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How to access WeChat after ban and keep using it anywhere
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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What is WeChat?
What does WeChat’s ban mean?
How to access WeChat after ban?
Use a VPN
After connecting to a non-US server, you should be able to use WeChat without restriction. Keep in mind that India has also banned this app, so choosing an Indian VPN server might not work.
Private Internet Access
It’s worth mentioning that, reportedly, Indian users also swap SIM cards to access WeChat. We doubt that US mobile network providers will attempt to block WeChat usage, but the truth is that anything could happen.
Private Internet Access has a huge network of servers (more than 11,000), so if one server doesn’t seem to work with WeChat, just choose another one and try again.
Download WeChat from third-parties (sideloading)
After the ban sets in place, you won’t be able to download and install WeChat from Google’s or Apple’s app stores. On the other hand, you can use non-app-store sources to download the app.
There are several websites that host app files (APK, IPA) but sideloading involves certain security risks. Granted, you can do it easier on Androids, but there’s still the risk of downloading and deploying malware to your phone.
Bottom line, we wouldn’t recommend sideloading WeChat or any other potentially unsafe app to your phone.
Use a SmartDNS service
Usually, SmartDNS tools can help you unblock geo-restricted streaming websites such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. However, a less-known fact is that SmartDNS services can also unblock social media websites.
Thus, it’s possible that it could also be used to unblock WeChat.
However, note that, as opposed to using a VPN, a SmartDNS service won’t encrypt your connection. Therefore, your traffic will still be pretty much visible to your ISP, which might put your privacy at risk.
More so, a SmartDNS service won’t change your IP. Thus, if your ISP decides to restrict WeChat usage based on yourIP address, a SmartDNS might not be useful at all.
Final thoughts on accessing WeChat after the ban
To sum things up, despite it being banned in the US, WeChat can still be accessed, even on US soil. You just need a tool to circumvent geoblocking, such as a VPN.
Other tools such as SmartDNS might also work in this situation, but they’re way less secure than a VPN, and don’t change your IP address.
Last, but not least, if you’re not a fan of either VPNs or SmartDNS services, you can try downloading apps on your PC and sideloading them to your phone, although we don’t recommend this practice due to security concerns.
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Vlad Constantinescu
Vlad might have a degree in Animal Husbandry and Livestock Management, but he’s currently rocking anything software related, ranging from testing programs to writing in-depth reviews about them.
He spent 3-4 years as a software editor at Softpedia and another year as a VPN specialist before he landed his current job as an author at Windows Report.
In his free time, Vlad enjoys playing guitar, doing jigsaw puzzles, researching cybersecurity, and even having a good read on rainy days.
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