How to Change Your Country in the App Store (iOS & Mac)

Changing your country or region in the App Store isn't complicated, but it comes with real consequences that catch a lot of people off guard. This guide explains exactly how the process works, what Apple requires, and why the outcome varies depending on your specific setup.

What "Changing Country" Actually Means in the App Store

Your App Store account is tied to a storefront region — not just a language or currency setting, but a distinct catalog of apps, pricing, and terms of service. When you switch countries, you're moving your Apple ID from one regional storefront to another.

This matters because app availability, pricing, and even which apps exist differ between regions. An app available in the US store may not exist in the German store, and vice versa. Subscriptions, purchase history, and payment methods are all region-specific.

Before You Switch: Key Requirements Apple Enforces

Apple has strict prerequisites before a country change goes through:

• No active subscriptions — All App Store subscriptions tied to your Apple ID must be expired or cancelled before the switch is allowed.
• No remaining store credit — Your Apple ID balance must be zero. You can't carry a gift card balance across regions.
• A valid payment method for the new country — This typically means a credit or debit card with a billing address in the destination country, or in some regions, selecting "None" as the payment method.

Skipping any of these will block the change at the final step.

Step-by-Step: How to Change Your App Store Country on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap your Apple ID name at the top.
3. Tap Media & Purchases, then View Account.
4. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your password.
5. Tap Country/Region.
6. Tap Change Country or Region.
7. Select your new country from the list.
8. Review and agree to the Terms & Conditions.
9. Enter a valid payment method and billing address for the new region.

The change takes effect immediately once confirmed.

How to Change Country in the App Store on a Mac

1. Open the App Store app.
2. Click your name or profile icon at the bottom of the sidebar.
3. Click View Information at the top of the Account page.
4. Sign in if prompted.
5. Next to Country/Region, click Change Country or Region.
6. Follow the same prompts: select country, agree to terms, enter payment details.

The Mac and iOS processes are functionally identical — they both modify the same Apple ID storefront setting.

What Happens to Your Existing Purchases After Switching 🌍

This is where things get nuanced. Apps you've already downloaded remain on your device and continue to work. However:

• You cannot re-download a paid app purchased in your old region if it's unavailable in the new one.
• Automatic updates may stop for apps not available in the new storefront.
• In-app purchases and subscriptions need to be managed through whichever storefront they were set up in.
• Family Sharing requires all members to be in the same country/region for purchases and subscriptions to share properly.

Your purchase history from the old region doesn't disappear — but what you can access going forward is filtered by the new storefront.

Factors That Affect How Smooth the Transition Is

Using a Different Region Without Changing Your Main Apple ID

Some users create a secondary Apple ID registered to another country specifically to access region-locked apps, without touching their primary account. This is a common workaround, though it means managing two separate accounts and purchase histories.

The trade-off: you get access to apps in the second region, but purchases, subscriptions, and iCloud storage aren't shared between accounts. Switching between them on a single device requires signing out and back in, which isn't always practical for everyday use.

The Variables That Determine Whether This Is Worth Doing

Whether switching regions makes sense — and how frictionless the experience will be — depends on a combination of things specific to your situation: which apps and subscriptions are currently active on your account, whether you have a valid payment method for the destination country, how you use Family Sharing, and whether the apps you want are actually available in the target region.

Someone with a clean account, no active subscriptions, and a card matching the new country will have a seamless five-minute process. Someone with multiple active subscriptions, a store credit balance, and shared Family Sharing purchases will need to carefully unwind those before the switch becomes possible. 🔄