What changing your location on Spotify actually does

Spotify uses your location to show you different content, recommendations, and pricing. When you change your location setting, you're telling Spotify where you want it to think you are — which changes what songs appear in "New Music Daily," what podcasts show up in search results, and which regional playlists you see. It also affects which payment methods Spotify will accept and what your subscription costs.

The location Spotify uses comes from a few places: your device's GPS, your IP address (which shows where your internet connection is), or the country you selected when you made your account. If you've moved to a new country, travel frequently, or want to see content from a specific region, you may want to update this.

Important: Spotify's terms of service say you should use the app in the country where you actually are. Using a VPN or fake location to access content from another country violates those terms and can get your account suspended or closed. The steps below are for updating your real location when you've actually moved or want to see what's available where you genuinely are.

Key Takeaways

  • Spotify pulls your location from your device's GPS, your IP address, or the country you picked when you signed up, and you can update it in account settings on the web.
  • Changing your location changes what music recommendations, playlists, and podcasts you see, and may change your subscription price.
  • You need to update your payment method and billing address to match your new location, or Spotify may reject your payment.
  • Spotify's terms forbid using VPNs or fake locations to access content from countries where you don't actually live.

Update your location in Spotify account settings

The most direct way to change your location is through Spotify's website. Go to spotify.com, sign in, and click your profile name in the top right corner. Select Account from the dropdown menu. On the Account page, scroll down until you see Country/Region. Click the dropdown next to it and select your new country from the list.

After you change it, Spotify may ask you to confirm your new payment method and billing address. If your payment method is no longer valid in that country — for example, a credit card issued in the US won't work if you've moved to the UK — you'll need to add a new one before your next billing date. Spotify will send you an email if there's a problem with your payment.

The change usually takes effect within a few hours, though sometimes it can take up to 24 hours. You may need to sign out and sign back in on your phone or other devices for the change to show up everywhere.

Make sure your payment method works in your new location

When you change your location, Spotify checks whether your current payment method is valid in that country. A credit card issued in one country often won't work for payments in another, even if the card itself is still active. If Spotify can't process a payment with your current method, it will send you an email asking you to update it.

Go back to your Account page and scroll to Payment Methods. Click Edit Payment Method and add a card or payment account that's valid in your new location. If you're moving to a country where Spotify accepts local payment methods — like Alipay in China or iDEAL in the Netherlands — you can add those instead of a credit card.

Your billing address should also match your new location. On the same Account page, look for Billing Address and update it to your current address. Spotify uses this to verify your payment method and to determine your subscription price, which varies by country.

Update your device location settings if Spotify still shows the wrong region

If you've changed your location in Spotify's settings but the app still shows content from your old country, your device's GPS or IP address may be overriding it. Spotify checks multiple signals, and sometimes the device location wins.

On an iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and make sure Location Services is turned on. Then scroll down to Spotify and set it to While Using the App or Always. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Spotify > Permissions > Location and choose Allow only while using the app.

If you're using a VPN, turn it off. VPNs mask your real IP address and can confuse Spotify about where you actually are. Once you turn it off, Spotify should detect your real location within a few minutes.

What happens to your playlists and saved songs when you change location

Your saved songs, playlists, and listening history stay with you when you change your location. You won't lose anything. What changes is what Spotify recommends to you and which regional playlists appear in your search results.

Some songs or podcasts may become unavailable in your new location because of licensing agreements. If a song is blocked in your new country, Spotify will show a lock icon next to it and you won't be able to play it. This is rare for major artists but more common for independent or regional content. If this happens, there's no way around it — the rights holder simply hasn't licensed the content for that country.

Changing location on the Spotify app vs. the website

You can only change your country or region through Spotify's website, not through the mobile app. If you try to look for location settings in the Spotify app on your phone, you won't find them. You have to go to spotify.com, sign in, and make the change there.

Once you've changed it on the website, the app will update within a few hours. If it doesn't, try signing out of the app completely, then signing back in. This forces the app to refresh your account information and pick up the new location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Spotify in a country that's different from my account location?

Spotify's terms say you should use the service in the country where you actually are. If you're traveling, you can use Spotify in another country temporarily, but if you move permanently, you should update your account location. Using a VPN to pretend you're in a different country violates the terms and can get your account closed.

Will changing my location change my subscription price?

Yes. Spotify charges different prices in different countries. When you change your location, your subscription price may go up or down depending on the country's local pricing. Spotify will tell you the new price before your next billing date, and you can cancel if you don't want to pay it.

What if Spotify won't accept my payment method in my new location?

Add a payment method that's valid in your new country. Go to your Account page, click Edit Payment Method, and add a credit card or local payment option that works there. If you don't update it before your next billing date, Spotify will suspend your account until you do.

Do I lose my playlists if I change my location?

No. Your saved songs, playlists, and listening history stay with you. Only the recommendations and regional playlists you see will change. Some individual songs may become unavailable in your new location due to licensing, but your playlists themselves won't disappear.

Why does Spotify still show my old location after I changed it?

Your device's GPS or IP address may be overriding your account setting. Turn off any VPN you're using, make sure Spotify has permission to access your device location, and sign out and back into the app. Changes can take up to 24 hours to show everywhere.