Thank you for using Insider China. This page provides answers to common questions and ways to reach us if you need help.
Contact
Get in touch
If you have any questions, feedback, or bug reports, please email us at parsons0503@gmail.com. We aim to respond within 2–3 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions
How does the app work?
Insider China sends the search query you type to a third-party API (Coze, operated by ByteDance at api.coze.cn), which returns public posts from Chinese social media platforms (Douyin and Xiaohongshu). Results are translated on-device using Apple's Translation framework and displayed in a clean reading interface.
Does the app require an account?
No. Insider China does not require registration, login, or any personal information.
Is this a VPN?
No. Insider China is not a VPN, proxy, or tunneling app. It is a standard search client that makes HTTPS requests to a public API endpoint.
Why was I prompted to download a translation language pack?
The app uses Apple's built-in Translation framework, which downloads a Chinese-to-target-language pack on first use. This happens once per language. All translation is performed on-device after the pack is installed.
How do I change the translation language?
On the home screen, tap the language code in the top-right corner (e.g. EN) to choose between English, 日本語, 한국어, Español, Français, Deutsch, Italiano, Português, Русский, and العربية.
Where is my search history stored?
All search history is stored locally on your device in the app's Documents directory. It never leaves your device. You can clear history at any time from the Library screen.
How do I delete all app data?
Delete the app from your device. All locally stored history and cached results will be removed.
Is my search query shared with anyone?
Your search query is sent only to the Coze API to retrieve results. We do not log, store, sell, or share this data. ByteDance's API handling is described in their privacy policy: coze.cn/privacy.
The app won't connect or searches are failing.
Confirm your device has an active internet connection and is running iOS 18.0 or later. If you are on a corporate or restrictive network, api.coze.cn may be blocked — try a different network. If problems persist, email parsons0503@gmail.com.
The app crashed or showed an error.
Email parsons0503@gmail.com with your device model, iOS version, a short description of what you were doing, and a screenshot if possible.
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