Many people preparing for business trips to China want to know whether Zoom works there. The truth is more complicated than a simple yes or no. Zoom is not fully banned in mainland China, but it is heavily restricted and works only in a very limited way.
Here is the real situation in 2025, based on actual use inside China.
Is Zoom Banned in China?
No, Zoom is not officially banned, but it is not fully functional in China either.
Zoom once had an official partnership inside China, but that program ended. Since then, the app only works in a reduced mode under Chinese networks.
Does Zoom Work in China Without a VPN?
Partially — and very unreliably.
Without a VPN:
- You can sometimes join meetings
- You cannot create or host a meeting
- The connection is often unstable
- Video frequently freezes
- Audio drops often
- Screen sharing may fail
- Sometimes it doesn’t connect at all
In other words: Zoom “works,” but barely, and only for joining meetings.
This is why many travelers describe Zoom in China as “half-broken”.
Does Zoom Work in China in 2025?
Yes, but with severe limitations.
As of 2025:
- Users inside China can join Zoom meetings
- Users cannot start or host Zoom meetings
- Quality is very unstable
- Many corporate users must rely on VPN to stabilize video and audio
- International connections often time out
These limitations apply across mainland cities, including:
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Chengdu
Does Zoom Work in Shanghai?
Yes — but not reliably.
In Shanghai, Zoom often:
- connects very slowly
- drops video
- loses audio
- gets stuck on “connecting”
Without a VPN, you can only join meetings, and even that may require multiple attempts.
Does Zoom Work in Guangzhou?
Yes, but with the same restrictions:
only joining meetings, and the connection is weak.
Many business travelers in Guangzhou report that Zoom disconnects frequently unless they use a VPN.
How to Use Zoom in China (Updated 2025 Guidance)
1. You can only JOIN meetings without a VPN
You cannot:
- host a meeting
- schedule a meeting
- start a new meeting
Because hosting features are blocked.
2. For stable video/audio, you must use a VPN
A VPN is still needed if you want:
- smooth video
- clear audio
- screen sharing
- consistent connection
3. Use mobile data if hotel Wi-Fi blocks traffic
Some hotel and airport Wi-Fi networks make Zoom and VPN connections harder.
Mobile data (SIM) works better.
Does Zoom Work in China With a VPN?
Yes — and this is the only way to get the full Zoom experience.
With a VPN, you can:
- join meetings
- host meetings
- start meetings normally
- get stable video and audio
- share screens
- avoid connection drops
A VPN essentially restores full Zoom functionality.
Recommended: Tun Access VPN
Because Zoom is unstable inside China, business travelers rely on VPN services that actually work under the Great Firewall.
Tun Access VPN is one of the few VPNs that consistently works for:
- joining Zoom meetings
- hosting Zoom meetings
- reducing packet loss
- stabilizing video and audio
It has China-optimized routes designed specifically for video conferencing.
You can check the VPN Status page for up-to-date connection reliability before your trip.
Zoom China Download – Is There a Local Version?
Zoom previously offered a China-specific version, but that program ended.
Today:
- there is no official China Zoom client
- the global app only allows joining meetings
- hosting functions stay disabled on China networks
- VPN is required to unlock full features
Any “Zoom China version” you find online is outdated or unofficial.
Does Zoom Work in China (Reddit Reports)?
Reddit users frequently discuss Zoom in China.
Most describe the same experience:
- You can join, but not host
- The connection is unstable
- Video freezes without a VPN
- VPN restores full features
- Quality varies by city and by ISP
These reports match real-world business travelers.
Conclusion
Zoom is not banned, but the experience is heavily restricted in mainland China.
Without a VPN, you can only join meetings, and the connection is often unstable.
Hosting, starting, or scheduling meetings does not work.
For reliable Zoom usage — especially business meetings — a VPN is necessary.
Tun Access VPN is one of the few VPNs that consistently restores full Zoom features and provides stable connectivity inside China. Before traveling, you can check the VPN Status page to confirm the latest availability.