How to change your App Store region
Your App Store region is tied to the country or territory where your payment method is registered. To change it, you update your Apple ID country or Google Play account location — not a setting buried in your phone's preferences. The process takes about five minutes and requires a valid payment method from the new region, though you can use a gift card instead of a credit card.
The steps differ between iPhone (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store), and some regions have restrictions on which countries you can switch to. You'll need to complete the change before you can download apps only available in that region, and any apps you've already purchased won't transfer if they're not sold in your new region.
Key Takeaways
- Your App Store region is determined by your payment method's country, not your phone's location or your Apple ID's home country.
- On iPhone, you change your region through Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases, then tap your country and select a new one.
- On Android, you change your region in Google Play Settings > Account > Country and Profiles, though you may need to update your payment method first.
- You must have a valid payment method from the new region — a credit card, debit card, or gift card issued in that country — to complete the change.
- Some apps and content are only available in certain regions, so changing your region may let you download apps that weren't visible before, or hide ones you already own.
Changing your region on iPhone or iPad
Open Settings and tap your name at the top. Select Media & Purchases, then tap View Account. You'll see your current country listed under Account Information. Tap the country name, then tap Change Country or Region. A list of countries appears — select the one where your new payment method is registered.
Next, you'll enter payment details. If you have a credit or debit card from the new region, enter it. If not, you can buy an App Store gift card from that country (online retailers often sell them) and use that instead. Apple will verify the payment method, and your region will update within a few minutes. You won't be able to use your old payment method after the change, so remove it from your account if you want to.
If you see a message saying you can't change regions yet, you may have a pending transaction or subscription. Wait for any active purchases to finish processing, or cancel subscriptions tied to your old region before trying again.
Changing your region on Android
Open Google Play Store and tap your profile icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then Account. Tap Country and Profiles, then select the country you want to switch to. Google will ask you to confirm a payment method from that region — enter a credit card, debit card, or redeem a Google Play gift card from the new country.
If you don't see the country you want in the list, it may not be available for your current account type or payment method. Some countries have restrictions on which regions you can access. You may also need to update your Google Play billing address to match the new region's country before the system will accept the change.
After you confirm your payment method, the change takes effect immediately. Apps that were hidden in your old region may now appear in search results, and apps only sold in your previous region may no longer be available to download.
What happens to apps you already own
Apps you've already purchased stay on your phone and will continue to work. However, you won't be able to update them through the App Store if they're no longer sold in your new region. If an app is pulled from your new region's store, you can still use it, but you won't receive updates, and you may see error messages when you try to update.
Subscriptions tied to your old region's payment method will cancel when you change regions. If you want to keep a subscription active, you'll need to renew it with a payment method from your new region. Some services (like Apple Music or Spotify) let you manage subscriptions separately from your App Store region, so check the app itself if you're unsure.
Using a gift card if you don't have a local payment method
If you don't have a credit card or bank account in the new region, a gift card is the easiest workaround. Buy an App Store gift card (for iPhone) or Google Play gift card (for Android) from an online retailer that ships to your country. The card will have a code you redeem in your account.
Redeem the gift card in your App Store or Google Play account before you change regions. The balance will stay in your account and can be used to download apps in the new region. Once the gift card balance runs out, you'll need another payment method to download paid apps, but you can always download free apps without one.
Restrictions and limitations by region
Not all countries are available as App Store regions. If the country you want isn't in the list, it may not have an official App Store presence, or your account type may not support it. Some regions also have age restrictions or require a local address to complete the change.
Certain apps and content are only sold in specific regions due to licensing agreements, local laws, or publisher decisions. When you change regions, apps that were available in your old region may disappear from your library, and new ones may appear. This is especially common with games, music apps, and streaming services.
If you travel frequently and want to download apps from different regions, you may need to change your region each time. There's no limit to how often you can switch, but you must wait for each change to complete before starting another one.
Troubleshooting common problems
If you see an error message saying you can't change regions, check that your payment method is valid and hasn't expired. Some banks flag international transactions as suspicious — contact your bank to confirm the charge went through. You may also need to wait 24 hours after your last region change before switching again.
If your new region doesn't appear in the list, try signing out of your account completely, restarting your phone, and signing back in. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts > Google, select your account, tap More Options, and choose Remove Account. Then sign back in and try changing your region again.
If an app you own stops working after you change regions, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. If the app is no longer sold in your new region, reinstalling won't work — you'll need to switch back to your old region to update it, or find an alternative app that's available in your new region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my App Store region if I'm traveling?
Yes, you can change your region from anywhere as long as you have a valid payment method from the new region. However, some payment methods may be flagged as suspicious if you're using them from a different country than where they're registered. Contact your bank if your card is declined.
Will my apps transfer if I change regions?
Apps you own will stay on your phone, but you won't be able to update them if they're no longer sold in your new region. Free apps will continue to work and update normally. Paid apps and subscriptions may stop working if the publisher removes them from your new region's store.
How often can I change my App Store region?
You can change regions as often as you want, but you must wait for each change to complete before starting another. Some accounts may have a 24-hour waiting period between changes if you switch frequently. If you see a message saying you need to wait, try again the next day.
What if my country isn't listed as an App Store region?
Not all countries have official App Store presence. If your country isn't available, you may be able to use a neighboring country's region if you have a payment method from there. Contact Apple or Google support to ask which regions are available for your account type.
Do I lose my apps if I change back to my original region?
Apps you purchased in either region stay on your phone. However, if an app was only available in one region and you switch away from it, you won't be able to update that app anymore. You can always switch back to your original region if you need to update apps you bought there.