Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Apple Removes Blued and Finka From China App Store After Regulator Order

Apple says it acted on a Cyberspace Administration directive, leaving existing installs usable with future availability uncertain.

Overview

  • An Apple spokesperson confirmed the removal followed an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China and applies only to the China storefront.
  • Reports indicate Blued and Finka still function for users who previously downloaded them, though they no longer appear in major app stores in China.
  • Apple noted Finka’s developer had already pulled the app from storefronts outside China earlier this year, and Blued had been available only in China.
  • It is not clear whether the apps will return, with past cases showing some services restored after making regulator‑requested changes.
  • The move comes as LGBTQ+ platforms face tighter controls in China, where most international dating apps are blocked and Grindr was removed from the App Store in 2022.