What changing your region does
Changing your iPhone's region tells your device which country you're in, and it affects which App Store you see, what currency prices show in, and which services are available to you. When you change regions, your iPhone switches which version of the App Store you access — so an app that costs $4.99 in the US might show a different price in euros if you switch to a European region.
The region setting also controls what language options appear, which payment methods the App Store accepts, and whether certain apps or services work at all. Some apps are only sold in specific regions, so changing regions can let you see different apps — though you'll need a payment method from that region to buy them.
This is different from changing your language: you can have your iPhone display in Spanish while keeping your region set to the United States. The region is about location and services; the language is about what you read on screen.
Key Takeaways
- Your region setting controls which App Store you see and what currency prices display in, not your physical location.
- You change regions through Settings > General > Language & Region, then tap Region and pick a new country.
- Changing regions requires a payment method from that country — you can't use a US credit card in the UK App Store.
- Some apps only sell in certain regions, so switching regions may show you different apps available to download.
- Your region change takes effect immediately, but you may need to sign out of the App Store and back in to see the new store.
Steps to change your region on iPhone
Open Settings and tap General. Scroll down and tap Language & Region. You'll see your current region listed under the Region heading.
Tap Region to see the full list of countries and territories. Scroll to find the region you want — the list is alphabetical. Tap the region name to select it. Your iPhone will ask you to confirm; tap the region name again to finish.
Your iPhone will restart some services to apply the change. This usually takes a few seconds. Once it's done, go back to the App Store and you should see prices and apps for your new region. If the App Store still shows your old region, sign out of your Apple ID (Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out), then sign back in.
The change is immediate, but some services like Apple Music or Apple TV+ may take a few minutes to update to your new region's catalog.
What you need before changing regions
You need a payment method from the region you're switching to. If you're switching to the UK App Store, you need a UK credit card, debit card, or UK Apple Gift Card. The App Store won't let you use a US card to buy apps in the UK store, even if the card itself works internationally.
If you don't have a local payment method, you can buy gift cards from that region online through retailers that ship digital codes. For example, you can buy a UK iTunes Gift Card from certain websites and redeem it on your UK App Store account. The gift card balance will let you download paid apps without needing a local card on file.
You also need an Apple ID — the same one you use everywhere on your iPhone. You don't need a separate account for each region; one Apple ID works globally, but it can only access one region's App Store at a time.
Why the App Store changes when you switch regions
Apple runs separate App Stores for each country because of laws, payment systems, and app availability. A developer might only have permission to sell their app in the US, or they might price it differently in different countries. Some apps are region-locked by the developer themselves — a streaming service might only work in countries where they have licensing rights.
The currency also changes: prices display in the local currency of your region, and your payment method needs to match. This is why you can't use a US card in a UK store — the payment processor needs a card from a UK bank.
Changing regions doesn't hide your real location from Apple or your internet provider. It only changes which App Store Apple shows you and which services you can reach through your Apple ID.
Common mistakes to avoid
Don't change regions expecting to access content that's blocked in your actual location. If you're physically in a country where a streaming app doesn't work, changing your region on iPhone won't fix that — the app itself checks your real location through your internet connection, not your iPhone's region setting.
Don't assume you can use any credit card from your new region. Some cards are tied to a specific bank account in that country, and the payment processor will reject them if you're not physically there or don't have a local address. Gift cards are more reliable if you don't have a local card.
Don't forget that changing regions affects your entire Apple ID. If you share an Apple ID with family members, changing the region changes it for everyone using that account. If you need to access two different regions regularly, you'll need a second Apple ID.
Switching back to your original region
Go back to Settings > General > Language & Region > Region and select your original country. The process is the same as switching to a new region — tap the region name and confirm. Your App Store will switch back immediately.
If you had apps installed from a different region's App Store, they'll stay on your phone, but you won't be able to update them once you switch back. The App Store won't show updates for apps from a region you're no longer in. You can still use the apps, but they'll eventually become outdated.
If you want to keep using an app from a different region, you'll need to keep your region set to that country, or you'll need to find a version of the app in your home region's App Store.
What happens to your apps when you change regions
Apps you've already downloaded stay on your iPhone and keep working, regardless of which region you switch to. You can download an app in the US App Store, switch to the UK region, and the app still runs fine.
However, you won't be able to update apps that came from a different region's App Store. If you download an app in the US store and then switch to the UK store, the App Store won't show an update for that app because it's not in the UK store's catalog. You'll need to switch back to the original region to update it, or uninstall it and download a UK version if one exists.
Some apps may stop working if they're region-locked by the developer. Streaming apps, banking apps, and services that require a local account sometimes check your region and won't work if you're in the wrong one. This is separate from your iPhone's region setting — it's the app itself enforcing restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my region affect my phone number or cellular service?
No. Your region setting only affects the App Store and Apple services like Apple Music. It doesn't change your phone number, your carrier, or your cellular connection. Your carrier is determined by your SIM card, not your iPhone's region setting.
Can I use apps from multiple regions at the same time?
No. Your Apple ID can only access one region's App Store at a time. If you need apps from two different regions regularly, you'll need to create a second Apple ID for the other region. You can have multiple Apple IDs on one iPhone, but each one accesses only its own region's store.
What if I don't have a payment method for the region I want to switch to?
You can buy gift cards from that region online through retailers that sell digital codes. Redeem the gift card on your Apple ID in that region, and you can download paid apps using the gift card balance instead of a credit card. Once the balance runs out, you'll need another gift card or a local payment method to buy more apps.
Will my subscriptions change if I switch regions?
Your active subscriptions (like Apple Music or iCloud+) will continue working, but the price may change to match your new region's currency. Some subscriptions may not be available in all regions, so switching to a region where a service isn't sold could cancel your subscription. Check your subscriptions in Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions before switching regions.
Can I change my region back and forth as often as I want?
Technically yes, but Apple may flag your account if you switch regions too frequently. If you change regions multiple times in a short period, Apple might temporarily lock you out of the App Store or ask you to verify your identity. If you need to regularly access apps from different regions, a second Apple ID is more reliable than constantly switching.