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payment failed · Last verified: 2026-10
Should I turn off my VPN when using Alipay or WeChat Pay?
Yes. Always turn off your VPN before opening Alipay or WeChat Pay. VPNs cause login failures, app crashes, and payment declines — the apps route through Chinese servers and a VPN creates conflicts.
Step by step
- 1Turn off VPN before opening the payment app.
- 2Make a payment.
- 3Turn VPN back on after the payment completes if you need it for other apps.
- 4If you have a VPN that runs always-on (like some corporate VPNs), contact your IT department to whitelist Alipay/WeChat.
Common mistakes
- !VPN use in China is technically a grey area. The payment apps themselves work fine without one — you don't need a VPN to use them.
- !If your payment app crashes immediately after opening, VPN is usually the first thing to check.