How to Change Your App Store Country on All Apple Devices
Changing your App Store is helpful if you’re planning a long trip or a move abroad and want access to your new location’s apps, games, or pricing. But it can be challenging to do if you don’t have the right measures in place.
In this blog post, we’ll give you step-by-step guides for how to change your App Store country on iOS, macOS, and in your browser. Plus, we’ll give you tips and tricks about what to do ahead of the switch to ensure you don’t end up losing any data.
Quick Steps: Changing Your Country or Region in the App Store
- Check your account status: Make sure you’ve cancelled subscriptions, left Family Sharing, and spent any remaining Apple ID balance.
- Have your new region info ready: You’ll need a valid payment method and billing address for the country you’re planning to switch to.
- Access your Apple Account settings: You can change your App Store region from your device’s account settings or by signing in at appleid.apple.com.
- Follow the prompts to update your country or region: Select your new location, agree to the terms, and enter the required payment and billing details.
Keep in mind that this process might vary slightly depending on your device or OS. You can see exactly which steps to follow in our iPhone and iPad, Mac, and web guide sections below.
💡 Top Tip: Before you start, consider using a VPN. It adds an extra layer of privacy and security when updating sensitive account details, like your Apple ID or payment methods. A VPN can also help reduce compatibility issues with local apps and services, and make it easier to access content from your home country while you’re abroad. Private Internet Access has user-friendly apps for all your Apple devices, including iOS, macOS, and Apple TV.
Things to Do Before You Change Your App Store Country
Before you change your App Store country or region, you have to take care of a few things first, or Apple won’t let you make the switch.
1. Add a Valid Payment Method and Billing Address in Your New Country
Apple requires you to have a valid payment method (like a debit or credit card) that matches the billing address in the country you’re switching to. Do this by going to Settings, tapping on your name, Payment & Shipping, and then Add Payment Method.
Depending on the region, you may also be able to use certain digital payment methods or gift cards, but not all options are universally accepted. It’s a good idea to double-check which payment methods Apple supports in your destination country ahead of time.
2. Leave Family Sharing Groups and Organizations
You must leave your Family Sharing group or organization to change your App Store country. To do this, go to Settings, tap your name, then select Family Sharing and remove yourself from the group.
When you’re the group organizer, you’ll need to disband the group entirely before switching regions. That means removing each family member individually and dissolving the shared plan. Once that’s done, you can proceed with changing your country. Just note that once the group is disbanded, all shared subscriptions and iCloud storage plans will stop.
3. Spend Any Remaining Apple ID Balance
You can’t have leftover credit in your account. That includes leftover gift card credit or store credit from refunds. Make sure you spend all of it (e.g., on apps, in-app purchases, or media) to zero out the account. If your account balance isn’t enough to cover the cheapest purchase available, you’ll need to contact Apple support to have your outstanding balance canceled.
To see whether you have credit, you can head to the Media & Purchases section under your Apple ID settings and tap Add Funds to Apple Account.
4. Back Up Apps and Media
Some apps, games, or media might not be available in the App Store of the country or region you’re switching to. In this case, you won’t lose the app from your device, but you may stop receiving app updates, which are important for security, bug fixes, and compatibility with future iOS versions.
To avoid losing any digital assets, it’s a good idea to take note of any region-specific apps you rely on and download anything important to your device beforehand. This applies to purchased media as well: Even if you’ve paid for it, you may not be able to re-download it later from a different regional store.
5. Cancel Any Active Subscriptions
You must fully cancel every subscription linked to your Apple ID, or make sure it’s expired before you can change your country. That includes Apple services like Music, Apple TV+, and iCloud+, as well as any in-app subscriptions you’ve signed up for. This is because active subscriptions are tied to your current region’s billing system, and Apple cannot transfer them to another country’s App Store.
To check and cancel them, go to Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions. Keep in mind that you’ll need to wait until the end of the current billing period before the cancellation takes effect and you can switch App Store countries.
6. Clear Pending Purchases, Refunds, or Rentals
Apple also prevents country changes if you have any pre-orders, active rentals (like movies or TV episodes), or pending store refunds on your account. These need to be fully resolved or expired before you’ll be allowed to proceed.
To check whether you have anything pending, open the Purchase History section in your Apple ID settings and scan for any incomplete transactions. If you have any refunds in progress, pre-orders, or movie rentals, you’ll need to wait until they’re fully processed or expired.
7. Consider a VPN
If you’re moving abroad or planning to spend time in another country, a VPN can help. By changing your virtual location, it can unblock websites and maintain access to apps and services tied to your home country while you’re abroad.
Just as importantly, it adds a layer of security when you’re entering personal details like your passwords and payment info, which is useful considering all of the sensitive information your iCloud stores. This is especially important when you’re using public Wi-Fi, which is more vulnerable to snoops.
How to Change Your App Store Country on iPhone or iPad (iOS)
Once you’ve ticked off the checklist above, you’re ready to change the country your App Store is set to. Here’s how to do it directly from your iPhone or iPad:
1. Open Settings.
2. Tap your name to access your Apple Account.
3. Select Media & Purchases.
4. Tap View Account.
5. Tap Country/Region.
6. Find your preferred country by scrolling through the list or using the search function.
7. Once you’ve selected your country, read the Terms & Conditions, tap Agree in the upper right-hand corner, and again in the pop-up to confirm the change.
8. Finally, enter a valid payment method and billing address for the new region, then tap Next.
Your App Store will update to the new region instantly, and your device will show the App Store content, pricing, and features tailored to your selected country.
How to Change Country in the App Store on Mac (macOS)
If you’re using a Mac, it’s easiest to change your App Store country directly through the App Store app. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the App Store app.
2. Click your name or Apple ID in the bottom-left corner to access your account.
3. In the top-right corner, click Account Settings and authenticate yourself using your password or Touch ID.
4. Click Change Country or Region.
5. Select your new country from the list, agree to the updated Terms & Conditions, enter a valid payment method and billing address for your chosen country, and click Continue to confirm.
Once you’ve followed these steps, the App Store will refresh and start showing content and pricing for your new location.
Note: You can also change your country by opening the Music or Apple TV app and going to Account > Account Settings. The steps you need to follow after that are nearly identical to the App Store steps. It just depends on which app you prefer to use.
How to Change Region in the App Store on the Web
You can also change your App Store region right from your browser. This option is great if you’re already on a laptop or desktop and need the change done fast. Keep in mind that you will need to verify yourself using one of your Apple devices.
1. Go to appleid.apple.com and click Sign In.
2. Enter your Apple ID details to sign into your account.
3. Complete the two-factor authentication.
4. Click Personal Information in the left-hand menu.
5. Find and select Country/Region.
6. Choose your new country from the dropdown menu, follow the onscreen instructions to accept the updated Terms & Conditions, and enter a valid payment method and billing address for that country. Once you click Save or Continue, your account will update instantly.
What Happens When You Change Your App Store Country?
If you’re relocating or planning on spending an extended period in another country, changing your App Store region can help you access apps and media that are tailored to your new location. It also allows you to use a local payment method, which can make billing smoother and reduce currency conversion fees.
Whatever your reason, switching countries can unlock access to a more relevant and streamlined App Store experience.
Can’t Change Country in App Store? Causes and Fixes
If you’ve followed all the steps but still can’t change your App Store country, you’re not alone. Apple might block the process if certain conditions on your account haven’t been met. Here are the most common reasons and what you can do to fix them:
- You still have store credit on your Apple ID: You need to use up your remaining balance before changing regions. Try purchasing a low-cost item or topping up your account to make a full purchase that brings your balance to zero.
- You’re part of a Family Sharing group: Apple won’t allow country changes if you’re in a Family Sharing group. If you’re a member, leave the group in Settings. If you’re the organizer, you’ll need to disband it entirely.
- There are active subscriptions on your account: You can’t change your country or region if you have active subscriptions. Cancel any ongoing subscriptions and wait for the current billing cycle to end before trying again.
- You have pending purchases, pre-orders, or refunds: These must be fully resolved before Apple lets you change regions. You can check your Purchase History in your Apple Account to see if anything is still processing.
- You haven’t added a valid payment method for the new country: Apple requires a local payment method and billing address that matches your chosen destination. Double-check your payment details before continuing.
- There’s a billing or verification issue: If your payment method isn’t accepted or verification fails, double-check that the card matches the new billing address and is valid for that country.
- Your physical location doesn’t match your selected region: Apple doesn’t track your GPS location when changing store regions, but inconsistencies (like using a card from one country while physically located in another) can sometimes cause an error.
FAQ
To change your App Store country on an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name, then Media & Purchases, View Account, and Country/Region. Search for your preferred country and tap Change Country or Region. Accept the terms before entering your billing address and payment method you’ll use in the new country.
The apps you have installed will remain on your device when you change App Store countries. But, if the app isn’t available in the region you’re going to, you may not be able to access certain features or update the app. Active subscriptions are tied to a specific store, so you’ll need to cancel them and resubscribe when switching countries.
No, you have to supply a valid payment method and billing address from your target country when you’re changing regions on your current Apple ID.
There are a couple of reasons why you might be served with the “Cannot Change Country or Region” message when you try to switch locations. Be sure to check for leftover store credit, active subscriptions, pending rentals or refunds, or Family Sharing membership. All of these must be cleared before Apple allows a country switch.
You won’t lose access to apps and media you’ve already purchased, but you might not be able to update items that aren’t available in the App Store of your chosen location. It’s best to back your device up before you change your country or region to avoid losing your data.