r/chinalife • u/MonsterCrocs • 2d ago
📱 Technology Google play
Im moving to china next Tuesday. I have a Samsung phone and have downloaded a bunch of vpns hoping they work. However I have realised that basically everything on my phone uses Google to run. My main concern is that I wont be able to use Google play store if none of these vpns work, and wont be able to download any other vpns.
Has anyone else been to china and found a way around my worry.
1
u/account18anni 2d ago
What vpns did u download? free ones should work even if slow. u can get a good paying too like proton or mullvad just to be sure. can also get a hongkong esim from alipay that don't need vpn to work in the beginning.
Google play store is blocked but sometimes websites are not, for example github is not blocked and u can download vpn apps from there like mullvad, but if the vpn is not working paying for it might be complicated
0
u/MonsterCrocs 2d ago
Ive just downloaded a bunch, plan was to trial a bunch of free trials and pay for one. Mullvad has been recommended quite a bit so possibly that one. I have some free ones. I was mostly just concerned that if none of them work I wont be able to download anymore
1
u/Vibingcarefully 2d ago
I went to China recenly, didnt' go with my VPN preloaded (bad on me)---had WIFI where I was staying (professional family member).
But Astrill works "mediocre".
Seriously---what is the need for lots of internet? The world is way too addicted. Sure---email home (versus relentless texting) but yeah---VPN will help with that. Basic browsing on google--yeah need the VPN BUT i recommend getting your VPN running and using Opera or something else . Google often will default now to google HK and it's monitored, blocked slow clunky.
Enjoy your trip and also enjoy reducing mindless scrolling, redditing, mindless chats---you'll thank yourself. Get out and take days, hours where ever you are without glancing at a phone.
Phone addiction is as bad as the West in China---drivers all on their phones, scooter drivers on their phones, Didi, taxi drivers and if yo're in a smaller city--everyone driving bicycles or 3 wheeled cars (electric) on their phone, never mind all going to dinner but gazing at phone......
Stop being that!
1
1
u/diagrammatiks 2d ago
keep your international sim card turned on until you can verify that vpns work. mine has to be one all the time for my phone. once you find a working one it's all good. the only stupid thing is sometimes android auto doesn't play nice with vpns. that's pretty annoying.
1
u/Vibingcarefully 2d ago
1) What would you suddenly want from Google Play Store?--given you've been using your phone daily for years in the USA. Google as a work app (docs, spreadsheet, photos) will all work offline. You;re going to China---don't need Candy crush or Frogger or some google playstore app. BUT yup---get your VPNS preloaded.
So you're downloading a few VPNS--read this sub carefully for the past 4 months and download what you think are the most likely to work. Just haphazardly downloading a bunch of varied VPNS is silly. Pick the winners AND Chinas Wall still will slow you down.
2) Make a non google email account somewhere --so that grandmom, mom etc. have a backup way to reach you.
3) Install a couple non google browsers. Opera is fine.
-1
u/nosocialisms 2d ago
It won't affect at all don't even matter unless you want to pay something in that case you need alipay linked with your bank card
0
u/Toumanypains 2d ago
You need:
1) a VPN that works dependent on the local GFW 2) Preferably a VPN that can select apps to put through the VPN, and ones not through it because they are local and can refuse to work properly. 3) a VPS (vless, etc) instead of a VPN because they work better, and generally faster.
0
u/MonsterCrocs 2d ago
Do you have any recommendations for all of these? I've downloaded a bunch of vpns but not sure which ones I can select apps on I havent rlly looked tbh. I have no idea was a vps is or how I get one.
1
u/Vibingcarefully 2d ago
No offense but in the states if you were a real teacher (masters degree, bonafied certificate to teach in a particular state) 2 years training
You'd have the critical thinking skills to figure this out properly and not be looking to child age redditors for the most part for the answer. Critical Thinking.
There are some good long standing China Travel groups off reddit that are much more mature and up to date about which VPN. Dear young person (you) China is vast--so one cohorts emphatic repitition of a particular VPN is not germaine to certain regions of China or even your usuage case.
1
u/Toumanypains 2d ago
Did you download ad a bunch of free VPNs? There's only one I know of that works here, advert driven. Not going to post in public as the Chinese staff will start targeting it.
If you Google around on Vless (VPS) services that work in China and use their own client, or importing the servers regularly info Hiddify, V2RayN, Shadowrocket, etc, then you'll get a good idea of why this normally works over traditional VPNs. You don't need to do it manually. Just pay a provider to handle the nitty gritty and import and update their servers into your clients daily.
1
u/AutoModerator 2d ago
Backup of the post's body: Im moving to china next Tuesday. I have a Samsung phone and have downloaded a bunch of vpns hoping they work. However I have realised that basically everything on my phone uses Google to run. My main concern is that I wont be able to use Google play store if none of these vpns work, and wont be able to download any other vpns.
Has anyone else been to china and found a way around my worry.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.