Does PureVPN Work in China in 2023?

PureVPN happens to work great for the people of China and Chinese expats that are living outside of China. Unfortunately, some users reported having troubles connecting to PureVPN's Chinese servers from overseas, but the VPN continues working perfectly fine for users within the mainland.

how-to-use-PureVPN-in-China

China has become the epitome of Internet censorship. For freedom-loving netizens, China conjures up an image of a dystopian and authoritarian society where the population has little control over the kind of content they can consume. To regain some of that freedom, China VPN can get you through many blocked services in the country.

In this PureVPN china review, I will focus on one particular provider: PureVPN. I will describe how you can set up this VPN, the key benefits it offers particularly in relation to bypassing the Great Firewall of China, and solutions to some of the common problems that citizens face. You can check more best VPN which works performs well as well in China.

PureVPN and the Great Firewall of China

PureVPN is one of the few VPNs that work in China. However, we have received reports of users experiencing trouble getting PureVPN to work when connecting to Chinese servers from abroad in the wake of recent tensions in Hong Kong and China with the passing of the national security bill that threatens Hong Kong’s autonomy from China.

The great thing is that PureVPN is continuing to work fine within China.

PureVPN for China

PureVPN has always differentiated itself from others by its ability to hop user traffic over the GFW and provide individuals in Chinese territories access to content from overseas.

It offers the best geographical coverage with its server base having a presence in more than 140 countries. Within China, it offers servers located in major cities i.e. Beijing, Guangdong, and Shanghai. In addition, its servers in nearby locations such as Hong Kong which is quite effective in permitting users access to content beyond the wall. It’s also one of the best VPN providers for Taiwan, that you can use to bypass restrictions and firewalls.

However, users trying to connect to these servers from outside China have reported experiencing troubles trying to connect. This is an on-going problem that hasn’t yet been fixed at the time of this writing. But users that are situated within China are still getting full functionality without any issues.

Pros of PureVPN
  • Servers located in China and geographically close locations
  • Advanced tunneling protocols for bypassing the GFW
  • Strong encryption for the security of user traffic

Cons of PureVPN
  • Connecting to certain China-appropriate servers can take multiple attempts

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How to Setup PureVPN in China

PureVPN can be installed on a wide range of devices including PCs, Macs, and smartphones quite easily. Here is the PureVPN setup for China:

  1. Subscribe to PureVPN and click the “Get PureVPN” button.
  2. Choose from the available packages.
  3. Select your preferred payment option.
  4. You will receive an e-mail with your login details as soon as you have purchased the VPN.
  5. Download the PureVPN China app on your device.
  6. Install it and enter your credentials to log in.
  7. Connect to a server appropriate for China and get unlimited access to the web.

Benefits of Using PureVPN in China

PureVPN is a great China VPN that has a wide set of features that enhance the online security of users in China while providing access to a blocked website. Some of the key benefits it offers are:

  • Break the GFW of China: The most important attribute of PureVPN is that it can turn the GFW transparent to incoming foreign traffic. The GFW blocks social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter as well as many other news websites. PureVPN is perfectly capable of unlocking all these services wherever you may be located in China.
  • Ensure Privacy and Security Online: PureVPN uses strong AES-256 bit encryption which makes it virtually impossible for any third party to decode your data and traffic on the web. This can ward off potential cyber-attacks and government espionage. The zero-logging policy also effectively guards the online activity sessions of users.
  • Speed: Our test results prove PureVPN to be a fast service to allow a smooth experience when accessing websites and watching streaming services.
  • Access VoIP Services: Social media is not the only platform that China finds objectionable. VoIP services such as Google Talk, WhatsApp, and Skype are also blocked in the country. PureVPN’s powerful servers can unblock these services and allow users to communicate through long-distances at low cost with these apps.
  • Unblock torrents: PureVPN flawlessly works with torrents by enabling access to restricted p2p sites. There are over 50 server locations compatible with torrenting which work well with BitTorrent clients and allow fast downloading.
  • Access Netflix: With its streaming optimized servers, you can easily deploy PureVPN to unblock US Netflix. This makes it a great option for streaming fans that don’t want to be restricted to Netflix content only available in their geographical region.
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Users can also enjoy PureVPN’s trial to see if the VPN proves satisfactory for their needs. If not, then they can easily cancel PureVPN and even get your refund within 31 days of subscription.

Although the VPN performs well most of the time, no service is perfect. Issues arise from time to time, and if you find that PureVPN has stopped running for any reason, you can contact their customer support through live chat.

Users that prefer long-term commitment can also keep an eye for PureVPN 5-year subscription, which the provider releases from time to time with the cheapest rates in the long run.

PureVPN Android app not working in China, check out these troubleshooting steps

Although PureVPN for China works flawlessly, for the most part, I’m still adding a few alternative manual configurations methods for Android, Mac, and Windows. You can also setup PureVPN on Fire TV, Kodi, routers, and Roku as explained separately in each guide.

Here’s how to use PureVPN in China with alternative configurations:

Android IKEV Manual Configuration

Download the StrongSwan app from the Google Play Store.

Strongswan-android-app

  1. Now launch the app and then tap on Add VPN profile.
  2. Now you’ll need to enter a China compatible VPN server address. To do so, you’ll need to contact their Exclusive live chat support. Do note that this is not the ordinary live chat support available on the PureVPN website, instead, this team deals with China-specific PureVPN issues.purevpn-china-exclusive-live-chat-support
  3. Now choose the VPN type. Select Ikev2 EAP (username/password).
  4. Next, enter PureVPN provided credentials in the Username and Password fields.
  5. Next, check the CA certificate.
  6. Profile Name: PureVPN Ikev2 (you may type anything).
  7. Now tap on show advanced settings and type in server identity: pointtoserver.com
  8. Finally, hit save and then connect to the newly created Ikev2 profile.

To verify your new IP, head over to www.ipaddress.com

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Android IPsec Configuration

  1. First things first head over to the settings option on your Android phoneandroid-ipsec-configuration
  2. Now look for a VPN
  3. Now where it says Name, type in PureVPN IPsec
  4. Now select type as IPSec Xauth PSK from the drop-down menu
  5. Now type in a China compatible server address. You can get one by contacting PureVPN’s China-Exclusive live chat support.
  6. Enter IPSec pre-shared key as 12345678
  7. Next, tap on Save
  8. Now tap on PureVPN IPSEC
  9. Enter Username and Password provided by PureVPN
  10. Finally, hit “Save account information” and tap on Connect

Android OpenVPN Solution

For the OpenVPN solution, you’ll need to download PureVPN Alpha. Since this app isn’t available on the app store, you’ll have to use the following dropbox links:

Once you’ve downloaded the PureVPN Alpha.APK file, just follow the steps below.

purevpn-alpha-installed

  1. Install the downloaded .APK file
  2. Once the app successfully installs, tap on OPEN
  3. Now enter your PureVPN Username and Password > tap login and then hit OK on the prompt that pops uppurevpn-alpha-login
  4. Next, tap the connect button on the screen and wait a few seconds for the connection to establish

purevpn-alpha-connect-server

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MAC IKEV Manual Configuration

  1. First things first, power up your Mac > click on the Apple icon and select “System Preferences”mac-system-prefrences
  2. Now click on Networkmac-network-settings
  3. Next, click on the + icon to create a new servicemac-add-new-service
  4. Now from the interface drop-down menu, select “VPN”purevpn-mac-IKEv2-configuration
  5. From VPN Type drop-down menu select IKEv2
  6. Now enter the Service Name as PureVPN IKEv2
  7. Next, click on Create
  8. Now enter a China-compatible server address in Server Address box. You can get one by contacting PureVPN’s China-exclusive live chat support.purevpn-mac-IKEv2-configuration
  9. Under Remote ID, enter pointtoserver.com
  10. Leave the Local ID field blank
  11. Now check to mark the “Show VPN status on Menu bar” option
  12. Next, click on “Authentication Settings
  13. Now select Username from the Authentication Settings drop-down menu and insert the Username and Password provided by PureVPNpurevpn-mac-IKEv2-configuration 3
  14. Next, click on OK and then hit Applypurevpn-mac-IKEv2-configuration 4
  15. Now click on the VPN status icon from the menu bar and select “Show Time Connected”purevpn-mac-IKEv2-configuration 5
  16. Finally, click on Connect, and the VPN connection will establish in a few seconds.purevpn-mac-IKEv2-configuration 6

MAC IPsec Configuration

  1. For IPsec configurations, head over to Preferences > Network and then VPN
  2. Next, select the Cisco IPsec
  3. Now enter PureVPN IPsec in the description
  4. Now choose a China compatible server address. You can get one by contacting PureVPN’s China-Exclusive live chat support.
  5. Now enter the PureVPN username and password
  6. Next, where it says Secret, enter this number: 12345678
  7. Finally, click on Save and turn on VPN
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Windows IKEV2 Manual Configuration

  1. To manually configure the PureVPN IKEV2 protocol on Windows, right-click on Network settingspurevpn-windows-IKEv2-configuration-setup-1
  2. Next, click on VPN and then click on Add a VPN connectionpurevpn-windows-IKEv2-configuration-setup-2
  3. Next, select Windows (built-in) from the VPN Provider drop-down menupurevpn-windows-IKEv2-configuration-setup-3
  4. Now enter any Connection name you desire. Example PureVPN DE etc.
  5. Now enter a China compatible server address. You can get one by contacting PureVPN’s China-Exclusive live chat support.
  6. Now select “IKEv2” from the VPN type drop-down menu
  7. Next, choose “User name and password” from the Type of sign-in info drop-down menu
  8. Now enter the Username and Password provided by PureVPNpurevpn-windows-IKEv2-configuration-setup-4
  9. Checkmark “Remember my sign-in info” and click Save
  10. Now select the newly created VPN connection i.e. “PureVPN DE” and click on Connectpurevpn-windows-IKEv2-configuration-setup-5
  11. Now wait for the connection to establish and you’re done
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OpenVPN GUI for PureVPN

To make PureVPN work in China using OpenVPN GUI, you need to first download it from here. Once you’ve successfully downloaded the setup file, just follow the steps below.

  1. Double click on the setup you just downloaded and click on “Next”purevpn-windows-openvpn-gui-setup-1
  2. Next, install the OpenVPN Tap Adapters. You need to be patient as it can take a while to installpurevpn-windows-openvpn-gui-setup-2
  3. Once the installation completes, click on “Next” and then “Finish”purevpn-windows-openvpn-gui-setup-3
  4. Now launch the OpenVPN GUI you just installed from the “Show Hidden Icon”purevpn-windows-openvpn-gui-setup-4
  5. Next, select a country of your choice and press connectpurevpn-windows-openvpn-gui-setup-5
  6. Finally, enter your PureVPN Username and Password and click Ok to complete the setup

purevpn-windows-openvpn-gui-setup-6

PureVPN Installation on Other Devices

PureVPN supports various other devices and platforms as well. For instance, PureVPN is easily installed on Kodi with its dedicated add-on.

If you are own streaming boxes and consoles like Roku, then the installation is a little trickier as explained in this PureVPN Roku installation guide.

Since many devices like Roku do not directly support VPN apps, a way around this problem is to configure the VPN on routers. PureVPN can be set up on routers of different makes. This approach offers the advantage that all devices connected will automatically be routed through the VPN, providing stronger security.

Change VPN Protocol

If you’re looking for a reliable VPN that works in China, PureVPN is a great option to consider. While the default VPN protocol used by PureVPN is OpenVPN, other protocols like SSTP and L2TP/IPSec are better at penetrating the Great Firewall of China because Chinese authorities closely monitor OpenVPN traffic. To access blocked sites in China, you can change the protocol settings on PureVPN and try these different configurations.

Twitter Users on Using PureVPN in China

PureVPN is one of the few providers that seems to have pleased most customers if you search through Twitter. Many users on the social media platform have praised PureVPN’s ability to work well in China in the past.

However, the Chinese servers that foreigners can use to connect to PureVPN have been giving problems lately since the lockdown began in China:

Nor is it only PureVPN that seems to be affected. Other methods of bypassing the GFW such as the Tor browser are also seemingly failing to work for users outside the mainland trying to access the Chinese internet from abroad.

Nonetheless, PureVPN is still working fine for people within China.

Finishing Up

PureVPN China enables access to the greater part of the Internet that has unfortunately been blocked in China. Although the VPN is currently unable to offer stable functionality in its Chinese servers for users situated outside the mainland due to increased censorship and control of information during covid-19, PureVPN remains one of the few providers that still work well for people connected to the web from within China.

Do you have any personal experience with using PureVPN in China? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below. We love learning about other people’s experiences!