What changing your region does on an iPhone
Changing your iPhone's region tells your device which country or territory you're in, which affects the App Store you see, the currency prices display in, the language options available, and which apps and services are shown to you. Your region setting also controls which emergency services numbers work (911 in the US, 999 in the UK, for example) and how dates, times, and measurements appear on your screen.
This is different from changing your language — you can have your iPhone set to the US region but display everything in Spanish, or vice versa. The region is where Apple thinks you are; the language is how you want to read it.
Key Takeaways
- Your region setting is found in Settings > General > Language & Region, not in the App Store settings.
- Changing your region changes which App Store you access and what currency prices show in, so apps may become unavailable or prices may shift.
- You do not need to change your Apple ID country to change your region — they are separate settings.
- If you move to a new country, update your region within a few weeks so emergency services numbers work correctly.
How to change your region in Settings
Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap General, then scroll down and tap Language & Region. You'll see your current region listed under "Region." Tap that field to open a list of all available regions.
Scroll through the list or use the search box at the top to find your new region. Tap it to select it. Your iPhone will ask you to confirm — tap the button to proceed. The change takes effect when ready, though some apps may take a moment to refresh.
If you don't see your exact region in the list, choose the country it belongs to. For example, if you're in England, select "United Kingdom" rather than looking for "England" specifically.
What happens to your App Store when you change region
Changing your region switches which App Store catalog you see. Apps available in one region may not be available in another, and prices will display in the local currency. If you had an app installed that isn't available in your new region, the app stays on your phone and continues to work, but you won't be able to update it through the App Store.
Some subscription services and in-app purchases may also change price or become unavailable. If you rely on region-specific apps (banking apps, local services, or apps only sold in certain countries), check that they're still available before you finalize the change.
Your Apple ID country and your iPhone region are separate. You can be in the US region but have a UK Apple ID, though this can create confusion with pricing and availability. If you want to fully switch to a new country's App Store, you may need to update your Apple ID country as well — that's done in Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases.
Changing region without changing your Apple ID
You can change your iPhone's region without touching your Apple ID. This is useful if you're traveling temporarily or if you want your device to show local emergency numbers and date formats but keep your existing App Store account and payment method.
Just change the region in Language & Region as described above. Your App Store will stay tied to your Apple ID's country, so you'll keep seeing the same apps and prices. However, some system features like emergency numbers and local formatting will reflect your new region.
If you later want to change your Apple ID's country to match, you'll need to go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > Account > Country/Region. Apple requires you to have a valid payment method for the new country before you can make that change.
When to change your region and when to wait
Change your region as soon as you move to a new country permanently, or within a few weeks of arriving. This ensures emergency services numbers work correctly — your iPhone uses the region setting to know which number to dial when you call emergency services.
If you're traveling temporarily (a few days or weeks), you don't need to change your region. Your iPhone will still work normally, and you'll keep access to your home country's App Store. The only inconvenience is that dates and times may display in an unfamiliar format, and emergency numbers won't be localized.
Do not change your region just to access apps or services from another country. Apple's terms of service prohibit using region changes to bypass geographic restrictions, and doing so can result in your account being flagged or restricted.
Troubleshooting region changes that don't stick
If you change your region and it reverts back, or if the change doesn't take effect, restart your iPhone. Hold the power button until "Slide to Power Off" appears, swipe to turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears.
If the problem persists, go back to Settings > General > Language & Region and check that your region is still set to what you selected. Sometimes the setting doesn't save if you close Settings too quickly. Select it again and wait a few seconds before leaving the screen.
If you're unable to change your region at all, check whether Restrictions (also called Screen Time) are enabled. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If it's on, you may need to enter a passcode to change system settings. If you don't remember the passcode, you'll need to reset it through your Apple ID or contact Apple Support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my region delete my apps or data?
No. Changing your region does not delete anything on your iPhone. Your apps, photos, messages, and all other data stay exactly where they are. The only thing that changes is which App Store you see and how your system displays dates, times, and currency.
Can I change my region back and forth whenever I want?
Yes, you can change your region as many times as you want. However, if you change it very frequently, Apple may flag your account for suspicious activity. If you're traveling and changing region multiple times, it's better to leave your region set to your home country and just accept that some local features won't work.
Do I need to change my region if I'm just visiting another country for a week?
No. Your iPhone will work fine in another country without changing the region. You'll still be able to use apps, make calls, and access the internet. The only things that won't work are emergency services numbers (they'll still dial your home country's number) and some location-specific features. If you're staying longer than a month, it's worth changing.
What's the difference between region and language on iPhone?
Region controls which App Store you see, what currency displays, and which country's emergency numbers work. Language controls what language everything is written in. You can have your iPhone set to US region but display everything in French, or UK region with Spanish text. They're independent settings.
If I change my region, will my apps stop working?
Apps you already have installed will keep working. You won't be able to update them through the App Store if they're not available in your new region, but the versions you have will continue to function. New apps you read will come from your new region's App Store.