How to Change Your App Store Country on iPhone & Android

Want access to apps, games, or services not available in your region? Whether you're moving abroad or just looking to download a region-exclusive app, changing your App Store or Google Play country can open new digital doors. This guide walks you through how to make the switch securely and with minimal disruption.

But if you’re just trying to access foreign based content online, an easier solution is to use a VPN like NymVPN to change the location of your IP address. This will give you access to blocked, censored, or geo-specific content beyond the country of your App Store ID and IP address.

Important considerations before changing regions

Before you dive in, there are a few critical privacy and functionality notes to consider:

1. Active subscriptions: Cancel any active subscriptions. Apple and Google won’t let you switch regions until all subscriptions have expired.
2. Store credit & gift cards: Use up your remaining balance. Credits and gift cards don’t transfer across countries.
3. Family sharing restrictions: You’ll need to leave your Family Sharing group. Apple doesn’t support regional switching within shared accounts.
4. Regional app availability: Some apps, media, and services may be missing in your new region, or inaccessible entirely. Always back up anything important before proceeding.

Changing your app store country on iPhone or iPad

Follow these steps to safely switch your Apple region:

1. Open Apple ID Settings

• Go to Settings > [your name]
• Tap Media & Purchases > View Account
• Authenticate via Face ID, Touch ID, or password

2. Navigate to Country/Region Settings

• Tap Country/Region
• Choose Change Country or Region

3. Select New Country & Accept Terms

• Pick your new country from the list
• Review and accept the updated terms

4. Enter Valid Payment Info

• Add a valid billing address and payment method for the new region
• Tap Next to finalize

Changing App Store country on a Mac

1. Open the Mac *App Store

• Click your name or sign-in icon
• Select View Information

2. Change Country/Region

• Scroll to the Country/Region section
• Click Change Country or Region
• Select the new country and accept terms

3. Add New Payment Details

• Provide billing info for the new region
• Click Done to save

Alternative Method: Use a Second Apple ID for Another Region

Want to keep access to multiple regions? Consider creating a second Apple ID.

Benefits

✔️ Maintain access to old apps and purchases ✔️ No need to cancel subscriptions or spend balances

Steps

1. Sign out of your current Apple ID
2. Create a new one using the Apple ID signup page
3. Select the target country during account creation

Managing Two Apple IDs

You’ll need to switch between accounts manually and manage updates separately. Not ideal, but useful for privacy and flexibility.

How to Change Your Google Play Country (Android)

Google's version of this is a bit trickier and slower.

1. Open the Play Store App

• Tap your profile icon
• Go to Settings > General > Account and device preferences

2. Select Country and Profiles

• If eligible, you'll see a "Country and profiles" option
• Select your new country and follow the prompts

Important: You can only change your Play Store country once per year and must be physically located in the new country (based on IP). Using a VPN to change your IP address may be able to help you.

⚠️ What you might lose when switching

• Old purchases may not be accessible in your new region
• Subscriptions won’t transfer, so back up any essential services
• Payment methods must match the billing country
• Services like Apple News, TV+, or region-locked games may disappear

How to revert to your original country

1. Go back to your Apple ID or Google Play country settings
2. Select your previous region
3. Re-enter a valid payment method for that country
4. Your old purchases may become available again (region permitting)

The VPN solution

Sound like too much of a hassle? It most likely is. If you’re just needing to access foreign-based content not available in your country, you do not need to change your country in app stores at all. With NymVPN, you can select what country you want your traffic to appear from, effectively changing your IP address to the desired country of origin. This can open up access to information, web content, and other services.

However, if you’re needing access to an app through the Apple Store or Google Play which is not available in your country, changing your location or jailbreaking your device may be the only options.

Want to level up your privacy while accessing new regions? Combine your new setup with NymVPN to keep your IP hidden and your digital footprint secure — no matter what store you’re using.

FAQs

Will I lose my subscriptions if I change country?

Yes, most subscriptions must be canceled before switching.

Can I use gift cards from one country in another region?

No. Gift cards are region-locked.

How often can I switch countries?

Apple lets you switch as needed (with caveats). Google allows one change per year.