You can change your country in TikTok settings, but the process depends on whether you want to change where TikTok thinks you are or where your account is registered

TikTok stores two location settings: your account region (which determines what version of the app you see and what content recommendations you get) and your device location (which TikTok accesses through your phone's GPS). Changing your account region requires going into settings and selecting a new country from a dropdown menu. Changing your device location is handled through your phone's own location settings, not through TikTok itself.

The account region change takes effect immediately, though TikTok may take a few hours to fully update your feed and recommendations. If you're traveling and want TikTok to show you local content, changing the account region is faster than fiddling with your phone's location settings. If you're trying to access content that's blocked in your current country, changing the account region may not work — TikTok also checks your IP address and device location, so you may need a VPN in addition to changing your region setting.

Key Takeaways

  • Open TikTok, go to Profile, tap the three lines (menu), select Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Region, and choose your new country from the list.
  • Your account region change takes effect right away, but TikTok may take several hours to update your feed and recommendations to match.
  • Changing your account region does not change your device location — if TikTok is checking your GPS or IP address, you may need to adjust your phone's location settings separately.
  • Some content is restricted by country regardless of your account region setting, and TikTok checks your IP address and device location in addition to your account region.

How to change your account region in the app

Open TikTok and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top right. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy. Tap Account. Tap Region. You will see a list of countries and regions — scroll to find yours and tap it. TikTok will confirm the change and return you to the Account settings page.

The change is immediate, though your feed may not update for a few hours. If you do not see your country in the list, it may be because TikTok does not operate in that region, or because your phone's current location is preventing you from selecting it. Try changing your phone's location settings first, then try again in TikTok.

What happens when you change your region

TikTok will start showing you content in the language and style of your new region. If you change from the United States to Japan, for example, your For You page will begin recommending Japanese creators and content tagged for Japanese audiences. Trending sounds, hashtags, and effects will shift to what is trending in Japan instead of the United States.

Your account settings, followers, and videos do not change — only what TikTok recommends to you and what version of the app interface you see. If your new region has different content policies, some videos you previously could see may become unavailable, and some videos that were hidden may now appear.

When changing your region does not work

If you are trying to watch content that is blocked in your country, changing your account region alone may not unlock it. TikTok checks three things: your account region setting, your device's GPS location, and your IP address (which shows TikTok what country your internet connection is in). If all three do not match, TikTok may still block the content.

To fully change your location as far as TikTok is concerned, you would need to change your account region, turn on your phone's location services and set it to your new country, and use a VPN to change your IP address. Even then, some content is restricted by TikTok's own policies and cannot be unlocked by changing locations.

Changing your device location separately

If you only want to change where your phone thinks it is (without changing your account region), you can do this through your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings, Privacy, Location Services, and turn it on or off, or set specific apps to use or not use location. On Android, go to Settings, Location, and toggle location on or off, or tap App Permissions to control which apps can see your location.

Some phones also have a "fake location" or "mock location" feature in developer settings, though using this violates TikTok's terms of service. TikTok can detect when your device location does not match your IP address or account region, and doing this repeatedly may result in your account being flagged or restricted.

Reasons to change your region

You might change your region if you are traveling and want to see what is trending locally, or if you want to explore content from a specific country. Creators sometimes change their region to see how their videos perform in different markets. If you move to a new country permanently, changing your region will make TikTok more relevant to your new location.

You should not change your region to bypass content restrictions or to access content that TikTok has blocked in your country. Doing so violates TikTok's terms of service and may result in your account being suspended or permanently banned.

If you cannot find your country in the region list

TikTok does not operate in every country, and some regions are not available as account region options. If your country is not in the list, it may be because TikTok has restricted service there, or because your phone's current location is preventing you from selecting it. Try restarting the TikTok app or your phone, then check the region list again.

If your country still does not appear, you can contact TikTok support through the app by going to Profile, tapping the three lines, selecting Settings and Privacy, then Help, then Report a Problem. Describe what you are trying to do and ask why your country is not available. TikTok support typically responds within a few days, though they may not be able to add your country if TikTok does not operate there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my region affect my followers or videos?

No. Your followers, videos, and account history stay the same. Only the content TikTok recommends to you and the language of the app interface will change. Your followers in your old region can still see your videos.

Can I change my region back to my original country?

Yes. Go back to Profile, Menu, Settings and Privacy, Account, Region, and select your original country. The change takes effect immediately, though your feed may take a few hours to update.

Does changing my region hide my account from people in my old country?

No. Your account remains public and searchable to everyone, regardless of what region you select. Changing your region only changes what TikTok recommends to you, not who can find you.

What if TikTok says my region cannot be changed right now?

This usually means TikTok is experiencing a temporary issue or your account has a restriction. Try closing the app completely and reopening it. If the message persists, restart your phone and try again. If it still does not work after 24 hours, contact TikTok support.

Can I use a VPN to change my region instead of using the settings?

A VPN changes your IP address but does not change your account region setting. TikTok checks all three location signals, so using only a VPN may not give you the results you want. Changing your account region through settings is the official way to do this.