Does Spotify Work in China? (2025)

No. Spotify is blocked in China.

When you open Spotify in China, it won't connect to servers and won't play music. The service has never officially launched in China and is blocked by the Great Firewall.

How to Listen to Spotify in China

Option 1: VPN (Works)

With a VPN, Spotify functions normally:

1. Connect to VPN server outside China
2. Open Spotify
3. Stream as usual

Challenges:

• VPN speeds affect streaming quality
• May buffer or skip
• VPN connection drops interrupt music
• Uses more battery (VPN + streaming)

Option 2: Download Before You Go (Best)

Spotify Premium allows offline downloads:

1. Before leaving home, download playlists
2. Download enough for your trip
3. Listen offline in China
4. No VPN needed for downloaded content

Steps:

1. Open Spotify (while still at home)
2. Go to playlist/album
3. Toggle "Download"
4. Wait for download to complete
5. Enable "Offline mode" in China

Limits:

• Premium subscription required for downloads
• Storage space needed
• Downloads need re-syncing every 30 days

Option 3: Chinese Music Apps

Local alternatives that work in China:

QQ Music (QQ音乐):

• Tencent's music app
• Huge library including Western music
• Free tier available
• Chinese interface

NetEase Music (网易云音乐):

• Good for discovering music
• Strong community features
• Some Western music
• More independent artists

Kugou (酷狗音乐):

• Large catalog
• Popular in China
• Free with ads

Apple Music:

• Works in China
• Your existing subscription works
• Best Western catalog of Chinese services

Option 4: YouTube Music

Also blocked, but:

• Works with VPN
• Similar offline download feature
• May work better with VPN than Spotify sometimes

Best Approach for Music

For Short Trips

1. Download Spotify playlists before leaving
2. Use offline mode
3. Have Apple Music as backup (works without VPN)
4. Accept limited streaming

For Longer Stays

1. Download extensively before arrival
2. Get comfortable with VPN + Spotify
3. Try QQ Music or NetEase Music
4. Consider Apple Music if works better

For Music Discovery

Chinese apps are actually great for:

• Discovering Chinese music
• Local artists
• Different genres
• Cultural experience

Music Streaming Comparison

Service	Works in China?	VPN Needed?	Offline Works?
Spotify	❌ Blocked	Yes	Downloaded content plays
Apple Music	✅ Yes	No	Yes
YouTube Music	❌ Blocked	Yes	Downloaded content plays
Pandora	❌ Blocked	Yes	N/A
QQ Music	✅ Yes	No	Yes
NetEase Music	✅ Yes	No	Yes

Apple Music: The Easy Alternative

If you're flexible on platform, Apple Music is the simplest solution:

• Works in China without VPN
• Same subscription works
• Good Western music catalog
• Offline downloads work
• Seamless experience

Consider switching or adding Apple Music for your trip.

Download Checklist

Before your trip:

• Favorite playlists downloaded
• Recent albums downloaded
• Podcasts downloaded (Spotify podcasts)
• Enough for flight + trip duration
• Test offline mode works
• Consider Apple Music backup

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Need entertainment help in China? The China Survival Kit includes connectivity guides and offline content recommendations.