What changing your region does and why you might need to
Your iPhone's region setting controls which App Store you see, what currency prices display in, which keyboard layouts are available, and how dates, times, and numbers format on your device. Changing it is straightforward and doesn't require restarting your phone or losing any data.
You might change regions if you've moved to a different country, want to download an app only available in another region's App Store, or need different language keyboards. The process takes about two minutes and you can change it back anytime.
Key Takeaways
- Region settings are found in Settings > General > Language & Region, and changing them doesn't erase your data or apps.
- Your App Store region is tied to your Apple ID's country setting, which requires a valid payment method for that country to change.
- Some apps may stop working or update differently once you change regions, so you may want to change back if an app breaks.
- Changing your region affects how your phone displays dates, times, numbers, and which keyboards are available, but not your actual location.
How to change your region in Settings
Open Settings and tap General. Scroll down and tap Language & Region. At the top, tap Region and choose the country or region you want from the list. Your phone will update immediately — you don't need to restart it.
This change affects how your iPhone displays dates, times, numbers, and which keyboard layouts show up when you type. It does not move your location on maps or change which App Store you see — that's controlled separately by your Apple ID country setting.
Changing your App Store region through your Apple ID
To see a different App Store and download region-specific apps, you need to change your Apple ID's country setting, not just your phone's region. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Media & Purchases. Tap View Account, then tap Country/Region.
Tap Change Country or Region and select the new country. You'll need a valid payment method registered to that country — a credit card, debit card, or local payment method that works there. Apple will verify the address matches your payment method before confirming the change.
Once you change your Apple ID's country, the App Store updates within a few minutes. Apps you've already downloaded stay on your phone, but you'll see different apps available for download and prices will show in the new region's currency.
What happens to your apps and data when you change regions
Your existing apps and all your data stay on your phone when you change regions. Photos, messages, contacts, and settings don't disappear. However, some apps may stop working correctly if they're designed only for your old region, or they may update differently once you're in a new App Store.
If an app breaks after you change regions, you can change back to your original region and the app usually works again. Some apps check your region when they launch and won't run if you're outside their supported countries, so this is the most common issue you'll run into.
Changing keyboard layouts and language settings at the same time
Changing your region in Language & Region also changes which keyboard layouts are available. If you change to Japan, for example, Japanese keyboards become available. You can add multiple keyboards regardless of region — go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and tap Add New Keyboard to add any language you want.
Your phone's display language is separate from your region. To change the language your menus appear in, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and tap iPhone Language at the top. You can have your menus in one language and your region set to another.
Switching back to your original region
If you change regions and something stops working, you can switch back the same way you changed it. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region, tap Region, and choose your original region. If you changed your Apple ID's country, go back to Settings > Your Name > Media & Purchases > View Account > Country/Region and change it back there too.
Changing back usually fixes apps that stopped working, though it may take a few minutes for the App Store to update. Your data and downloaded apps remain on your phone through all of these changes.
Why your location services and region are different things
Your iPhone's region setting has nothing to do with your actual location. Maps, location services, and GPS all work based on where your phone physically is, not what region you've set in Settings. You can be in France with your region set to the United States and Maps will still show you where you actually are.
Region affects only how your phone displays information and which App Store you access. It's a software setting, not a location setting. If you need to change your actual location services or GPS, that's a different setting found in Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use apps from multiple regions at the same time?
No. Your Apple ID can only be set to one country at a time, so you can only download from one App Store. You can change which country your Apple ID is set to, but you'll need a valid payment method for that country each time you switch.
Will changing my region affect my iCloud or Apple ID data?
No. Your iCloud data, photos, contacts, and everything synced through your Apple ID stays the same. Only the App Store you see and how your phone displays dates and numbers change.
Do I need to restart my phone after changing regions?
No. Changes take effect immediately. Your phone doesn't need to restart, and you won't lose any data or apps.
What if an app I need isn't available in my new region's App Store?
You can change your Apple ID's country back to where the app is available, download it, then change your country again. The app stays on your phone even after you switch regions, though it may not update as frequently.
Can I change my region without changing my Apple ID country?
Yes. Changing your region in Settings > General > Language & Region only affects how your phone displays information. To change which App Store you see, you must change your Apple ID's country separately in Media & Purchases.