Does Gmail Work In China

If you use Gmail for business or personal email, you need to know that all Google Apps in China are being blocked. This means that in order for you to use Gmail in China in 2020, you need to take some extra steps. How do I use Gmail in China?

Is Gmail blocked in China?

Yes, Gmail has been blocked in China. It's not just Gmail, China is blocking all Google apps, including YouTube, Blogger. Google Sheets, Google Docs, etc. Any apps owned and hosted by Google are currently inaccessible in China.

How do I use Gmail in China?

So if Gmail is blocked in China, how will I be able to access it every day?

I use Gmail in China the same way as almost every ex-pat who has lived in China over the last decade. I use a virtual private network, or "VPN". At the risk of sounding technical, a VPN is basically a direct encrypted connection to another computer server. By connecting to a server outside of China and then using that server to access the Internet, you are able to bypass Chinese Internet censorship! system. China has been cracking down on VPN use for years, but has never labeled it as "illegal". They try to stop Chinese people from using VPNs, but honestly, they don't care about us foreigners using them.

Using Gmail in China

Solving Gmail's problems in China with a VPN is a no-brainer. If your company doesn't already provide you with a VPN, purchase a personal VPN like ExpressVPN. It's then cheap and easy to use to bypass censorship.

The truth is that email is not as common in China as it is in the Western world. The Chinese prefer the business to message apps like WeChat, and they really don't care if Gmail is blocked. However, for us expats, it's often an essential part of communication.

How can I access my Gmail account from China?

Gmail and all other Google services are blocked in China. Therefore, in order to be able to access your Gmail account from China, you must download and install a VPN.

What is the alternative to Gmail in China?

At present, in terms of email providers, China mainly focuses on gmail. As a result, almost any other email provider should be able to work.

In general, it's best to avoid large email providers like Hotmail, because the larger they are, the more likely they are to be targeted and blocked.

Can travelers use Gmail in China?

If you're a traveler or resident, it doesn't make any difference, because China just blocks all IP addresses that try to access Gmail from China.

Besides a VPN, is there any other way to check your Gmail in China?

A temporary solution might be to forward your Gmail address to another email address that is not blocked in China (there are many, because China seems to block Gmail mainly).

At this point, you can log in to the email account that forwards Gmail and view the email that arrives in Gmail inbox. However, please note that if you reply to emails from this new address, people will see that they are from the new address, not gmail.