Right after VK, along with MAX and other services, was removed from Google Play, VKontakte started offering users to switch to the vk.ru domain instead of the familiar vk.com. The social network assures that it’s the same service, only faster and more reliable. Against the backdrop of recent news surrounding VK, many people immediately wonder: is this just cosmetic or a signal of more serious changes. Let’s break down what exactly has changed, who it affects, and whether you need to do anything right now.
What’s really happening with VK?
What Happened with the VKontakte Address
The notification rollout began on July 16. VKontakte started sending users messages suggesting they switch to the vk.ru domain instead of vk.com. The message states that at vk.ru it’s “the same VKontakte, but faster and more reliable than vk.com.” In other words, this is specifically about a domain change, not a new app or a separate service.
If you simply open VKontakte in a browser or through the app and don’t look at the address bar, nothing has visually changed for you at first glance. But the social network clearly wants the vk.ru domain to become the primary one.
vk.ru Instead of vk.com — What Will Change
The main thing to understand: the functionality remains the same. As the developers noted, all features, apps, and design are preserved. Feed, messages, music, video, groups — everything stays in place. The difference, according to the social network, is in availability and speed. The notification states that due to technical nuances, vk.ru is always available and also opens and works faster than vk.com. You can check which address you’re on by looking at the browser’s address bar.
Visually, the sites look identical
There’s a nuance here for phone users. On computers, the address bar is usually at the top, but on phones it varies: in Yandex Browser and Safari it’s at the bottom, in Chrome it’s at the top.
How to Switch to vk.ru: Simple Instructions
The social network isn’t proposing any complicated procedure. The notification says that to switch to vk.ru, you simply need to change .com to .ru in the address bar. In short, here’s how to do it in a browser:
- Open VKontakte and look at the address bar.
- If it shows vk.com, replace the .com ending with .ru.
- Press enter and, if desired, update your bookmark to the new address.
Both sites are working for now
The social network also asks users to tell others about the new address. The message says: “And if you’re already here, tell your friends about vk.ru so everyone can use VKontakte conveniently.” This isn’t a technical necessity, but rather a request to help spread the new domain.
Why VKontakte Is Changing Its Domain and How Sanctions Are Related
Currently, the reason for the changes has not been disclosed. Therefore, everything connecting the domain change to external restrictions is context, not a confirmed explanation. The context, however, is significant. Earlier, the European Union imposed sanctions against VK. Additionally, the app was removed from Google Play.
The social network does not confirm a direct connection between these events, so drawing definitive conclusions is premature. But if you’ve already encountered the fact that the app is hard to find on Google Play, it’s important to understand: the website address change itself doesn’t solve the app store problem — these are separate issues.
