Does 
Snapchat work in China?
No
on Chinese SIM cards and hotel Wi-Fi. Snaps stay on “Tap to retry”.
Yes
on a roaming eSIM or your home SIM’s roaming. That traffic leaves China first.
Not tested yet.
Snapchat is blocked on Chinese mobile networks and Wi-Fi, so snaps never send. It does work on a roaming eSIM or your home SIM’s roaming, because that traffic leaves China first. If you care about your streaks, set that up before you fly.
What to do: get a roaming eSIM before you fly, and send your snaps on mobile data, not hotel Wi-Fi.
Expected results
Not yet tested by us. One row per network: what public reports lead you to expect, until a dated test replaces it.
| Network | Log in & chat | Send snaps |
|---|---|---|
| China Mobile SIMLocal, 4G/5G | Blocked | Blocked |
| China Unicom SIMLocal, 4G/5G | Blocked | Blocked |
| Hotel Wi-FiChinese fixed line | Blocked | Blocked |
| Roaming eSIMData exits abroad | Works | Works |
| Home SIM on roamingYour own carrier | Works | Works |
Is Snapchat banned in China?
It’s blocked rather than something you can get into trouble for having. On a Chinese SIM or hotel Wi-Fi, the app opens and the camera works, because that’s all on your phone. Snaps then sit on “Tap to retry”, chats won’t load, and logging in on a new device fails with a connection error.
Snapchat has no real following in China, so few people there will notice it’s missing. It’s visitors and students arriving from abroad who run into it, usually on their first evening when they try to send something home.
How to keep your streaks
A streak only lives if you and a friend both send a snap every 24 hours, and Snapchat doesn’t care that you’re on a plane or in a blocked country. So plan the first day:
- Send your streak snaps right before you board.
- Switch your roaming eSIM on as soon as you land, with Wi-Fi off.
- Send the next round before you try anything else, especially if you have a long layover.
If a streak does break, Snapchat has offered a restore option in the app for some lost streaks, and it isn’t guaranteed. It’s simpler to protect the streak in the first place.
How to use Snapchat in China
On a roaming eSIM or your home SIM’s roaming, your data leaves China before it reaches the internet, so Snapchat should work much as it does at home. Your account, username and friends list don’t change, and you don’t need a new app.
The trap is hotel Wi-Fi. Your phone will join it the moment it can and your snaps start failing again, with nothing to tell you why. Turn Wi-Fi off when you open Snapchat, or tell your phone to forget the hotel’s network.
Snap Map and Memories
Snap Map may place you oddly in China. Maps there use an offset coordinate system, and the app can also see the country your data exits in, so friends might see you somewhere you aren’t. If that bothers you, switch on Ghost Mode for the trip.
Memories lives on Snapchat’s servers, so it needs a working connection to load and to back up. Snaps you save while on hotel Wi-Fi might not back up until you’re on mobile data, so don’t delete anything from your camera roll until you know they’ve landed.
Reaching people who aren’t on Snapchat
Nobody you meet in China is likely to have Snapchat, so you’ll want WeChat for hosts, guides and new friends. It handles photos, voice notes and video calls. iMessage and FaceTime are useful for iPhone friends at home, since they’re expected to work on Chinese networks.
What to use in China instead
WeChatWorksNo disappearing snaps, but it’s what everyone in China uses for chat, photos and video calls.
iMessage & FaceTimeWorksWork on Chinese networks for iPhone-to-iPhone contacts, with no eSIM needed.
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
RedditBefore you fly
Do this at home, so your first snap from China actually sends.
Setup for Snapchat
Screenshot this list. Times are rough estimates.
- Install a roaming eSIM on home Wi-Fi5 min
- Save your Snapchat recovery details5 min
- Set up WeChat for new contacts10 min
- Send streak snaps right before boarding2 min
Asked often
Update history. No test published yet.
Does Snapchat work in China?
Not on a Chinese SIM or hotel Wi-Fi. It should work on a roaming eSIM or your home SIM’s roaming, because that traffic leaves China first.
Can you use Snapchat in China?
Yes, on a roaming connection with Wi-Fi turned off. Your account and friends list stay the same and you don’t need a different version of the app.
Is Snapchat blocked in China?
Yes, on mainland networks. Snaps stay on “Tap to retry” and chats don’t load. The camera still opens, which makes it look as though only the sending is broken.
Will I lose my Snapchat streaks in China?
Only if you can’t send within 24 hours. A roaming eSIM set up before you fly avoids the gap. Long flights are a bigger risk than China itself, so send right before boarding.
Does Snapchat work in Hong Kong?
Yes. Hong Kong and Macau aren’t affected, so Snapchat works on any network there.
Why does Snapchat say “Tap to retry” in China?
Because the snap can’t reach Snapchat’s servers on that connection. You’re probably on Chinese Wi-Fi or a Chinese SIM. Turn Wi-Fi off, get on roaming data, and tap again.
Is there a Chinese version of Snapchat?
Not really. WeChat is what people use for messages, photos and calls, and Douyin and Xiaohongshu cover filters and short videos.