Want to download a streaming, gaming, or utility app that is only available in another country? Start with this key point: connecting to a VPN does not directly change your App Store country. Your App Store region is tied to your Apple Account settings, so you need to change it through Apple’s account flow and meet the region’s requirements.

Key Takeaways

Before changing your App Store country, you usually need to spend your account balance and cancel active subscriptions.

Apple often requires a payment method and billing address valid in the target country or region.

After downloading a local app, the service may apply separate network, device, or account checks.

A separate Apple Account can be appropriate in some cases, but it is not a shortcut around Apple’s requirements.

A VPN changes the network path only; it does not change the App Store country or guarantee access.

What to do before changing your App Store country

Apple’s current support guidance has strict requirements for changing an Apple Account country or region. Before you begin, make sure you have handled these items and are in the new country or region［1］:

Spend your Apple Account balance: Store credit usually cannot move between countries, so you need to use it first.
Cancel active subscriptions: This includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, and third-party app subscriptions. Wait until the subscription period ends.
Leave Family Sharing when required: If you are part of a Family Sharing group, Apple may require you to leave it before switching regions［2］.
Prepare a local payment method: Many countries require a supported local card or payment method, plus a matching billing address.

How to change App Store country on iPhone or iPad

If you have cleared the requirements, use these steps on iOS or iPadOS. Menu labels can vary slightly by system version:

Open the Settings app.
Tap your name at the top.
Tap Media & Purchases, then choose View Account. You may need Face ID, Touch ID, or your password.
Tap Country/Region.
Tap Change Country or Region.
Choose the country or region you want, review the terms, and tap Agree.
Enter the required payment method and billing address, then tap Next to finish.

How to change App Store country on Mac or Windows

Apple’s current desktop path uses Apple Music or Apple TV rather than the Mac App Store:

Open Apple Music or Apple TV.
On a Mac, choose Account → Account Settings from the menu bar. On Windows, click your name at the bottom of the sidebar and choose View My Account. Sign in if prompted.
On the Account Information page, choose Change Country or Region.
Select the new country or region, review the terms, and enter the requested billing details and payment information.

How to change your Apple Account region on the web

If you are not near your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, Apple also provides an account web flow:

Open account.apple.com and sign in.
Choose Personal Information in the left menu.
Find Country/Region.
Follow the prompts to select the new region and update payment and billing details.

When a separate Apple Account is appropriate

If you cannot meet the requirements for a region change, do not treat a second account as a bypass. Apple notes that, if you do not want to add a payment method, you can wait until you are physically in the new country or region and create a new Apple Account there. Use the supported App Store region guide to check service availability and the separate-account boundary first. If iCloud and Media & Purchases already use different accounts, review Apple purchase migration rather than treating migration as a country-change step. Keep account ownership, purchases, and subscriptions clear, and follow Apple’s terms.

Why you may still need a VPN after changing Apple Account region

Changing the App Store country controls account-level availability and downloading, but it does not promise that a service will open, stream, or sign in.

If the account country is already correct but an app or update is stuck, use the iPhone apps not downloading or updating guide for network, storage, payment, restriction, and app-availability checks.

Services may separately evaluate IP address, device location, account state, or their own licensing rules. If a service does not support your network or account location, installing the app does not override that decision.

This is where a VPN, or virtual private network, may help with a permitted network path or privacy use case. Apple documents VPN support for securing traffic on its devices［3］. If you are new to VPNs, start with our complete VPN beginner guide.

When you connect to a VPN server and follow the VPN installation guide, your traffic may use a different network path. That does not change your Apple Account country, device GPS, or the service’s terms. Read what a VPN hides before relying on it.

Summary / Key Takeaways

App Store region is not your IP address: Your store region follows your Apple Account.
Region changes have strict requirements: You may need to handle balance, subscriptions, Family Sharing, and payment details.
A second account is a separate account decision: It is not a workaround for Apple’s balance, subscription, location, or payment requirements.
A VPN is a network-layer tool: It may change the route or apparent IP, but it cannot guarantee access to a region-limited service.

FAQ

Can I update apps I downloaded before switching regions?

If an app is not available in your new region, you may not receive normal updates from that store. You may need to switch back or use the original Apple Account［1］.

Will changing region make previous purchases disappear?

Some movies, music, books, or apps are region-licensed. If the new market does not carry that content, you may not be able to download it again.

Why can't I see Change Country or Region?

Common reasons include pending orders, refunds still processing, active rentals, or subscriptions that have not yet ended［2］.

How can I download apps without a local credit card?

Apple’s options depend on the country or region. If you do not want to add a payment method, Apple says you can wait until you are physically in the new country or region and create a new Apple Account there. Do not assume that every region or app supports a no-payment flow［1］.

Can a VPN change my Apple Account country directly?

No. A VPN cannot directly change your App Store country or Apple Account region. It only affects the network path, and any later use remains subject to the service’s terms.

Is the iPad process the same as iPhone?

Yes. On iPadOS, open Settings, tap your name, and follow the same Media & Purchases path.

Can frequent region changes get my account locked?

Apple may require additional checks when account, payment, or region details do not meet its rules. Follow the official flow and avoid treating repeated changes or a second account as a way around those checks.

Disclaimer: Digital content distribution and copyright rules vary by country and region and may change. This article is for technical information only and does not constitute legal advice. Review local laws and service terms before accessing region-specific content.

AethoVPN does not replace the non-network steps in “How to Change Your App Store Country or Region in 2026”.

Sources:

Change your Apple Account country or region - Apple Support — https://support.apple.com/en-us/118283
What to do before you change your country or region - Apple Support — https://support.apple.com/en-us/118283#before
Virtual private network (VPN) security - Apple Platform Security — https://support.apple.com/en-afri/guide/security/sec802e8ab55/web

Sources checked 21 August 2026.

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How to Change Your App Store Country or Region in 2026