ExpressVPN often works in China, but not always. It obfuscates every VPN connection automatically, which is why expats have relied on it for years. Since April 2026, when Chinese authorities told network providers to shut out VPN services, reports from users in China have been split: some connect normally, others lose access for days. On its Hong Kong server, ExpressVPN recorded 133.56 Mbps and carried WhatsApp calls in our November tests, so plan on it as a main VPN with a backup ready.
How to Set Up ExpressVPN for China in November 2026
- Subscribe to ExpressVPN and install it on every device at home, since expressvpn.com doesn’t load in China.
- Open Profile and set the protocol to Automatic. ExpressVPN recommends it for China.
- Check that the kill switch is enabled under Profile, so traffic stops if the VPN drops.
- Connect to a nearby location such as Hong Kong, Japan, or Singapore, or to one on ExpressVPN’s recommended list.
- Install a second VPN as a backup for days when ExpressVPN won’t connect.
Does ExpressVPN Work in China in 2026?
Yes, most of the time, though less predictably than before. The April 2026 order to China’s network providers made every VPN less dependable, and ExpressVPN is no exception. It has fared better than most VPNs since, but it still fails on some networks and around politically sensitive dates, when filtering increases. ExpressVPN doesn’t promise uninterrupted access either.
China blocks Google, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, and most Western news sites, and the Great Firewall detects standard VPN traffic. A VPN that works in China has to disguise its connection, and ExpressVPN does that on every server without any setting to change.
How ExpressVPN Handles the Great Firewall
Obfuscation is built into every ExpressVPN server and protocol. It disguises the VPN connection as regular HTTPS traffic, so deep packet inspection has less to detect. There’s no toggle: the protection applies whether you connect over Lightway, its own protocol, or OpenVPN. The Automatic protocol setting lets the app choose the connection method that gets through on each network.
The rest of ExpressVPN’s privacy setup supports it: RAM-only servers that wipe data on every reboot, a no-logs policy that KPMG audited in 2025, and a kill switch enabled by default. Beyond the Great Firewall, the same setup helps on other blocked websites and restrictive networks.
What Our Tests Showed
We tested ExpressVPN from Europe in November on the Hong Kong server, the closest location to mainland China:
- Speed: 133.56 Mbps download and 16.97 Mbps upload with obfuscation, on a 190.36 Mbps connection.
- WhatsApp: texts, photos, and voice and video calls went through on a Galaxy S26 Ultra, and calls connected immediately with minor stutters.
- Connection time: one to two seconds, the quickest of any VPN we’ve timed.
- Kill switch: no traffic escaped when we pulled the cable or ended the app’s process.
A test from Europe shows how ExpressVPN performs over a Hong Kong server. It can’t reproduce the Great Firewall, so expect retries from the mainland.
Setting Up ExpressVPN Before You Travel
Subscribe and install ExpressVPN at home. ExpressVPN’s early-2026 redesign removed the old Settings menu. The protocol, kill switch, and split tunneling are now under Profile, and the ad blocker is under Add-ons. Set the protocol to Automatic and leave the kill switch enabled. ExpressVPN’s China support page lists recommended locations, recently including Yokohama in Japan, Marina Bay in Singapore, Los Angeles and Santa Monica in the US, and Wembley in the UK.
Note them before you fly, because that page is blocked in China. Smart Location, which picks a server for you, is another choice when a listed location fails. A connection to another country gives you that country’s IP address. Our guide to changing your VPN location covers how location affects which sites load.
ExpressVPN Not Working in China?
- Change location. Rotate between Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the US West Coast, since single servers get blocked.
- Return the protocol to Automatic if you changed it, or try Lightway over TCP on networks that block UDP.
- Install updates before the trip. Updating from China is unreliable.
- Ask support for a mirror link. ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat and email support can send a download link that works in China.
- Switch to your backup VPN. NordVPN offers obfuscated servers in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore.
ExpressVPN or Astrill VPN for China?
Astrill VPN has a strong following among long-term residents in China, mainly for its StealthVPN protocol. It costs several times more, though, at about $30 on a monthly plan, and some of its most useful features are paid add-ons. ExpressVPN includes obfuscation in every plan and costs under $3 a month when you pay for two years of the Basic plan. Our Astrill VPN vs ExpressVPN comparison covers the two in detail.
Can I Download ExpressVPN in China?
Not easily. ExpressVPN’s site doesn’t load in China, and Apple pulled VPN apps from its Chinese App Store in 2017. Three workarounds exist:
- A mirror link: ExpressVPN’s support team can email a download link that loads in China.
- Hong Kong: the Great Firewall doesn’t cover it, so the website and app stores load normally.
- A foreign Apple ID: an account registered in another country can download the iPhone app.
Is It Legal to Use ExpressVPN in China?
Technically no. China allows only government-approved VPNs, and ExpressVPN isn’t one. Enforcement has focused on people who sell VPN access, and fines for individual users are occasional and rarely involve foreign visitors. The April 2026 crackdown targeted VPN infrastructure rather than travelers. This page offers general information only, not legal advice.
Verdict
ExpressVPN remains one of the VPNs most likely to connect in China, because its obfuscation requires no setup and applies to every server. It isn’t the certainty it once was: since April 2026, some users in China report days without a working connection. On our Hong Kong test, it delivered fast speeds and stable WhatsApp calls. Install it before you travel, keep the protocol on Automatic, note the recommended locations, and set up a second VPN. Our ExpressVPN review covers its performance outside China.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ExpressVPN still work in China?
Yes, ExpressVPN usually works in China because it automatically obfuscates every server. Connections have become less predictable since the April 2026 crackdown, so a second VPN is a sensible backup.
What is the best ExpressVPN server for China?
Nearby locations such as Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore usually connect fastest. ExpressVPN also publishes a recommended list that includes Yokohama, Marina Bay, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Wembley.
Does ExpressVPN have servers in China?
No, ExpressVPN has no servers in mainland China. Its nearest locations are Hong Kong, which the Great Firewall doesn't cover, plus Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Why is ExpressVPN not working in China?
The Great Firewall blocks individual servers and increases filtering around sensitive dates. Changing location, keeping the protocol on Automatic, and updating the app before travel fix most failures.
Is ExpressVPN owned by a Chinese company?
No, ExpressVPN has belonged to Kape Technologies, a UK-based company, since 2021. It operates from the British Virgin Islands and has had its no-logs policy independently audited.
