QQ Sign Up Via App & Website Outside China [8 Steps with Screenshots]

Want to get ahead of your competition in China? 

Having a QQ account could be your secret weapon.

QQ is one of the biggest social media sites in the world, attracting over 840 million users and appealing to a young (and lucrative) user base. 

Yet, many businesses in the West are lagging behind when it comes to building a presence on this potentially game-changing Chinese platform.

But how exactly can you create/register QQ account in English from outside China?

Let’s break it down. There are two ways you can register a QQ account in English. First, let’s take a look at how to do it via the app.

How to open a QQ account in English via the QQ app 

For QQ sign up process via the app, you’ll need to carry out the following steps:

Step 1: Download the QQ app 

This part is simple. Open up the app store on your mobile device, search for “QQ” and click download. 

Step 2: Open the app 

When you open the QQ app, you’ll notice that it’s in Chinese and can’t be translated to English. Don’t let that put you off — QQ is still a really valuable platform. You’ll just have to navigate the language barrier, which is where we can help.

The first thing you need to do is accept the service agreement by clicking on the option in the right-hand corner of the pop-up window, pictured below: 

Step 3: Start the QQ registration process 

Click on the “Register” option on the home screen. It’s the option to the left in the white square! 

Step 4: Enter your mobile phone number 

At this stage, you’ll need to confirm your mobile phone number so that QQ can verify your account. 

Enter it into the field below, choose your country code from the drop-down menu, tick the confirmation box, and click “OK”. 

Top tip: if you’re finding it difficult to choose your country code because of the Chinese interface, head over to Google translate and translate your country’s name into simplified Chinese. Copy the translation, and then paste it into the country code search bar. You’ll then be left with the relevant country code to select. 

Step 5: Complete the authentication process

Simply slide the puzzle piece into place using your touchscreen. 

Step 6: Confirm your mobile phone number 

In the pop-up window, click the option in the blue box to confirm your mobile phone number. 

Step 7: Enter the verification code sent to your mobile device

Once you’ve confirmed your mobile phone number, you’ll then be sent a text containing a one-time passcode. Enter this in the field below:

Step 8: Choose a username and password 

Finally, create your username and password by typing them into the fields below. The username goes first, then the password in the space underneath. 

Then, click “Register” (the outlined box) and your QQ account will be ready to use.

How to create a QQ account in English via the QQ website 

If you’d rather sign up for QQ using your computer, that’s fine, too. In fact, it’s much easier, as the desktop interface is available in English. Hooray!

Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Go to QQ’s desktop registration page 

Click here, and you’ll be taken to where you can sign up for QQ in English. 

Step 2: Confirm your account details 

Simply fill in the below fields and confirm the following: 

• Your nickname (which will be your display name on QQ)
• Password 
• Mobile phone number (along with the relevant country code) 

Step 3: Sign up for QQ

After filling in the above details, click “Sign up now”. Make sure you’ve accepted the terms and conditions, too, just below it.  

Step 4: Verify your account 

Just as is the case with signing up for QQ on your mobile device, you’ll have to complete a few verification steps. These include: 

• Sliding the puzzle piece into place (using your computer cursor) 
• Verifying your mobile phone number with a one-time passcode (We have not tried QQ account verification with virtual phone number)

Once that’s done, your QQ account will be registered and ready to use on both the mobile and desktop versions of QQ. 

Remember, though, only the desktop version of QQ is available in English — the app isn’t. That’s why we recommend using Chinese QQ on your computer whenever possible. 

How to create a QQ International version account — an alternative for international users 

Even though the standard QQ app can’t be used in English, that doesn’t mean you’ll have to go down the app-free route altogether. 

QQ International — as the name suggests — is the global version of QQ. It’s available in both app and desktop form. The core difference between QQ and QQ International version is that the latter is available in more languages and is specifically designed for foreign users. 

Because of that, QQ International is great for global businesses, as it’s easy to use and doesn’t have the steep language barrier the Chinese app has.

So, how do you get started on QQ International version?

Follow these simple steps and you’ll be up-and-running in no time. 

Step 1: Go to the QQ International website 

First, click here on your mobile device. 

Change the language settings to English by clicking in the top right corner, pictured above. 

Step 2: Click “Download” 

Once you’ve translated the website to English, you’ll see the following download button: 

Click on it.

Step 3: Choose which version of QQ International you want to download

You can choose from an iOS or Android version. (Google Play Store for Android and Apple App Store for iOS devices)

You can also scan the QR Code to automatically start the download process. 

Step 4: Complete the verification and authentication steps 

You’ll have to complete the same security steps covered above, including slotting the puzzle piece into place and verifying your mobile phone number. 

Step 5: Create your account (or sign in to an existing one!) 

The great thing about QQ International verson is that you can log into it using your standard QQ credentials. So, if you’ve already created a QQ account (by following the steps above) you’ll be able to automatically log into QQ International without having to do anything else. 

If you haven’t yet created a QQ account, you’ll have to create a username and password from scratch. You’ll then be able to use this across every version of QQ. 

Simple!

How to open a QQ VIP account in English

In addition to the standard QQ (and QQ International) account, you can also upgrade to a VIP account. Doing so will unlock a wide range of features and benefits, including no ads and access to exclusive VIP rewards for high usage. 

VIP membership costs 120 RMB a year, or around USD $19.00. 

To upgrade to a VIP account, click here on your mobile device and select “Open Super Member”. 

You’ll then be prompted to scan a QR code that’ll open up the VIP upgrade window in your QQ app: 

From there, follow the in-app instructions and you’ll be able to upgrade your account in a few seconds, so long as you have a Chinese debit card and bank account. If you don’t, you unfortunately won’t be eligible for VIP status. 

Don’t worry, though — VIP membership isn’t essential, and it won’t have any impact on your QQ marketing strategy. It’s primarily for personal users, not businesses. 

Need help opening a QQ account?

We’ve got you covered. 

Here at AdChina, we can open a QQ account for you and help you build a QQ marketing strategy with our all-in-one Chinese advertising tool. 

Get in touch with us today to find out more.