Can’t Access 1688.com? Here’s How to View Products & Image Search Like a Pro

Flora
4 hours ago
3 min read

If you are in the dropshipping game, you know that 1688.com is the ultimate goldmine. As the biggest B2B purchasing website in China, it’s often where you find the lowest prices before they hit AliExpress or other platforms.

However, lately, accessing 1688 has become a nightmare for international dropshippers.

Have you tried to search for a product only to be blocked? Have you noticed that the "Search by Image" camera icon has disappeared? Or perhaps you can't even view the product detail page without being forced to log in?

The Reason: 1688 has recently implemented strict IP recognition and security updates. They are cracking down on non-Chinese traffic, making it incredibly difficult for global users to browse, search, and source.

But don't worry. As your sourcing partner, we have the solutions. Here are 4 ways to bypass these restrictions and get back to finding winning products.

Method 1: The "Region Switch" Trick (Quick Fix)

If you are landing on the global version of the site or getting limited views, you might just need to tell 1688 that you want the local experience.

Look at the top of the 1688 homepage.
Find the region/location setting (often defaults to "Global").

Manually change the region to Mainland China.

Once the page refreshes, you will often find that the interface changes, and features that were previously hidden (like certain search functions) become available again.

However, if you browse 1688.com frequently, the site will eventually force you to log in with a verified account to continue viewing products.

Method 2: Change Your Digital Location (VPN)

Since 1688’s firewall is blocking foreign IP addresses, the most direct technical solution is to change your IP address.

By using a VPN service and setting your location to China, you can trick the website into thinking you are a local user. This usually restores full functionality, including image search. However, this requires a paid VPN service that specifically offers Chinese servers, which can be rare and slow.

Method 3: The Ultimate Solution – ZQ Chrome Extension 🚀

Why struggle with settings and VPNs when you can use a tool designed specifically for dropshippers?

We developed the ZQ (1688 Dropshipping Pro) Chrome Extension to solve this exact problem. It is the easiest way to browse 1688 without the headache.

Why you need it:

No Login Required: View product page details without needing a verified 1688 account.
No Region Change Needed: Works instantly regardless of your location.
Auto-Translation: It automatically translates the confusing Chinese interface into English.
Currency Conversion: Stop doing math in your head. The extension automatically converts CNY prices into USD.

👉 Download the ZQ Chrome Extension, pin it to your browser, and start searching immediately.

download zq chrome extension, pin, search your product( no need to change region; no need 1688 account to see product page details; automatically change currency from CNY into USD; no need translation show english already)

Method 4: Use the ZQ System (For Power Users)

If you are serious about scaling and need to source in bulk, browsing the website manually might still be too slow. This is where our internal platform comes in.

Inside the ZQ System, we have built the "1688-ZQ Select" module.

This isn't just a browser; it's a sourcing engine.

Bulk Image Search: Upload multiple product photos at once to find suppliers.
URL Search: Paste a link and get the data.
Multi-Language Support: Browse in your native language.

There are many more functions waiting for you to explore that will streamline your entire supply chain.

Ready to Source Without Limits?

Don't let a website update stop your business growth. Whether you use our Chrome Extension for quick browsing or our full System for bulk sourcing, ZQ Dropshipping is here to bridge the gap between you and Chinese factories.

Join ZQ today and start finding your next winner!