How To Change The Apple ID Country Setting
If you want to know how to change the Apple ID country setting for your account, the process is straightforward but requires a few preparations. An Apple ID is region specific — it works only for the country store it was created for. The App Store on both iOS devices and Macs detects which store an Apple ID was created for and switches you to it automatically.
The point is to control the geographical distribution of apps. For example, Pokèmon Go was initially only available in the US App Store. Users residing outside the US had to create a new Apple ID for the US store to download it.
This works fine if you don’t mind having multiple Apple IDs and if you don’t intend to make any purchases in the App Store. If instead you’d like to change the country or region for your existing Apple ID rather than creating a new one, there’s a simple way to do just that. Be warned that this will require a credit card that works in the country or region you want to switch to.
How to change the Apple ID country: what to do before you switch
Before you start, Apple requires that a few conditions are met. If any of these are still pending, the option to change your country or region may be unavailable or the process may fail:
- Spend your remaining Apple Account balance. Your App Store balance must be zero before you can switch regions.
- Cancel active subscriptions and wait until the current subscription period ends before proceeding.
- Wait for any memberships, pre-orders, movie rentals, Season Passes, or pending refunds to finish processing.
- Check Family Sharing. If you are the Family Sharing organizer, the change may be blocked until your family group requirements are resolved.
It is also worth noting that some apps, music, movies, TV shows, and books are not available in every region. Before switching, redownload any content you may need, as it might not be accessible from the new regional store.
On iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and tap your name at the top. Go to Media & Purchases, then tap View Account and sign in if prompted. Tap Country/Region, then tap Change Country or Region. Select the country or region you want to switch to, then review and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Finally, enter your new billing information and billing address, then tap Next.
A list of all available regions will load. Select the country or region you want to switch to and tap next at the bottom. Next, you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions of the App Store for the region you’re switching to. This is going to take a few taps. The last screen will ask you to update your billing information.
This is where your credit card is needed; enter the correct billing address and credit card number on the screen and tap next again at the bottom.
That’s all it takes to change the Apple ID country on an iPhone or iPad. Apple may require a valid payment method accepted in the new country or region, along with a billing address there. According to Apple’s official support documentation, if you would prefer not to add a payment method at all, the recommended alternative is to create a new Apple Account when you are physically in the new country or region, rather than changing your existing one.
Of course if you don’t have a credit card that works in that particular region, you’re not going to be buying apps or making in-app purchases in said store. If all you want is to download free apps, it’s best to create a new Apple ID for the country store you want to use.
How to change the Apple ID country on Mac, Windows, or the web
If you are not on an iPhone or iPad, you can still change the Apple ID country or region from a computer or browser. The steps vary slightly depending on your platform, but the overall process is the same — sign in, locate the Country/Region setting, and follow the prompts to complete the switch.
Mac
Open the Apple Music or Apple TV app. In the menu bar, click Account, then select Account Settings. Sign in if prompted. Click Change Country or Region, select your new country or region, then complete the required billing details and click Next. Knowing how to change the Apple ID country from a Mac is especially useful if you prefer managing your account settings from a desktop environment.
Windows
Open the Apple Music or Apple TV app on your PC. Click your name in the sidebar, then choose View My Account. From there, select Change Country or Region and follow the on-screen prompts to enter your billing information and confirm the change.
Web
Sign in to account.apple.com in any browser. Open Personal Information, then click Country/Region. Follow the prompts to select your new country or region, agree to the Terms & Conditions, and provide a valid billing address for that region. This web-based method is a convenient way to change the Apple ID country without needing any dedicated app installed.
Regardless of which platform you use to change the Apple ID country, the end result is the same — your account will be associated with the new regional store and you will have access to its full catalog of apps, media, and services. Keep in mind that you can only change your region once every 90 days, so make sure you are ready before completing the switch.
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