What Changing Your Region Does on iPhone
Changing your region on iPhone tells Apple which country you are in, which affects what apps, content, and features you see in the App Store, what currency your purchases use, and which local services are available to you. Your region setting is separate from your language setting — you can live in France and keep your iPhone in English, or live in the United States and display everything in Spanish.
The region you set must match the country where you have a valid payment method (a credit card, debit card, or Apple Gift Card issued in that country). If you change your region but keep a payment method from a different country, you will get an error when you try to buy anything. Most people change their region when they move to a new country or want to access content only available in a specific region.
Key Takeaways
- Your region setting controls which App Store you see, what currency appears, and which apps and content are available to you.
- You must have a valid payment method from the country you are switching to before you change your region.
- Changing your region takes about five minutes and happens in Settings under your Apple ID name.
- If you have an unpaid balance on your account, Apple will not let you change your region until you pay it off.
- You can change your region as often as you want, but you must wait 14 days between changes in some cases.
How to Change Your Region in Settings
Open Settings on your iPhone and tap your name at the very top of the screen. Tap Media & Purchases, then tap View Account. You will see a screen with your account information. Scroll down and tap Country/Region.
A list of countries will appear. Scroll to find your new country and tap it. A popup will ask you to confirm — read it carefully, because it will tell you if there are any restrictions on changing your region right now. Tap Change Country or Region to confirm. Your iPhone will update within a few seconds, and your App Store will now show content for your new region.
If you see an error message instead, the most common reason is that you have an unpaid balance on your account. Go back to View Account, look for any outstanding charges, and pay them through the same screen before trying again. The second most common reason is that you are trying to change your region too soon after your last change — Apple enforces a 14-day waiting period in some cases.
What Payment Methods You Need Before Switching
Before you change your region, you must have a valid payment method from that country linked to your Apple ID. This can be a credit card, debit card, or an Apple Gift Card bought in that country. If you do not have one yet, you will need to set it up before you change your region, or Apple will not complete the change.
To add a payment method, go to Settings, tap your name, tap Media & Purchases, then tap Payment Method. Tap Add Payment Method and enter your card details. Make sure the billing address matches the country you are moving to — if your card is issued in the United States but your address is in Canada, Apple may reject it.
If you are moving to a country where you do not yet have a local bank account, ask a friend or family member in that country to add their card to your account temporarily, or buy an Apple Gift Card from a retailer in your new country and use that instead. Once you have changed your region, you can remove the temporary payment method and add your own card later.
What Happens to Your Apps and Purchases After You Switch
When you change your region, the App Store will show you different apps and prices in the new region's currency. Apps you have already bought will stay on your iPhone and continue to work, but you will no longer see them in the App Store for your new region — they will only appear in your Purchased tab under your account.
Subscriptions you are paying for will continue, but the price may change if the app costs different amounts in different regions. For example, if you pay $4.99 per month for a subscription in the United States and then change your region to the United Kingdom, the same subscription might cost £3.99 per month instead. The change takes effect at your next billing date.
If an app is not available in your new region, you will not be able to update it, and you may not be able to reinstall it if you delete it. Before you change your region, check whether the apps you use most are available in your new country. You can do this by searching for them in the App Store of the country you are moving to — use a web browser and go to the App Store website for that country.
Troubleshooting Common Problems When Changing Region
If you see the message "You cannot change your country or region at this time," the most likely reason is an unpaid balance. Go to View Account and look for any pending charges or failed payments. Pay any outstanding balance and try again.
If you see "This payment method cannot be used," your card was rejected. This usually means the billing address does not match the country you are switching to. Go to Payment Method, tap your card, and update the address to match your new country. If the card is issued in a different country, you may need to use a different payment method instead.
If you changed your region recently and now want to change it back, you may have to wait 14 days. Apple limits how often you can switch regions to prevent fraud. If you see a message saying you must wait, note the date and try again after 14 days have passed.
If your region changed but your App Store is still showing the old country's content, restart your iPhone. Hold down the power button and volume button together until the power-off slider appears, then slide it to turn off the phone. Wait 10 seconds and turn it back on. The App Store should now show your new region's content.
When You Might Need to Change Your Region
The most common reason to change your region is moving to a new country permanently. If you are relocating for work or school, change your region as soon as you have a valid payment method from your new country set up.
You might also change your region temporarily if you are traveling for an extended period and want to access apps or content only available in that country. Remember that you can only change your region once every 14 days in most cases, so plan ahead if you are moving between countries frequently.
Some people change their region to access apps that are not available in their home country. This is allowed, but keep in mind that apps may not work properly if they are designed for a different region, and customer support from the app maker may not be available in your language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an app from one region if I change to a different region?
Apps you have already bought will continue to work on your iPhone even after you change your region. However, you will not see them in the App Store anymore — they will only appear in your Purchased tab. You cannot update them through the App Store, so if the developer stops supporting older versions, the app may stop working.
What happens to my Apple Music or iCloud subscription when I change regions?
Your subscriptions continue, but the price may change based on the new region's pricing. The new price takes effect at your next billing date. If Apple Music is not available in your new region, your subscription will pause until you change back or move to a region where it is available.
Do I need to change my language when I change my region?
No. Your language setting and region setting are separate. You can change your region to Japan and keep your iPhone in English, or change to France and keep it in Spanish. Change your language in Settings under General > Language & Region if you want to.
Can I change my region if I have a balance on my account?
No. You must pay off any outstanding balance before Apple will let you change your region. Go to View Account in Settings to see if you have any unpaid charges, and pay them before trying to switch regions again.
How long does it take to change my region?
The change itself takes a few seconds once you confirm it in Settings. However, the App Store may take a few minutes to fully update and show content for your new region. If it does not update after 10 minutes, restart your iPhone.