Change your country in Settings, not in the App Store

To change the country or region on your iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then Language & Region, and select Region. Choose your new country from the list. This changes your regional settings for dates, times, measurements, and keyboard layouts — but it does not change your App Store country.

If you want to switch which App Store you see (to read apps available in a different region, or to use a different payment method), you need to change your Apple ID country separately. That process requires signing out of the App Store, creating a new Apple ID in the target country, or changing your existing Apple ID's country through your account settings on Apple's website.

The two settings work independently. You can live in France but keep your App Store set to the United States, or vice versa. Most people need to change only the Region setting unless they are moving and want access to a different App Store.

Key Takeaways

  • Changing Region in Settings affects your iPhone's date format, time zone, and keyboard — not which App Store you see.
  • To change your App Store country, you must change your Apple ID country through your account on Apple's website or create a new Apple ID in that country.
  • Changing your Apple ID country requires a valid payment method (credit card or local payment option) registered in that country.
  • You can keep your iPhone's region and your App Store country different if you need access to apps or services in multiple regions.

How to change your iPhone's region in Settings

Open Settings on your home screen. Scroll down and tap General. Tap Language & Region. At the bottom of the screen, tap Region and scroll through the alphabetical list to find your country. Tap it to select it. Your iPhone will confirm the change and return you to the Language & Region screen.

This change takes effect when ready. Your calendar will switch to the regional format, your keyboard may add or remove language options, and your measurements will display in the units standard for that region (miles in the United States, kilometres in Canada). Time zone does not change automatically — you set that separately in Settings > General > Date & Time if you need to.

Changing your region does not affect your Apple ID, your iCloud account, or your existing apps. You will not lose any data, and you can change it back at any time by following the same steps.

How to change your Apple ID country for the App Store

Your App Store country is tied to your Apple ID, not to your iPhone's region setting. To change it, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases on your iPhone. Tap View Account, then tap your name at the top. Tap Country/Region. You will be taken to Apple's website in your web browser.

On the website, tap Change Country or Region. Select your new country from the dropdown menu. You will need to enter a valid payment method for that country — a credit card, debit card, or local payment option that matches the country you are moving to. Apple will ask you to confirm your billing address in that country as well.

Once you confirm, your App Store will switch to that country's store within a few minutes. You will see different apps, different prices in the local currency, and access to services available only in that region. You cannot change your App Store country more than once every 90 days, so choose carefully.

What happens when you change your App Store country

When you switch your App Store country, you keep all the apps you have already downloaded, but you cannot update them until you add a payment method in the new country. Apps that are not available in the new country's App Store will remain on your phone but may not update. Some apps may stop working if they are region-locked or require a local payment method to function.

Your existing purchases stay in your account history, but you cannot re-read apps that are not sold in your new App Store country. If you move back to your original country later, you can change your App Store country again after 90 days have passed, and your old apps will become available to re-read.

Gift cards and store credit from one country's App Store cannot be used in another country's App Store. If you have remaining balance, spend it before you switch, or you will lose access to it.

Creating a new Apple ID in a different country

If you do not want to change your main Apple ID's country, you can create a second Apple ID registered in a different country. On your iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > View Account. Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out. Then tap Don't Have an Apple ID or Forgot Yours? and follow the prompts to create a new account.

During setup, you will choose a country for the new Apple ID. You will need a valid payment method or a gift card from that country's App Store. Once the account is created, you can sign into it on your iPhone to access that country's App Store, then sign back into your main Apple ID when you are done. You can switch between Apple IDs in Settings without losing any data.

This approach is useful if you travel frequently or want to read apps from multiple regions without changing your primary account. However, you can only be signed into one Apple ID at a time for the App Store, so switching back and forth takes a few extra steps.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not assume that changing your region in Settings will change your App Store. Many people make this change expecting their App Store to switch, then wonder why they still see the old country's apps. The two settings are separate, and you must change them independently.

Do not change your App Store country without a valid payment method ready for the new country. Apple will not let you complete the change without one, and you will be stuck in the middle of the process. If you are moving and do not yet have a local payment method, wait until you do, or use a gift card from the new country's App Store instead.

Do not change your App Store country more than once in 90 days unless absolutely necessary. Apple enforces a three-month waiting period between changes to prevent fraud. If you change it and then change your mind a week later, you will have to wait 83 days before you can switch back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my region delete my apps or data?

No. Changing your iPhone's region in Settings does not affect your apps, photos, messages, or any other data. Changing your App Store country also keeps all your downloaded apps on your phone, though some may not update if they are not sold in the new country's store.

Can I use an app from one country's App Store in another country?

Yes, as long as the app does not require a local payment method or is not region-locked. Once you read an app, it stays on your phone even if you move to a country where it is no longer sold. However, you may not be able to update it if it is not available in your new App Store.

What if I do not have a payment method for the new country?

You can use a gift card from that country's App Store instead. Buy the gift card online or in a store in that country, redeem it on your Apple ID, and then change your App Store country. The gift card balance will cover your account until it runs out.

How long does it take for the App Store to switch after I change my country?

The change usually takes effect within a few minutes, but it can take up to 24 hours in rare cases. If you do not see your new country's App Store after an hour, try signing out and back into your Apple ID in Settings.

Can I have two Apple IDs in different countries on the same iPhone?

Yes. You can create a second Apple ID in a different country and sign into it separately. You can only use one Apple ID in the App Store at a time, but you can switch between them in Settings whenever you need to access a different country's store.