Is Telegram blocked in China?

Yes, Telegram is blocked in China. The messaging app and its website were censored in 2015 after a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on its servers in Asia Pacific, which some believe to be a state-sponsored act from China.

Tip: You can still use Telegram or other sites blocked in China if you use a VPN. Most VPNs won’t work, so pick one from our list of VPNs that work in China.

Telegram users in China who attempt to use the app without a VPN will not be able to send or receive messages.

Experts believe China targeted the app because it aided human rights lawyers in the country, who the Communist Party views as a threat. According to news reports, Telegram was used to organize support activities by these legal professionals.

Telegram is popular among rights activists and other whistleblowers due to its end-to-end encryption. That encryption means Chinese authorities cannot decipher intercepted communications. Telegram also boasts a “secret chat” feature in which messages can be set to self-destruct after a set period of time.

Blocking Western messaging apps like Telegram also funnels users to Chinese alternatives. This sort of protectionist practice can boost homegrown Chinese companies and allow authorities to better monitor behavior. WeChat is by far the most popular messaging app in China. It is closely monitored and censored by China’s internet police.

How to unblock Telegram in China

You can access Telegram in China by connecting to a VPN on your smartphone or tablet. A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts all of a device’s internet traffic and routes it through an intermediary server in a remote location of the user’s choosing. In this case, you can simply connect to a server outside of China that hasn’t been blacklisted by the Great Firewall, China’s advanced nationwide online censorship system.

VPNs are usually subscription services that require a monthly or yearly payment. Reputable VPN services give users a wide selection of servers to choose from around the world, unlimited bandwidth, strong security, and no data caps.

By connecting to a VPN server in the United States, for example, you can use Telegram as if you were in America. A VPN will also unblock the Telegram website and the app store, where you can download it from. In addition to Telegram, VPNs can unblock pretty much all the websites, apps, and other online services inaccessible in China.

China has caught on to this practice and blacklisted many VPN providers’ servers. Some still work reliably, however. Check out this list of our most highly recommended VPNs for accessing blocked content in China.

Our top VPN choice for China is NordVPN, which has 7,400+ servers stationed in more than 110 countries around the globe. The provider offers well-encrypted and fast connections. Military grade encryption and no traffic logs make it an excellent choice for the privacy-conscious. Plus, obfuscated servers are available in several countries, allowing you to keep your VPN use hidden from nosy types, like the Chinese government.

Plus NordVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free before committing. They also offer 77% off and 3 extra months free with their two-year plan.

Note: It is best to sign up for NordVPN before you go to China, as VPN provider sites sometimes get blocked, even though the VPN itself will work.

NordVPN's obfuscated servers work to access Telegram in China.

Because Telegram is primarily a mobile app, be sure to choose a VPN provider that makes an app for your device’s operating system. VPNs work on both wifi and mobile data, but wifi is generally more stable.

NordVPN provider offers easy-to-use apps for Android and iOS, as well as Windows, macOS, and Linux (command-line). Apps are also available for Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and ChromeOS devices, making it easy to keep up with your favorite shows and movies from other countries.

Once you’ve installed the app, just log in and connect to a server in the country of your choice. Once the VPN connection is established, you may access Telegram as you normally would outside of China.