To change the location settings of your App Store, you have to go into your iOS/Apple ID settings. However, since Apple can still detect your real location via GPS and your IP address, it might not work. You’ll need to turn off GPS and use a VPN.
A VPN changes the IP address of your device so that you’re virtually located somewhere else. This will help you change the country on iPhone and any iOS device.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Get a VPN. For iOS, we suggest NordVPN. This VPN has a large server network, high speeds, and a fantastic iOS app.
- Download the iOS application and log in with your account.
- Connect to a server in a country you want to connect to.
- Go into your iOS Settings > Apple ID > Media & Purchases > View Account > Country/Region. Follow the steps to completion.
You will now get access to apps in the App Store that were unavailable before.
NordVPN
You can find a detailed guide on how to change region on iPhone and other iOS and Apple devices below.
The Apple App Store is not the same around the world. This means you can easily miss out on apps and games you want. On top of that, you’ll find that certain apps are unavailable when traveling.
Unfortunately, just changing your iPhone region settings won’t fix the issue. If your IP address doesn’t match your chosen region, you might not be able to access all apps. For that, you need a VPN!
A VPN lets you take on an IP address from almost anywhere in the world, unblocking the full App Store library for you! Our recommendation for iPhone and iPad is NordVPN, which has a fantastic app for iOS. At the moment, you can get 72% off your NordVPN plan.
If you’ve been wondering how to change country on iPhone and other iOS devices, you’ve come to the right place. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide on how to change your Apple App Store country.
Why Change Your Apple Store Region on Your Apple Device?
There are several good reasons to change your App Store region. By changing your iPhone region, you can:
- Access the full App Store library: Bypass geo-restrictions, access different App Store countries, and use apps that are otherwise unavailable to you.
- Keep your apps when traveling: On the road? Change your Apple ID region to make sure you can still access all your favorite apps.
- Save money on apps and games: Some apps or games are more affordable abroad. By changing your Apple Store’s location settings, you can compare prices and get the best deal.
Due to licensing restrictions, lots of apps are not available worldwide. This includes games and social media, but also streaming apps like AppleTV+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.
Adjusting your iOS region settings is a great start. However, most of the time, it’s not enough. With a VPN, you can change your IP address along with your settings so you can unblock apps from anywhere.
Let’s get into it!
How to Change Country on iPhone and iOS Devices
There are a few different approaches you can take to changing your App Store location:
- Change your iOS region settings: This might get you around certain restrictions, but it doesn’t always work.
- Create a new Apple ID: A bit of a hassle, but not impossible. However, Apple might still know your real location.
- Get a different IP address with a VPN (best option!): To hide and change your IP address, you can use a VPN. This will actually change your Apple Store location.
Pro Tip:
We recommend always changing your region settings first, and, if that doesn’t work, use a VPN.
Change your iOS region settings (try this first!)
Changing your Apple region settings is a good first step if you want to get access to the full App Store.
Important:
We noticed that you can’t change the App Store region settings if you still have any active subscriptions. More importantly, you need to have a $0.00 balance before you make any changes. If you have a balance that’s too small to make any purchases (say, $0.08), you’ll need to contact Apple directly and ask them to remove the remaining balance.
For iOS (iPhone and iPad), we followed these steps:
- (For iPhone) Disable GPS tracking in the settings of your iPhone by going to “Settings” > “Privacy & Security” > “Location Services” > “Turn Off.”
- Go back to “Settings” and click on your Apple ID.
- Tap “Media & Purchases,” then tap “View Account.”
- Log in with your Apple ID, then go to “Country/Region” and tap “Change Country or Region.” If you have any active subscriptions or get the notification that you have pending store credit refunds, you’ll be asked to remove them. Check your Apple account balance and follow the onscreen instructions.
- Select a country from the list and tap “Agree” to change your Apple App Store country.
- When asked for a payment method, select “None.”
- Along with your preferred payment method, you will likely be asked to enter a billing address. You can enter any contact information you like, it doesn’t have to be your real contact information. When testing this method, we weren’t asked for any verification.
- Click “Done.”
If you’re in luck, this approach will do the trick and provide you with different apps in the App Store!
Change your Mac region settings
On macOS, you can follow these steps:
- Go to iTunes and open it.
- Click “Account” > “Account Settings.”
- Log in with your Apple ID, then click on “Change Country or Region” on the App Store Account information page.
- You should now be able to select a country from the list.
Create a new Apple ID
When changing your region settings doesn’t work, you can try to switch to a new Apple ID country. To do this, you will need to create a new Apple ID and set it to a different location.
Keep in Mind
You’ll be asked to verify your contact information and have to enter a valid payment method
When testing this method, we noticed starting from scratch is a big hassle. More importantly, it doesn’t come with a guarantee that it’ll work.
Luckily, there is a much easier way to unblock a new location for the App Store: using a VPN.
Change your App Store country with a VPN (best chance!)
Changing your iPhone region settings or creating a new Apple ID might help, but there’s a good chance you will still see the same version of the App Store. This is because Apple uses two indicators to determine your real location:
- GPS location: On mobile devices, your GPS will reveal your exact geographical location.
- IP address: This is a virtual identifier that shows apps, websites, and your internet service provider where your data is coming from.
When switching to a new country, you can disable GPS tracking in the settings of your iPhone.
Changing your IP address, however, requires a different tool. You’ll need a virtual private network (VPN) to spoof your location and replace your real IP address with that of a VPN server located elsewhere in the world.
Here’s how to change your App Store location with a VPN:
- Subscribe to a premium VPN provider. We recommend NordVPN for changing your App Store location settings. At the moment, you can get NordVPN with 72% off for a two-year subscription period!
- Download the NordVPN app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Log in with the account you just created. You’ll see a list of all the VPN servers you can connect to.
- Choose a VPN server to connect to, such as the United States. Once you’re connected, your IP address will change to that of the VPN server in your chosen country.
You can now go into your Settings app and change “Country/Region,” as outlined in the steps above. The VPN will ensure that you unblock the App Store you want access to!
Change your country on the Apple Vision Pro
The Apple Vision Pro headset is currently only available for purchase in the United States. Apple has stated explicitly that “the App Store requires an Apple ID with the region set to the U.S.”
Importing the Apple Vision Pro from the United States is a bit of a risk: unless you’re able to change the region settings, you’ll have spent $3,499 for nothing.
Since the Apple Vision Pro runs on its own operating system, VisionOS, we don’t know much yet about how to change your country on the Apple Vision Pro.
One thing is clear: if you want to take the risk, a VPN will be key. Presumably, you’ll have to disable your GPS tracking, connect to your VPN, and then change the Apple ID region settings.
In the case of the Apple Vision Pro, you might also need a valid payment method to change your Apple ID account.
The Best VPNs for Changing Your Apple Store Region
Not every VPN can unblock the App Store. We’ve tested 25+ VPNs to see which ones are best for Apple devices and get the job done.
1. NordVPN: Best VPN to change App Store region
NordVPN is our #1 VPN of the moment and a real unblocking powerhouse! It’s the perfect app to change your App Store region.
Best features:
- Fantastic iOS/macOS apps that are easy to use.
- High-speed VPN servers that won’t cause any buffering.
- Phenomenal range of security features to keep your data safe, including RAM-only servers, Threat Protection, and a Dark Web Monitor.
- 24/7 live chat support in case you run into issues while unblocking the App Store.
NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee that you can use, like a free trial. At the moment, you can also get a big discount on the two-year plan.
You can check out NordVPN’s entire set of features in our extensive NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark: High-quality VPN with a great iOS app
With a fantastic iPhone app, great speeds, and an affordable subscription plan, Surfshark is a great VPN to change your Apple ID location. It’s easily one of the best VPNs for iPhone and iPad.
Best features:
- High-end encryption and obfuscation to get past the heaviest geo-restrictions.
- Unblock any country’s App Store with the easy-to-use iOS app.
- Affordable plans so you won’t have to break the bank for a different IP address.
- 3200+ servers in 100 countries to unblock apps, streaming services, and websites.
Right now, Surfshark has an 86% discount for anyone signing up! You can also make use of their 30-day money-back guarantee if you want to try the VPN for yourself first.
From our own experience with Surfshark, we know that this VPN can unblock anything.
3. CyberGhost: Budget VPN to change Apple region
If you’re looking for the most affordable VPN to change your Apple region, CyberGhost is worth considering.
Best features:
- Beginner-friendly VPN that works well on iOS and macOS.
- Change your App Store country and enjoy optimized servers for streaming, gaming, and torrenting.
- Large server network with 11700+ VPN servers across 100 countries.
- 45-day money-back guarantee to see for yourself if it works!
Want to see what CyberGhost is all about? For 45 days, you can use the VPN without committing.
We are confident this VPN will allow you to easily change your App Store settings. CyberGhost always performs well in testing.
Services to Avoid When You Want to Change Region on iPhone
VPNs are not the only tools you can use to change your virtual location to a new country. However, not all services are safe or strong enough to unblock a different country’s App Store.
During our tests, we found that the following services didn’t work for changing your Apple ID country.
Service | Why You Shouldn’t Use It |
---|---|
Smart DNS | While a smart DNS server might get the job done, your data won’t be encrypted, making you vulnerable to hacking. |
Proxy | A proxy server will reroute your traffic through an external server but is less secure than a VPN. |
Free VPN | Though there are some great free VPNs for iOS available, they come with security vulnerabilities and data caps. |
In most places around the world, it’s not illegal to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content.
However, certain apps you’re trying to get through the App Store might have policies against it. Always make sure you read up on your user agreement.
Change Your Apple Story Country Safely With a VPN
The best and easiest way to change your App Store’s location is with a VPN. While you might be able to change your country or region in your iOS account settings, either with your regular or new Apple ID, it’s key that your IP address changes along with your new location. For this, you need a VPN!
From our own experience, we know that the best VPNs to unblock the App Store from anywhere are:
- NordVPN: Best VPN to change iOS region settings
- Surfshark: High-quality VPN with fantastic security features
- CyberGhost: Affordable VPN to bypass geo-restrictions
You can get 72% off your NordVPN subscription if you sign up today. Get ready to change your App Store location with just a couple of clicks!
Have a look at these related articles for more information:
- How to Change Your Country in the Google Play Store
- How to Unblock Websites From Anywhere
- How to Use ChatGPT in Countries Where It’s Banned
Do you have any questions about changing your App Store location settings? Check out our FAQ below!
If you’ve tried changing your Apple Store country without success, chances are Apple has detected your real location via GPS and your IP address. To change your IP address, you need to use a virtual private network (VPN).
You can change your App Store country by trying the following things:
- Change your Country/Region settings in the iOS settings (only works sometimes).
- Create a new Apple ID and set it to a different country (only works sometimes).
- Use a VPN to change your IP address (most reliable option!). We recommend NordVPN, which works like a charm every time we tried it!
You can opt out of adding a payment method by selecting “None” when asked to choose one. You will still need to add a local address and phone number. However, since you won’t be asked to verify, you don’t have to enter your real contact information.
By using a VPN like NordVPN, one of the best VPNs for iOS, you can change the virtual location of your iPhone and download apps that are otherwise not available in your country.
If you change your region on your iPhone, you will notice that the App Store and certain functionalities change. You will gain or lose access to apps that are specific to that country or region.