What changing your region does, and why you might need to

Your iPhone's region setting controls which App Store you see, what payment methods work, which apps are available to you, and what language and measurement systems appear by default. Changing your region means you'll see different apps, prices in different currencies, and content tailored to that country or area. This is different from changing your language — you can speak English but be in the UK region, or speak Spanish but be in the US region.

People change regions when they move to a new country, when they want to access apps only sold in a specific region's App Store, or when they're traveling long-term and want local pricing and app availability. The process is straightforward, but it has real consequences: your payment method may stop working, your subscriptions may pause or change price, and some apps may become unavailable.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases to see and change your current region.
  • You must have a valid payment method for the new region before you change, or you can remove your payment method entirely and add a new one later.
  • Changing regions can affect app subscriptions, in-app purchases, and which apps appear in your App Store.
  • You can only change your region once every 90 days, so choose carefully before you make the switch.
  • If you have an unpaid balance or active subscriptions, you may need to settle those before the system lets you change regions.

Steps to change your region in Settings

Open Settings and tap your name at the top of the screen. Then tap Media & Purchases. You'll see your current region listed under your Apple ID. Tap View Account, then tap Country/Region.

A list of countries and regions appears. Scroll to find the one you want and tap it. The system will ask you to confirm your choice and may ask you to review or update your payment method for that region. Some regions require a valid address in that country, so be ready to enter one if prompted.

Once you confirm, the change takes effect immediately. Your App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and other Apple services will now show content and pricing for your new region. This can take a few minutes to fully sync across all your devices.

Payment methods and what happens to your subscriptions

Before you change regions, check what payment method is attached to your account. Credit cards, debit cards, and payment services vary by country — a card that works in the US App Store may not work in the UK App Store. If your current payment method isn't valid in the new region, you'll need to add a new one before you change.

Active subscriptions — like Apple Music, iCloud+, or app subscriptions — may pause or stop working if your payment method becomes invalid. Some subscriptions will automatically renew at the new region's price once you add a valid payment method. Others may cancel. Before you change regions, open Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and review what's active. Contact the app developer if you're unsure whether a subscription will survive the region change.

If you have an unpaid balance on your account, Apple won't let you change regions until you settle it. This includes unpaid in-app purchases or subscription renewals. You can check your balance and payment history in Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > View Account > Billing Information.

The 90-day waiting period between changes

Once you change your region, you cannot change it again for 90 days. This is a hard limit — Apple does not make exceptions. If you change your region and then realize you made a mistake, you're locked into that region for three months. Plan your change carefully and make sure it's the region you actually want to be in.

The 90-day timer starts the moment you confirm the change, not when you first open Settings. If you change on January 15, you cannot change again until April 15. This applies even if you change back to your original region.

What happens to apps when you change regions

Apps that are available in your new region will continue to work. Apps that are only sold in your old region may stop updating, and you may not be able to reinstall them if you delete them. Some apps are region-locked for legal reasons — banking apps, gambling apps, and apps with regional content restrictions fall into this category.

If you have apps installed that aren't available in your new region, they'll stay on your phone and continue to work, but you won't see them in the App Store and you can't update them. If you delete one, you won't be able to download it again without changing your region back.

Before you change regions, review your installed apps and check whether they're available in your new region. Search for each one in the new region's App Store (you can do this by temporarily changing your region on a web browser, or by asking someone in that region). If you have apps you need that won't be available, you may want to delay your region change.

Changing your region without a payment method

You can change your region without adding a payment method — you just remove your current one first. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > View Account > Payment Method and tap Remove. Once your payment method is removed, you can change your region without being asked to add a new one.

However, you won't be able to buy apps, make in-app purchases, or renew subscriptions until you add a valid payment method for your new region. You can still download free apps and use free trials. If you plan to add a payment method later, make sure it's valid in your new region before you try to make a purchase.

Changing region on other Apple devices

Your region is tied to your Apple ID, not to individual devices. If you change your region on your iPhone, it changes on your iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch automatically — they all use the same Apple ID and media account. You don't need to change the region separately on each device.

However, your language and location settings are separate from your region. You can be in the US region but have your iPhone set to display in Spanish, or be in the UK region but use US English. These settings are per-device and won't change when you switch regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my region if I'm traveling?

Yes. Your region is not tied to your physical location — it's tied to your Apple ID. You can be anywhere in the world and change your region to any country Apple supports. However, you'll need a valid payment method for that region, which usually means a card or address registered there.

What happens to my iCloud storage if I change regions?

Your iCloud storage plan stays the same — the amount of storage and your subscription don't change. However, the price you pay for additional storage may change based on your new region's pricing. If you're on a free plan, nothing changes.

Can I change my region back after 90 days?

Yes, but only after the 90-day waiting period ends. Once 90 days have passed since your last region change, you can change back to your original region or to any other region. The 90-day timer resets each time you make a change.

Will my photos or data be deleted if I change regions?

No. Changing your region does not affect your photos, messages, contacts, or any data stored on your phone or in iCloud. It only affects which App Store you see and which apps are available to you.

What if my new region doesn't accept my payment method?

Remove your current payment method before you change regions, then add a new one that's valid in your new region after the change is complete. You can also use an Apple Gift Card purchased in your new region, which works without a credit card.