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Free Fire was one of India’s most popular mobile games when it disappeared from Indian app stores on 14 February 2022, one of 54 apps the government banned over national security concerns. Bringing it back took more than four years, a launch that was announced and then postponed, and a localised version of the game.
The answer to the Free Fire India ban arrived on 28 October 2026, when Garena, the Singapore-based company behind Free Fire, launched Free Fire India with servers in India, parental consent for under-18 players and daily playtime limits.
This explainer walks through each step and what is different now. If you are deciding which app to install, see our Free Fire India vs Free Fire MAX account guide.
The Free Fire India ban in February 2022
The government’s stated concern was national security, with the apps alleged to have links to China, and Free Fire was removed from Indian app stores. Free Fire MAX, the enhanced version of the game, was not on the list and stayed on Google Play. Garena’s Firelink system let players sign in to MAX with their existing Free Fire account and keep their progress and items. On iPhone, the MAX app was also taken off the Indian App Store.
2023: announced, then postponed
Garena announced Free Fire India at a press conference in Noida on 31 August 2023 and set 5 September 2023 as the release date. Garena postponed the release shortly before that date and has not said why.
28 October 2026: Free Fire India launches
Garena launched Free Fire India on Wednesday 28 October 2026 as a free standalone app on Google Play and the App Store. Our launch report covers the day itself. Garena says it worked with the relevant Indian government authorities and incorporated their feedback. The app is separate from Free Fire MAX, which stays available. During the ban years, Garena’s studios in Pune and Mumbai kept developing games for the Indian market.
What is different in Free Fire India
| Area | Free Fire India |
|---|---|
| Servers | Game data hosted on servers in India, with enhanced data protection |
| Accounts | India-region accounts only |
| Players under 18 | Parental consent, with a one-time password (OTP) check on a mobile number at registration |
| Daily playtime | 3 hours under 18 and 6 hours for adults, counted as time actively in a match, resetting daily at 4:00 AM |
| Spending | ₹7,000 a day cap for under-18 accounts, no cap for adults |
| Reminders | Regular break reminders |
What it means for players
Players who kept playing through the ban on Free Fire MAX can continue to do so, because Garena says MAX stays available alongside the new app. New players registering from India are directed to Free Fire India. Check our system requirements report before you download, and read our account guide before signing in with an existing login.