Step-by-step guide to setting up a RedNote account, as many US TikTok users are doing

RedNote is attracting users of another Chinese short video app, TikTok, in the US who fear a ban. See our 9-step guide to opening an account

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Icons for the smartphone apps RedNote, or Xiaohongshu in Chinese, and TikTok on a Chinese smartphone screen. Photo: AP

Published: 7:15pm, 15 Jan 2025

RedNote is no stranger to Hong Kong phone users.

Also known by its Chinese name Xiaohongshu, which means “little red book”, it is downloadable from app stores and comes preloaded with most Chinese smartphones, such as those from Xiaomi and Huawei – unlike TikTok, which is not available in the city, although its Chinese sister app, Douyin, is.

Creating an account for the semi-bilingual short video app is pretty straightforward. Here is how:

Step 1: Download the RedNote app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. It should take less than a minute to install. If you have a Chinese-brand smartphone and the app is not already on the home screen, go to the in-house app store – for instance, GetApps on Xiaomi handsets – and you will find it there.

The welcome message users see in step 2 of our guide to setting up an account to use the RedNote Chinese short video app on your phone. Photo: RedNote

Step 2: Open the app and a message in Chinese will pop up. It carries a brief welcome note, followed by terms and conditions regarding a user agreement and privacy policy. The top option, highlighted in red, is “agree” and below that is “disagree”. Click “agree”.