We monitor 175 App Store storefronts to answer one question —
Is Chinese Quran and Easy Search censored by Apple?
Chinese Quran and Easy Search is gone from every App Store storefront we test. It was last seen available on May 10, 2021.
971 tests on record·last checked 12 days ago
Why it is unavailable
Five things can put an app out of one App Store. Each is weighed below against what can be seen from outside — open a card for the reasoning.
A government or a court demanded it
and Apple complied. Apple publishes a count of these per country each year and never says which apps they were. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- Religion apps in the United States are unavailable at 1%, near the 5% for everything there, which cuts neither way.
- 2 other apps left mainland China the same day, Jul 27, 2022.
- Apple reports 1,213 government-ordered removals in Russia for 2025, naming none of them.
Apple applied a rule, unasked
either its own review guidelines, or its own reading of a local law, with nobody having demanded anything. This is the largest category in Apple's own removal figures by a wide margin, and it covers distribution permits as well as content — Apple kept a free Bible app out of mainland China in 2021 for want of one. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- Religion apps in the United States are unavailable at 1%, near the 5% for everything there, which cuts neither way.
- 2 other apps left mainland China the same day, Jul 27, 2022.
The developer withheld it
freely, or under legal advice of their own, or because Apple's guidelines require that kind of app to be limited to certain countries. Switching a country off is easy for a developer to do in Apple's own tools: it needs no new version of the app, and it leaves no public trace other than the app being unavailable.
Something broke
a rejected update, a lapsed certificate, a payment or licensing problem, a mistake nobody has got round to noticing.
- 2 other apps left mainland China the same day, Jul 27, 2022.
- Gone for 4 years.
A local rule about paying for it
gambling licences, financial rules, tax — the kind of law that governs a transaction. Apple can obey every one of them by refusing the payment, which is why this is the only restriction we would accept and the only one that cannot touch a free app.
- It is free, so Apple sells nothing here.
How this is weighed, and what it cannot tell you
Weighed from the evidence under each card, not from a model. There is no published figure for how Apple's removals divide up, so these are ordered words rather than percentages. For scale on the same-day counts: across the whole record an app leaves a storefront with fewer than two others, so a dozen at once is not a dozen coincidences.
None of this is certain, and a citation does not make it so: Apple naming a Chinese agency tells you what Apple said, not everything that happened. What can be said is that the readings alone cannot separate these five — a developer switching off a country and a government ordering it removed arrive at Apple's catalogue looking identical — and that nobody has ever measured how they divide across the App Store. The one careful study of the question was done on Google's store, using an error message Apple does not emit.
Apple publishes no record of which apps are unavailable in which of its App Stores. For the removals it makes on a government's demand it publishes the agency and the law behind every one — 2,045 of the 166,899 apps it removed during 2025 — and never which app. Where a reason reaches the public at all, it is usually because a developer chose to say so. Apple's App Store Transparency Report
Know of a statement, notice or order we have missed? Tell us →
Chinese Quran and Easy Search
Developer: Alex Appadurai · Category: Utilities · Released: Dec 19, 2016 ·
Other Religion apps missing from India
Life of this app
- Dec 19, 2016Released on the App Store
- Apr 2, 2021First tested by AppleCensorship
- May 10, 2021Last seen available anywhere
- Mar 7, 2023Gone from 110 storefronts
- Sep 7, 2026Most recent test
Testing history
One column per month, every month from the first reading to the last. Height follows how many readings we took that month; red is the share of them that found the app unavailable. An empty month is one nobody tested.
Found availableFound unavailable
Availability by storefront
Every storefront we test, current status first. Data is a measurement, not a promise: each row carries its own date.
| Test now | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AfghanistanAF | Unavailable | Jul 16, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| AlbaniaAL | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 2 months ago | ||
| AlgeriaDZ | Unavailable | Nov 1, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| AnguillaAI | Unavailable | Mar 30, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| Antigua & BarbudaAG | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 12 days ago | ||
| ArgentinaAR | Unavailable | Jan 13, 2023 | 12 months ago | ||
| ArmeniaAM | Unavailable | Sep 21, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| AustraliaAU | Unavailable | Jul 24, 2025 | 14 months ago | ||
| AzerbaijanAZ | Unavailable | Nov 13, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| BarbadosBB | Unavailable | Feb 19, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| BelarusBY | Unavailable | Oct 29, 2025 | 11 months ago | ||
| BelgiumBE | Unavailable | Jan 24, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| BeninBJ | Unavailable | Dec 18, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| BoliviaBO | Unavailable | Aug 17, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| BotswanaBW | Unavailable | Oct 1, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| CambodiaKH | Unavailable | Jan 15, 2025 | 2 years ago | ||
| CameroonCM | Unavailable | Oct 26, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| Cape VerdeCV | Unavailable | Jul 24, 2026 | 2 months ago | ||
| Cayman IslandsKY | Unavailable | Sep 10, 2025 | 4 months ago | ||
| ChadTD | Unavailable | Apr 22, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| China (Mainland)CN | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 12 days ago | ||
| Costa RicaCR | Unavailable | May 11, 2023 | 13 months ago | ||
| Côte d’IvoireCI | Unavailable | Oct 25, 2022 | 5 months ago | ||
| CroatiaHR | Unavailable | Apr 19, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| CyprusCY | Unavailable | Dec 10, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| DominicaDM | Unavailable | Sep 6, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| Dominican RepublicDO | Unavailable | Mar 11, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| DR CongoCD | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| EgyptEG | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 9 months ago | ||
| El SalvadorSV | Unavailable | Jul 1, 2023 | 7 months ago | ||
| EswatiniSZ | Unavailable | Apr 8, 2024 | 6 months ago | ||
| GabonGA | Unavailable | Aug 17, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| GambiaGM | Unavailable | Oct 18, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| GeorgiaGE | Unavailable | Mar 24, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| GermanyDE | Unavailable | Aug 5, 2026 | 44 days ago | ||
| GhanaGH | Unavailable | Feb 2, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| GreeceGR | Unavailable | Dec 19, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| GuyanaGY | Unavailable | Oct 2, 2022 | 16 months ago | ||
| Hong KongHK | Unavailable | Dec 4, 2025 | 9 months ago | ||
| IcelandIS | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 14 months ago | ||
| IndiaIN | Unavailable | Sep 8, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| IndonesiaID | Unavailable | Dec 31, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| IrelandIE | Unavailable | Nov 1, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| ItalyIT | Unavailable | Feb 12, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| JamaicaJM | Unavailable | Jun 23, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| JordanJO | Unavailable | Oct 22, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| KenyaKE | Unavailable | Sep 14, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| KyrgyzstanKG | Unavailable | Nov 21, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| LaosLA | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 8 months ago | ||
| LatviaLV | Unavailable | Nov 11, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| LebanonLB | Unavailable | Jul 20, 2023 | 9 months ago | ||
| LiberiaLR | Unavailable | Feb 4, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| LithuaniaLT | Unavailable | Feb 1, 2023 | 6 months ago | ||
| LuxembourgLU | Unavailable | Aug 3, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| MacaoMO | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 5 months ago | ||
| MadagascarMG | Unavailable | Aug 4, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| MalawiMW | Unavailable | Nov 16, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| MaldivesMV | Unavailable | Feb 8, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| MaliML | Unavailable | Dec 21, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| MaltaMT | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 24 days ago | ||
| MauritiusMU | Unavailable | Oct 2, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| MicronesiaFM | Unavailable | Feb 5, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| MoldovaMD | Unavailable | Mar 7, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| MongoliaMN | Unavailable | May 23, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| MontserratMS | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| MoroccoMA | Unavailable | Aug 4, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| MozambiqueMZ | Unavailable | Oct 5, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| NamibiaNA | Unavailable | Aug 20, 2023 | 3 months ago | ||
| NauruNR | Unavailable | Jun 18, 2024 | 12 days ago | ||
| NepalNP | Unavailable | Dec 10, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| NetherlandsNL | Unavailable | Dec 14, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| NigerNE | Unavailable | Sep 18, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| North MacedoniaMK | Unavailable | Sep 1, 2025 | 13 months ago | ||
| NorwayNO | Unavailable | Oct 27, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| PalauPW | Unavailable | Oct 18, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| Papua New GuineaPG | Unavailable | May 14, 2026 | 4 months ago | ||
| ParaguayPY | Unavailable | Dec 16, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| PolandPL | Unavailable | Jul 18, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| RomaniaRO | Unavailable | Mar 14, 2025 | 2 months ago | ||
| RussiaRU | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 11 months ago | ||
| RwandaRW | Unavailable | Aug 4, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| São Tomé & PríncipeST | Unavailable | Jun 5, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| Saudi ArabiaSA | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 2 months ago | ||
| SenegalSN | Unavailable | May 5, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| SerbiaRS | Unavailable | Nov 11, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| SeychellesSC | Unavailable | Jul 15, 2025 | 14 months ago | ||
| Sierra LeoneSL | Unavailable | Sep 16, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| Solomon IslandsSB | Unavailable | Aug 10, 2025 | 13 months ago | ||
| South AfricaZA | Unavailable | Aug 25, 2026 | 24 days ago | ||
| South KoreaKR | Unavailable | Mar 28, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| St. Kitts & NevisKN | Unavailable | Aug 24, 2023 | 7 months ago | ||
| St. LuciaLC | Unavailable | Mar 7, 2023 | 4 months ago | ||
| SurinameSR | Unavailable | Apr 9, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| SwedenSE | Unavailable | Apr 6, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| TaiwanTW | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 7 months ago | ||
| TanzaniaTZ | Unavailable | Jan 9, 2025 | 2 years ago | ||
| ThailandTH | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 7 months ago | ||
| TongaTO | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| TunisiaTN | Unavailable | Jan 14, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| TürkiyeTR | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 11 months ago | ||
| TurkmenistanTM | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 6 months ago | ||
| Turks & Caicos IslandsTC | Unavailable | Sep 4, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| UkraineUA | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 4 months ago | ||
| United Arab EmiratesAE | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 12 days ago | ||
| United KingdomGB | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| United StatesUS | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 12 days ago | ||
| UzbekistanUZ | Unavailable | Feb 22, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| VietnamVN | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2022 | 2 months ago | ||
| YemenYE | Unavailable | Sep 11, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| ZimbabweZW | Unavailable | Oct 4, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| AngolaAO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AustriaAT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BahamasBS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BahrainBH | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BelizeBZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BermudaBM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BhutanBT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Bosnia & HerzegovinaBA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BrazilBR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| British Virgin IslandsVG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BruneiBN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BulgariaBG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Burkina FasoBF | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CanadaCA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ChileCL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ColombiaCO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CzechiaCZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| DenmarkDK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EcuadorEC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EstoniaEE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| FijiFJ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| FinlandFI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| FranceFR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GrenadaGD | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GuatemalaGT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Guinea-BissauGW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| HondurasHN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| HungaryHU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IraqIQ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IsraelIL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| JapanJP | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KazakhstanKZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KosovoXK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KuwaitKW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LibyaLY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MalaysiaMY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MauritaniaMR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MexicoMX | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MontenegroME | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Myanmar (Burma)MM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| New ZealandNZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NicaraguaNI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NigeriaNG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| OmanOM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PakistanPK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PanamaPA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PeruPE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PhilippinesPH | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PortugalPT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| QatarQA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Republic of the CongoCG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SingaporeSG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SlovakiaSK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SloveniaSI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SpainES | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Sri LankaLK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| St. Vincent & GrenadinesVC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SwitzerlandCH | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TajikistanTJ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Trinidad & TobagoTT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| UgandaUG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| UruguayUY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VanuatuVU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VenezuelaVE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ZambiaZM | Not tested | — | — | 0 |
Testing asks Apple whether it will sell this app in that storefront, right now, by the same method the crawler has used since 2019. Your browser asks Apple directly, so the answer describes what Apple serves your connection — and if your browser cannot reach Apple at all, we ask on your behalf and say so. The result is a link: open it to see Apple's own answer and check ours. Readings are added to the record above; roughly a quarter of the readings taken each day come from people testing.
How we test
Availability is checked against Apple's own catalog servers for every storefront, the same way the App Store app asks. "Unavailable" means Apple's servers say the app cannot be offered in that country — it does not say who asked for the removal. Removals initiated by the developer and removals demanded by governments look the same from outside; the history and context on this page are how we tell them apart.