions and legal restrictions prevent normal service availability. This means you will need a VPN to use Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and other services in Syria.

• Duration: Longstanding, tied to export controls.
• Still blocked? Yes.

Russia

Since 2022, many vendors have paused sales and services in Russia to comply with sanctions. In addition, the Russian government is using the Yarovaya laws to push users toward local alternatives and to require businesses to store data locally for surveillance and law-enforcement access.

• Duration: Geopolitical blocks that have been evolving since 2022
• Still blocked? Mixed. Some functionality may be restricted, requiring a VPN.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf states

VoIP restrictions exist to protect government profits tied to local telecom business models in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf states.

• Duration: Longstanding, but enforcement varies by country.
• Still blocked? Partial. Calling is often restricted, but other features may work.

Why can’t I log in to Microsoft 365 in China?

If you are locked out of Microsoft 365 while visiting China, this could be for a number of reasons:

• Network restrictions: China’s Great Firewall can throttle or block Microsoft services. This could cause sign-in failures, slow file sync, or no access to VoIP. You can use a VPN to restore access.
• Account issues: Microsoft may lock your account or demand extra verification after suspicious sign-in activity. Complete the verification steps or contact your employer’s IT team to restore access.
• Device limit exceeded: Microsoft 365 Personal allows sign-ins on up to five devices. If you’ve reached the limit, you may need to sign out from another device or remove one from your account settings.

If you’re in China, the Great Firewall is a likely cause. It blocks or throttles many Western sites and services. If that’s the issue, a secure VPN will usually restore access.

Can I unblock Teams with a free VPN?

Although you might be able to find a free VPN that lets you log in and use Teams, there are important caveats – especially if you’re in the UAE, China, Russia, or another country where bypassing blocks could lead to repercussions.

Free VPNs typically operate with small server networks and often reuse IP addresses. That makes servers overcrowded and slow, or simply too insecure to guarantee privacy. As a result, you may have problems making a Teams call: choppy audio, frozen video, and even dropped calls.

Many free VPN plans also cap monthly data, which makes them unsuitable for regular video calls – you’ll burn through your allowance fast. Users needing regular access to calls and projects in Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 will definitely be better off with a paid, unlimited-use VPN.

Even a reputable free VPN, such as ProtonVPN’s free tier, will often be too slow for calls. If you try a free plan, stick to a recommended, fully vetted provider rather than a random app from Google Play. ProtonVPN’s free tier or Windscribe are our top recommended free VPNs.

Using a Free VPN for Teams could be dangerous

Security is also a worry when using random free VPNs. Dozens of free VPNs leak DNS or IPv6, lack proper encryption, or have other vulnerabilities that can expose your activity to local networks, ISPs, or government agencies. Some free providers log invasively or include data-sharing clauses in their policies, allowing them to expose your activity later.

Using untrusted, randomly picked free VPNs to bypass blocks can come back to bite you. For that reason, we strongly recommend paid, audited providers with strong encryption, leak protection, a kill switch, and a clear no-logs policy. Check local law and your employer’s policy before you try to bypass regional restrictions.

Is it legal to bypass Microsoft Teams blocks?

This largely depends on your location in the world. In some countries, using a VPN to bypass government blocks could be considered unlawful. The important thing to remember, however, is that in most places it is what you do with a VPN, rather than having a VPN, that is illegal. This means that a reputable, secure VPN will significantly reduce the chance that anybody will be able to figure out what you are doing online.

Under normal circumstances, VPN encryption will usually prevent local networks, ISPs, and casual government monitoring from tracking your activity. That said, sophisticated surveillance, a compromised device, or targeted attacks (like time-correlation attacks) can still uncover your activities.

If you live in a country where Microsoft Teams is freely available and want to keep communicating with colleagues, friends, or family while travelling, chances are that authorities will not take action if you sign in and use Teams via a VPN. That said, we still recommend using a reputable provider with strong encryption and a strict no-logs policy. This stops local networks and ISPs from seeing what you do, making it the safest way to bypass blocks without raising flags.

Consider local laws

If you’re in China, the UAE, or Russia, be especially careful. Bypassing blocks to make free calls, evade censorship, or engage in political activism can carry serious legal risk. In these countries, even using a VPN for a legal purpose, such as protecting yourself against hackers on public wifi, could be enough to raise suspicions. This is why it is essential to use a secure VPN that is free of IP or DNS leaks.

Ultimately, we recommend that you research local regulations in the country or region you will be traveling to. This helps you determine whether a government is censoring the service locally or whether sanctions by the US or another country on Microsoft are causing the block.

We are not legal experts, and nothing in this guide should be taken as legal advice. Use of a VPN is your choice and at your own risk. Check local laws and your employer’s policies before using a VPN to access Microsoft Teams.

Frequently asked questions