Download and set up your VPN before you travel to China

Every experienced traveler has the same advice: install and test before you leave. It takes ten minutes at home and avoids an entire day of troubleshooting on the ground.

The 10-minute checklist

1. On Android, download the APK file directly from the downloads page, save it to your phone storage, upload a backup to a cloud folder, and email a copy to yourself before you leave.
2. Sign up for an UnblockMeVPN plan on unblockmevpn.com. The 1-month plan is fine if you are just testing; the 2-year plan at $3.99/mo is cheaper long-term.
3. Install the app on your laptop (Windows .exe or Mac .dmg).
4. Sign in on every device.
5. Connect to Hong Kong on each device and verify — load a video, run a speed test.
6. Also connect to Tokyo once on each device.
7. Favorite Hong Kong and Tokyo.
8. Save your account credentials in a password manager you can reach from any device (Bitwarden, 1Password, Proton Pass).
9. Save our support address (support@unblockmevpn.com) to your phone's contacts so you can reach it even if the website is slow to load.

Bonus setup for a smoother trip

• Enable an authenticator app (Authy, 1Password, Google Authenticator) on banking, email, and work accounts. SMS-only 2FA will not reach you if your SIM is out of coverage.
• Save recovery codes for your most important accounts in your password manager.
• Log into banking and work accounts through your home-country VPN server before you leave. This creates a recent clean login on record and reduces the chance of a lockout on first login abroad.
• If you have a travel router, configure it with OpenVPN pointed at Hong Kong and test it at home.

What you will need in the first hour on arrival

Everything on the checklist above plus:

• Hotel Wi-Fi password (handed out at check-in)
• Cell carrier international roaming activated, or a physical SIM you trust
• A charged battery — hotel outlets can be different shapes than you expect