WeChat and Alipay in China

Question

We are going to Beijing & Shanghai and have the WeChat and Alipay app on the phone.

Problem being I can't change WeChat from Chinese writing to English. I have followed all advice and have gone to settings, language English but no change in the language. I've also restarted phone.

I've managed to get Alipay to English and have followed all info but can't pau for anything in Australia (thought I would try and practice how to use). Just wondering if anyone has any tips for me?

Answer

WeChat and Alipay are widely used in China for payments, but there are some limitations and quirks, especially when using them outside of China or in English.

WeChat Language Issue:

Even if you set WeChat to English in the settings, some versions, particularly those linked to Chinese accounts, may still display certain elements in Chinese. The app’s interface language can depend on the phone’s system language and the account region.

Make sure your WeChat account is registered outside of mainland China (or switch region in settings if possible).
If the app version is a Chinese mainland version, some parts may remain in Chinese despite English settings.
Consider uninstalling and reinstalling the international version of WeChat, which is more consistently in English.

Alipay Usage Issue Outside China:

Alipay can be set to English, but payment functionality is generally limited outside China.

Alipay relies on linking a Chinese bank account or card for full functionality. Foreign cards may not be usable for paying merchants in Australia or other non-China locations.
You can still use the Alipay app for practicing navigation and understanding the interface, but payments will likely fail without a Chinese bank account.
Some merchants accept international cards via Alipay, but this is rare and not guaranteed.

Tips for Your China Trip:

In Beijing and Shanghai, both WeChat Pay and Alipay will work for almost all merchants, taxis, restaurants, and tourist sites, even without cash.
To pay with these apps in China, you will need to link a Chinese bank card, or alternatively, use the “Tourist” versions of Alipay or WeChat Pay, which allow foreign cards to be used.
Practice using Alipay in English for scanning QR codes, checking balances, and navigating the app before your trip. But don’t expect payments outside China to work reliably.

In short, your focus should be on getting familiar with the apps’ interfaces and learning to scan QR codes and check balances. Full payment functionality will mainly work once you’re in China and have a supported method linked.

WeChat and Alipay in China

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