Greyed-out songs in QQ Music or NetEase Cloud Music abroad? How to play them
In short: many songs are licensed for mainland China only, so when you open QQ Music or NetEase Cloud Music abroad they turn grey or won't play. On a phone, switch on the moon gate in Homeway, then fully close the music app and reopen it. On a computer, open the music website with the Homeway browser extension or Windows app. The songs in your playlists will play normally.
What you might see
- Some songs in a playlist or album are greyed out and do nothing when tapped, or say they can't be played for copyright reasons;
- a song shows up in search but only plays a short preview, or doesn't play at all;
- a playlist that worked fine in China loses a large share of its songs abroad.
Record labels often license their music to these platforms for mainland China only. The music app works out where you are from where its requests come from, so abroad those songs are restricted. A membership doesn't change that; members abroad hit the same limits.
Getting started on phone and computer
Phone
- On Android, follow the Android install guide. On iPhone and iPad, get Homeway from the App Store.
- Sign in with an email code and switch on the moon gate.
- Fully close QQ Music or NetEase Cloud Music (swipe it away) and reopen it. The greyed-out songs will now play.
Computer
- On Windows, install the Windows app. On a Mac or any other computer, use the browser extension for Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
- Switch on the moon gate and open the QQ Music or NetEase Cloud Music website in your browser; if it's already open, just refresh the page.
Homeway doesn't currently support the TV versions of these apps, so the region lock stays in place on a TV. To play music in the living room, connect your phone to a Bluetooth speaker with Homeway switched on.
Members-only songs
Homeway only deals with region restrictions; it doesn't include a membership for either music platform. Once the region lock is lifted, free songs play straight away. Members-only or paid songs and lossless quality still need your own membership account in the app. An account registered in China signs in abroad without problems, with your playlists and favourites intact.
FAQ
I have a membership, so why are songs still greyed out abroad?
A membership decides which members-only songs you can play; the region lock is about where you are. They're separate things. Switch on Homeway's moon gate, then fully close the music app and reopen it.
Homeway is on, but a few songs still won't play. Why?
First make sure the moon gate is lit and that you fully closed the music app. If a song still won't play, it may have been taken down, or it may need a membership or a separate purchase; those songs don't play in China either.
Will other apps slow down while I listen with Homeway on?
No. Homeway only relays the few region-check requests made by supported apps. All other apps and websites connect directly.
Can I keep using it free on my phone?
Yes. New users get a 7-day free trial, after which the account switches to the free plan, which keeps working on one phone. On a computer, use it during the trial or subscribe to the Standard or Family plan.
For video, see Tencent Video, iQIYI, Youku, Mango TV, Bilibili and Migu Video, or the full list in Supported apps. For other region messages, see "Only available in mainland China" errors.
Try Homeway
New users get a 7-day free trial on every device, no card required.