What changing your country means and why you might need to
Changing your country on iPhone means telling Apple which country you live in or want to associate with your account. This setting controls which App Store you see, what payment methods are available to you, what apps and content appear in your region, and which customer service team handles your account. It is not the same as changing your location for maps or weather — it is a deeper setting tied to your Apple ID.
You might need to change this if you moved to a different country, if you set up your account in the wrong region by mistake, or if you want to access apps or services available only in another region. The process is straightforward, but Apple requires you to have a valid payment method from the new country before you can complete the change.
Key Takeaways
- You change your country through Settings on your iPhone by going to your Apple ID profile, then Stores, then Country/Region.
- Apple requires a valid payment method from your new country — a credit card, debit card, or local payment option — before you can save the change.
- Changing your country switches which App Store you see and which apps are available to you, so some apps you own may disappear from your library.
- The change takes effect when ready once you save it, and you cannot change your country again for at least one week.
- If you do not have a payment method from your new country, you can add one through the same settings screen before completing the change.
How to change your country through Settings
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap your name at the top of the screen. This opens your Apple ID profile. Tap Media & Purchases, then tap Account. You will see your current country listed at the top. Tap Country/Region to open the list of countries.
Scroll through the list and tap the country you want to move to. The screen will show you a warning that your country change will affect your App Store, your payment methods, and your account settings. Read this carefully — it tells you what will happen next. Tap Change Country/Region to confirm.
If you do not have a payment method from your new country on file, the screen will ask you to add one before you can proceed. You cannot leave this field blank or use a payment method from a different country. Once you add a valid payment method and tap Save, your country change is complete.
What happens to your apps and purchases after you change
When you change your country, your iPhone when ready switches to the App Store for that region. This means the apps you see available for read will change. Some apps you already own may no longer appear in your library because they are not sold in your new country's App Store. You can still use those apps if they are already installed on your phone, but you cannot update them or reinstall them if you delete them.
Any apps you purchased in your old country remain yours — Apple does not delete them from your account. However, you will not see them listed in the Purchased tab of your new App Store. If you need to use an app that is not available in your new region, you can switch back to your old country temporarily, but you must wait at least one week between changes.
Your existing subscriptions, like Apple Music or iCloud+, will continue to work. However, the price may change based on your new country's pricing, and your next billing date will reflect the new regional price.
Adding a payment method from your new country
If you do not already have a credit card, debit card, or local payment method from your new country, you will need to add one before you can complete the country change. During the country change process, when the system asks for a payment method, tap Add Payment Method. You can add a credit card or debit card by entering the card number, expiration date, and CVV.
Some countries also accept local payment options like PayPal, Google Pay, or regional payment services. The options available depend on your new country. If you are moving to a country where you do not yet have a bank account or card, you may need to set that up first before you can change your country on iPhone.
Once you add a valid payment method, Apple will verify it. This usually happens when ready, but can take a few minutes. After verification, you can complete your country change.
Why Apple requires a payment method from your new country
Apple requires a payment method from your new country because it needs to verify that you actually live there or have a legitimate reason to use that region's App Store. This prevents people from switching countries just to access apps or content that is restricted in their actual location. It also ensures that billing happens in the correct currency and that Apple can contact you through local payment processors if there is a problem with your account.
The payment method does not have to be active or have money in it — Apple just needs to verify that it is valid and belongs to someone in that country. If your card is declined during verification, try a different payment method or contact your bank to make sure the card is not being flagged as suspicious.
What to do if you cannot change your country
If you see an error message when you try to change your country, the most common reason is that your payment method failed verification. Check that the card number, expiration date, and billing address are all correct. If they are, try removing the payment method and adding it again.
Another reason the change might fail is if you changed your country within the last week. Apple enforces a one-week waiting period between country changes to prevent fraud. If you recently changed your country and want to change it again, you will have to wait until seven days have passed since your last change.
If you still cannot complete the change after checking these things, sign out of your Apple ID completely, then sign back in. Sometimes a fresh login fixes temporary glitches with the account system. If the problem persists, you can contact Apple Support through the Settings app by going to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > Account > Contact Us.
Switching back to your old country
If you change your country and then decide you want to switch back, you can do so using the same process. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > Account > Country/Region, select your old country, and add a payment method from that country if you no longer have one on file. You will see the same warning about what will change.
Remember that you must wait at least one week between country changes. If you changed to a new country today, you cannot change back until seven days have passed. This waiting period applies whether you are switching to a different country or returning to your original one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my country delete my apps?
No. Apps you already own and have installed will stay on your phone and continue to work. You just will not see them in your new App Store or be able to update them. If you delete an app after changing countries, you cannot reinstall it unless you switch back to your original country.
Can I use a payment method from a different country?
No. Apple requires the payment method to be from the country you are changing to. If you do not have a card from that country, you will need to set one up before you can complete the change.
How long does it take for the country change to go through?
The change is when ready once you tap the confirmation button and your payment method is verified. You should see your new App Store within seconds. If verification takes longer than a few minutes, try signing out and back in to your Apple ID.
What happens to my subscriptions when I change countries?
Your subscriptions continue, but the price changes to match your new country's pricing. Your next billing date will charge you the new regional amount. Some subscriptions may not be available in your new country, in which case you will be notified before the change is finalized.
Can I change my country more than once?
Yes, but you must wait at least one week between changes. This applies every time you change, whether you are switching to a new country or going back to a previous one. The one-week timer starts from the moment you complete each change.