Change Your iPhone's Country Setting in Settings

To change the country or region on your iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then scroll down and tap Language & Region. At the top, you'll see Region — tap it and select your new country from the list. Your iPhone will update when ready, and you'll see the change reflected in date formats, keyboard layouts, and which App Store you access.

This is the main setting that controls which country's version of the App Store you see, what currency prices display in, and how your phone formats dates and phone numbers. If you're moving to a new country or traveling for an extended period, this is the setting you need to change.

The process takes about 30 seconds. You don't need to restart your phone, and you can change it back at any time using the same steps.

Key Takeaways

  • The Region setting in Language & Region controls which App Store you access and what currency prices show in.
  • Changing your region updates date formats, keyboard layouts, and phone number formatting to match your new country.
  • You can change your region back at any time without losing any data or apps.
  • If you want to change your Apple ID country, you'll need to go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases instead, and you may need to update your payment method.
  • Some apps may stop working or show different content after you change your region, depending on licensing and availability in your new country.

Why Your Region Setting Matters for the App Store

Your iPhone's region determines which App Store you see when you open the App Store app. If you change your region to France, you'll see apps priced in euros and available only in the French App Store. Some apps are region-locked, meaning they're only available in certain countries — changing your region may let you see apps that weren't visible before, or hide ones that were.

This also affects in-app purchases and subscriptions. If you buy a subscription through an app while your region is set to the United States, that subscription will charge in US dollars. If you later change your region to Canada, the subscription may renew at a different price in Canadian dollars, depending on the app's pricing structure.

Changing Your Apple ID Country Separately

Your Apple ID can be set to a different country than your iPhone's region setting. To change your Apple ID's country, go to Settings > tap your name at the top > Media & Purchases > View Account > Country/Region. You'll see your current country and an option to change it.

When you change your Apple ID's country, you may need to update your payment method — Apple requires a valid payment address in the new country. If you don't have a payment method for that country, you can add a credit card with a billing address there, or use an Apple Gift Card purchased in that country.

You can only change your Apple ID country once every 12 months, so choose carefully. Your region setting (in Language & Region) can be changed as often as you want, but your Apple ID country change is restricted.

What Changes When You Switch Your Region

When you change your region, several things update on your iPhone. Date formats change — the United States uses MM/DD/YYYY, while most other countries use DD/MM/YYYY. Time formats may shift between 12-hour and 24-hour displays. Phone number formatting changes to match your new country's standard.

Your keyboard layout may change too. If you switch to a country that uses a different alphabet or character set, your default keyboard will update. You can always add multiple keyboards in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards if you want to type in multiple languages.

Currency symbols and measurements also shift. If you change to a metric country, apps that show distances or weights will switch from miles and pounds to kilometers and kilograms. Prices in the App Store and Apple Books will display in the currency of your new region.

Troubleshooting Region Changes That Don't Stick

Occasionally, after you change your region, your iPhone reverts to the old one or the change doesn't take effect in the App Store right away. If this happens, restart your iPhone by powering it off and back on. Most region-related glitches clear after a restart.

If the App Store still shows your old region after a restart, sign out of your Apple ID in Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, wait 30 seconds, then sign back in. This forces your iPhone to sync your account settings with Apple's servers and usually resolves the issue.

If you're trying to change your Apple ID's country and you see an error message, check that your payment method has a valid billing address in the new country. Apple won't let you complete the change without a working payment method for that region.

When You Travel vs. When You Move

If you're traveling for a short trip, you may not want to change your region permanently. Changing your region affects which App Store you see, so you might miss updates for apps that aren't available in the country you're visiting. Many travelers leave their region set to their home country and just change it back when they return.

If you're moving to a new country permanently, changing your region makes sense. You'll get access to apps and services designed for that country, and your phone's formatting will match local standards. Just remember that changing your Apple ID's country is a separate step and can only be done once per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my apps if I change my region?

No. Your apps stay on your iPhone. However, some apps may stop receiving updates if they're not available in your new region's App Store. You can still use the app, but you won't see new versions. If you need the app to keep updating, you may need to change your region back or use a different Apple ID set to your original country.

Can I have two Apple IDs for two different regions?

Yes. You can add multiple Apple IDs to your iPhone in Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing or by signing in with a different account. Each Apple ID can be set to a different country. You'll switch between them in the App Store to access different regional stores.

What happens to my subscriptions when I change regions?

Subscriptions stay active, but the price may change on the next renewal date. If you had a subscription in US dollars and change to a country that uses euros, your next charge will be in euros at the local price for that app. Check your subscriptions in Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > Subscriptions to see the renewal price.

Do I need to change my region if I'm just on vacation?

No. Your region setting doesn't affect your ability to use your phone while traveling. You'll still get calls, texts, and data. The only reason to change it is if you want access to apps or services that are only available in that country's App Store, or if you're staying long enough that the date and time formatting bothers you.