Chinese apps banned in India: Know apps status, alternative apps, and more

MeitY put a ban on these apps and termed their usage 'prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order'

India has banned 59 apps of China origin, including some popular names such as TikTok, CamScanner, Shareit, Mobile Legends, UC Browser, Mi Community, Mi Video Call and Weibo. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Monday invoked its power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act to put a ban on these apps and termed their usage 'prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order'.

Currently, some of the apps listed under the ban are available on Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store for download. Moreover, these apps are still functional and do not seem to have been taken down from any other app distribution platforms. It is about time and the apps would be taken down from distribution platforms to curtail new downloads. However, there are ways to side load the applications on smartphones, at least on Google Android platform. Thus, even if the banned apps are taken down from Google's Play Store, there will be an alternative route to get these apps for free. Also, the apps would continue to function on smartphones unless their access to server is not blacklisted by internet service providers. Therefore, there are chances that the government would ask internet service providers to block IP addresses and access to these apps.

In the list of banned apps, there are some that do no require internet access to work. Moreover, there are apps that come pre-loaded on some smartphones. It is still to be seen how the government plans to impose ban on the use of such apps.

59 Chinese apps banned in India and their alternatives:

App	Category	Alternative
TikTok	Social Media	Instagram IGTV, YouTube, Snapchat
Shareit	File transfer	Google Files Go
Kwai	Social Media	Instagram IGTV, YouTube, Snapchat
UC Browser	Browser	Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
Baidu map	Maps	Google Maps, HERE Maps
Shein	Shopping	Myntra, Flipkart, Snapdeal
Clash of Kings	Games	Ludo King
DU battery saver	Utility	NA*
Helo	Social Media	Instagram IGTV, YouTube, Snapchat
Likee	Social Media	Instagram IGTV, YouTube, Snapchat
YouCam makeup	Utility	Snapchat, G Cam, Open Camera
Mi Community	Utility	Reddit
CM Browers	Internet browser	Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
Virus Cleaner	Utility	NA*
APUS Browser	Internet browser	Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
ROMWE	Shopping	Myntra, Flipkart, Snapdeal
Club Factory	Shopping	Myntra, Flipkart, Snapdeal
Newsdog	News	InShorts
Beutry Plus	Utility	Snapchat, G Cam, Open Camera
WeChat	Instant messaging	WhatsApp, Telegram, Hike
UC News	News	InShorts
QQ Mail	Email Client	Outlook
Weibo	Social media	Reddit, Twitter
Xender	File transfer	Google Files Go
QQ Music	Audio	VLC, MX Player
QQ Newsfeed	News	Flipboard, InShorts, Google News
Bigo Live	Video sharing	Instagram IGTV, YouTube, Snapchat
SelfieCity	Utility	Snapchat, G Cam, Open Camera
Mail Master	Email Client	Outlook
Parallel Space	Utility	Dual Apps, Multiple App Cloner
Mi Video Call - Xiaomi	Communication	Google Duo
WeSync	Utility	Google Files Go
ES File Explorer	Utility	Google Files Go
Viva Video - QU Video Inc	Video sharing	Instagram IGTV, YouTube, Snapchat
Meitu	Camera	Snapchat, G Cam, Open Camera
Vigo Video	Video sharing	Snapchat, G Cam, Open Camera
New Video Status	Video sharing	Snapchat, G Cam, Open Camera
DU Recorder	Utility	AZ Screen Recorder
Vault- Hide	File manager	Google Files Go
Cache Cleaner DU App studio	Utility	NA*
DU Cleaner	Utility	NA*
DU Browser	Browser	Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
Hago Play With New Friends	Games	Ludo King
Cam Scanner	Utility	Microsoft Offile Lens, Adobe Scan
Clean Master - Cheetah Mobile	Utility	NA*
Wonder Camera	Camera	Snapchat, G Cam, Open Camera
Photo Wonder	Camera	Snapchat, G Cam, Open Camera
QQ Player	Media player	VLC, MX Player
We Meet	Social	Tinder
Sweet Selfie	Camera	Snapchat, G Cam, Open Camera
Baidu Translate	Utility	Google Translate, Microsoft Translate
Vmate	Video sharing	Instagram IGTV, YouTube, Snapchat
QQ International	Instant messaging	WhatsApp, Telegram, Hike
QQ Security Center	Utility	NA*
QQ Launcher	Utility	Microsoft Launcher
U Video	Video sharing	Instagram IGTV, YouTube, Snapchat
V fly Status Video	Video sharing	Instagram IGTV, YouTube, Snapchat
Mobile Legends	Games	Ludo King
DU Privacy	Utility	NA*

NA*: These are bloatware and you are better off any such apps to keep your phone operate in optimal condition.