FAQs
It means that some apps you enjoy using may not be available in countries you visit or vice versa – apps you'd like to use may be unavailable in your region. If you're moving to another location, changing your iTunes and App store region will allow you to use and purchase apps accessible in your new home country.
Does changing region affect anything? ›
Some apps will appear, or disappear. Some apps will work as if running them from the new region. Some apps will know that you are not located there. For example: When you want to read Apple News, and you do not have the app on the phone, change your region to US.
Will I lose my apps after changing my country region? ›
If Play Pass is available in your new country: Your access will remain the same. If Play Pass isn't available: You'll still have access to apps installed on your device, but you won't be able to browse or install additional Play Pass apps.
Is it illegal to change your region on your phone? ›
While you're not breaking any laws by using another country's region on your iPhone, doing so can violate Apple's Terms of Service. You can switch regions and browse another country's App Store, but you cannot make purchases without a valid address and payment method from that country.
What are the disadvantages of changing region on iPhone? ›
App Availability: When you change the region, some apps may appear or disappear from your device [1]. Certain apps may be specific to certain regions, and changing your region can make them accessible or unavailable. App Functionality: Some apps may work differently when accessed from a different region.
What happens when you change your region on Apple ID? ›
If you are changing the region in Settings->General->Language & Region ->Region, then nothing happens to your apps or data or any items on your iPhone. They remain just as you are. Note, that this will not affect the country or region used for iTunes & App Stores.
How many times can you change region on an iPhone? ›
Nope. Still only one Region at a time, and only one Apple ID at a time. Also, logging out of one Apple ID and logging in to a different one can only be done once every 90 days.
Will I lose my Apple Music if I change region? ›
However, Apple Music subscription items may not be available in your new country, and items such as playlists will be lost. Realize that if you have purchased something from Apple, it may not be available for redownloading. Make sure you have backups on local drives.
Why is region important? ›
Regions play an important role in human geography because they show both the combinations and differentiations of culture throughout the world. Different physical regions can have multiple political and economic regions within, exemplifying the extensive reach of human geography on planet Earth.
Will I lose my iCloud if I change region? ›
As long as you use the same Apple ID, you'll be able to keep the same information which is stored in iCloud.
So if you have a US credit card with a US billing street address, yes, you can change regions and buy from the USA App Store. Otherwise, even if you change regions, you will not be able to actually purchase anything from the USA store. There is nothing illegal about using another country's App Store.
What happens if I change country in the Play Store? ›
Your Google Play balance is linked to your Google Play country. If you have Google Play balance and change countries, you won't be able to use that balance in your new country. Your balance will still be linked to your old country. If you change back to your old country, you will be able to use it again.
What does the region setting on iPhone do? ›
For iOS and Mac, the language, region, and calendar are user preferences. The language setting determines which localization the app uses. The region setting determines the format of data—such as dates, times, and numbers—and also cultural conventions of the area. For Mac, you can also customize regional formats.
How do I permanently change my region on my iPhone? ›
Use your iPhone or iPad to change your region
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your name, then tap Media & Purchases.
- Tap View Account. ...
- Tap Country/Region.
- Select your new country or region.
- Tap Change Country or Region.
- Tap your new country or region, then review the terms and conditions.
Can phone location be manipulated? ›
Without a VPN: By simply turning on the mock location feature in the developer options of your Android device, you can alter your location. This method typically involves downloading a third-party app to fake GPS coordinates. With a VPN: A VPN masks your IP address, effectively disguising your actual location.
Can I change my Apple ID without losing everything? ›
If you no longer use the email address that's associated with your Apple ID, or you no longer have access to it, you can change it. You won't lose access to your contacts, purchases, or other account information.
Is it legal to change the App Store country? ›
You can only use an App Store for a country where you are a legal resident, have a payment method issued by a bank in that country with a verifiable billing address in that country. You can't change countries just because you want apps only available in that country's app store.