How to Change App Store Country (iPhone & iPad)

Changing your App Store country lets you access apps, prices, and content available in another region. Before you start, you’ll need to spend any remaining store credit, cancel active subscriptions, and have a valid payment method for the new country. This guide walks you through the steps on an iPhone or iPad.

What You’ll Need

Your Apple ID password
A payment method valid in the new country (credit/debit card, or “None” if you only want free apps)
An address in the new country (for billing)
No remaining store credit or pending orders
All active subscriptions cancelled (including Apple Music, iCloud+, and app subscriptions)

Step-by-Step

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap your name at the top of the screen.
Tap Media & Purchases. (On older iOS versions, tap iTunes & App Store.)
Tap View Account and sign in with your Apple ID if prompted.
On the Account Settings page, tap Country/Region.
Tap Change Country or Region.
Read the pop-up about what happens when you switch, then tap Continue.
Select your new country or region from the list and tap Next (top-right corner).
Review the Terms & Conditions, then tap Agree in the top-right corner. Tap Agree again in the pop-up to confirm.
Choose a payment method. If you only plan to download free apps, select None (if available). Otherwise, enter your card details.
Enter the billing address for the new country. This must be a real street address, city, state/province, postal code, and phone number. Use your own details if you have a valid address there; otherwise, you may need to use a temporary one (but be aware that this can cause issues later).
Tap Done in the top-right corner. Your App Store country is now changed.

Common Mistakes

Not spending store credit: If you have any balance, the change will be blocked. You must use it up or contact Apple Support for a refund (if eligible).
Forgetting to cancel subscriptions: Active subscriptions prevent the switch. Cancel them at least a day before trying to change.
Using a fake address: Your billing address must match the payment method. If it doesn’t, the card will be declined.
Choosing “None” when you have a balance: Even if you select “None,” the balance check still applies.
Not signing out of the App Store: On some iOS versions, you may need to sign out of the App Store entirely and sign back in after the change.

Tips

Take a screenshot of your current country and region settings before changing, so you can revert easily.
After switching, you may need to re-download apps that are not available in the new region. Your purchased apps remain tied to your Apple ID, but you can only download them if they’re available in your current store.
If you plan to switch back, keep a record of the payment method and address you used for each country.
Free apps often require a valid payment method in some countries; “None” is not always offered. In that case, you’ll need to add a card.
Your App Store country affects the currency shown, not just the available apps. Prices will display in the new country’s currency.

Troubleshooting

“You have a store credit balance”: Spend the balance on apps, books, or music, or contact Apple Support to request a refund. Once the balance is zero, try again.
“You have active subscriptions”: Go to Settings > your name > Subscriptions, cancel all of them, and wait until the end of the billing period (or until they show as expired). Then retry.
Payment method is declined: Double-check the card number, expiration, and billing address. The address must exactly match what your bank has on file for the new country.
“Cannot complete request” error: This often happens if you have pending app downloads or updates. Pause or cancel them, restart your device, and try again.
Country/Region is greyed out: This can occur if you have Family Sharing enabled. You may need to turn off Family Sharing or have the family organizer change the region for the entire family.
Apps disappear after switching: This is normal. Apps not available in the new region won’t show up in your purchased list. They are not deleted, but you can’t re-download them until you switch back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my App Store country without a payment method?

Yes, but only if the new country’s store allows “None” as a payment option, which is common for countries with a strong free-app ecosystem. If not, you’ll need to add a valid card.

Will I lose my apps if I change country?

No, your apps are tied to your Apple ID, not the country. However, you can only download apps that are available in your current store. Apps you’ve already downloaded remain on your device.

Can I switch back to my original country later?

Yes, you can change back at any time, as long as you meet the same requirements (no balance, no subscriptions, valid payment method).

Does changing country affect my iCloud data?

No, your iCloud data (photos, contacts, backups) is unaffected. Only the App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple Books store change.

What if I have an Apple Music subscription?

You must cancel it before changing country. Your library and playlists remain, but you’ll need to re-subscribe in the new region if you want to use Apple Music.

Can I use a VPN to change my App Store country?

No, a VPN only changes your IP address. The App Store country is determined by your Apple ID settings, not your location. You must follow the steps above.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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