The quickest way to change your country
To change the country in Google Play Store, you need to change the country setting on your Google Account itself — the Play Store pulls that information automatically and does not have its own separate country selector. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info on the left side, scroll to Country/Region, and select your new country from the dropdown. Save the change. The Play Store will update within a few hours, though sometimes it takes up to 24 hours.
The catch is that Google requires a payment method registered in that country before you can change to it. If you do not have a credit card, debit card, or local payment method for the new country, the change will not stick. You can add a payment method first, then change the country, or change the country and add a payment method when ready after — Google will prompt you if one is missing.
Once you change countries, your app library changes too. Apps you bought in the old country may no longer appear in the new country's Play Store, and you may see different free apps available. Paid apps you already own will still work on your phone, but you cannot update them from the Play Store until you change back or use a workaround.
Key Takeaways
- Change your country by going to myaccount.google.com, clicking Personal info, and selecting a new country under Country/Region — the Play Store updates automatically.
- You must have a valid payment method registered in the new country before Google will let you complete the change.
- Apps you bought in your old country may disappear from your library in the new country, though apps you already own will continue to work.
- Changing countries affects your entire Google Account, not just the Play Store, including YouTube, Gmail, and other Google services.
- If you need apps from multiple countries, consider using a second Google Account registered in each country instead of switching back and forth.
Why you might need to change your country
The most common reason is moving to a new country. When you relocate, your Google Account's country setting should match where you actually live, because it determines which apps, prices, and payment methods are available to you. Some apps are only sold in certain regions — a game available in Canada might not be available in Germany, for example.
Another reason is that you want to buy an app or in-app content that is only sold in a specific country. This is less common now, but some developers still restrict their apps to certain regions. Changing your country temporarily to buy something is possible, but it requires adding a payment method in that country first, which is the real barrier for most people.
A third reason is that your account was set to the wrong country when you created it, and you never corrected it. This happens often when people set up Google Accounts while traveling or when they move and forget to update their account information.
What happens to your apps when you change countries
Apps you already own and have installed will continue to work and run normally. You can open them, use them, and play them just like before. The change does not delete anything from your phone.
What changes is what you see in the Play Store. When you search for an app you bought in your old country, it may no longer appear in the search results or in your library, because that app is not sold in the new country. If you try to update one of these apps, the Play Store will tell you it is not available in your region.
You can still use the app — it stays on your phone and works fine. But you cannot update it through the Play Store until you change your country back or use a workaround like installing the app through a file manager if you have the installation file saved. This is why people who move between countries sometimes keep a second Google Account registered in their old country, just to handle app updates.
Adding a payment method in a new country
Before you change your country, you need a payment method that works in that country. This can be a credit card, debit card, or a local payment service like Google Play balance purchased through a local retailer.
To add a payment method, go to myaccount.google.com, click Payments & subscriptions on the left, then click Payment methods. Click Add a payment method and enter the card details. The card must be issued by a bank in the country you are moving to — a US credit card will not work if you are trying to change to a UK account, for example.
If you do not have a card from the new country yet, you can buy Google Play gift cards at local retailers in that country and redeem them to your account. This creates a balance that counts as a valid payment method. Once you have either a card or a balance, you can change your country.
Changing your country on different devices
The country setting lives on your Google Account, not on your phone or tablet, so the change affects all your devices at once. Whether you use an Android phone, a tablet, a Chromebook, or a computer, they all pull the country from the same account.
You can change the country from any device by going to myaccount.google.com and logging in. You do not need to do it on your phone. Once you change it, every device signed into that account will see the new country within a few hours.
If you have multiple Google Accounts on the same phone, each account has its own country setting. You can switch between accounts in the Play Store by tapping your profile picture in the top right, then tapping the account you want to use. The Play Store will show apps available in that account's country.
What else changes when you change your country
Your Google Account country affects more than just the Play Store. It also changes the country setting for YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and other Google services. YouTube will show content recommendations and ads for your new country. Google Maps will default to that country's language and measurement units. Gmail may show different spam filters and features depending on the country.
Your Google One storage plan and any subscriptions you have will continue to work, but the price you see may change if you switch to a country with different pricing. Some services may have different terms of service in different countries, so read the terms before you finalize the change if you are concerned about this.
If you use Google for business or have a Google Workspace account, changing your personal account's country does not affect your work account — those are separate. But if you use the same account for both personal and work, the change will explore to everything.
Switching back to your old country
You can change your country back to your original one at any time by following the same steps: go to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info, and select your old country. You will need a valid payment method in that country again, so make sure you still have a card or balance registered there before you switch.
When you switch back, your old apps will reappear in the Play Store and you will be able to update them again. Any apps you bought in the new country will disappear from your library, though they will continue to work on your phone if you installed them.
If you switch countries frequently, consider keeping payment methods in multiple countries on your account so you can switch without having to add a new card each time. You can have multiple payment methods registered at once — just go to Payments & subscriptions and add each one.
Using a second account for a different country
If you need apps from two different countries regularly, creating a second Google Account is often easier than switching back and forth. Set up a new account, register it in the second country, add a payment method there, and install the Play Store on your phone with that account.
You can switch between accounts in the Play Store by tapping your profile picture and selecting the account you want. Apps from both accounts will stay on your phone and continue to work. You can update apps from either account without changing your main account's country.
The downside is that you have two separate app libraries and two separate Google Drive backups. If you only need one or two apps from the other country, this is overkill. But if you regularly use apps from multiple countries, a second account saves you the hassle of switching your main account back and forth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for the Play Store to update after I change my country?
Usually a few hours, but sometimes up to 24 hours. If it has been more than a day and nothing has changed, try signing out of your Google Account on your phone and signing back in. Go to Settings, tap Accounts, select your Google Account, tap the menu button, and choose Remove account. Then add it back by going to Settings > Accounts > Add account > Google.
Can I change my country if I do not have a payment method in the new country yet?
No, Google requires a valid payment method registered in the new country before you can complete the change. Add a card or buy a Google Play gift card from a retailer in that country first. Once you have a balance or card on file, the country change will go through.
Will my paid apps stop working if I change my country?
No, apps you already own will continue to work and run normally on your phone. You just will not be able to update them through the Play Store until you change your country back. The app itself is not deleted or disabled — it just becomes invisible in the Play Store's search results.
Can I have payment methods from multiple countries on one account?
Yes, you can add multiple payment methods from different countries to the same Google Account. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Payments & subscriptions, then Payment methods, and add each card. Your account's country setting determines which one is used by default, but you can switch between them when you make a purchase.
What happens to my subscriptions if I change my country?
Subscriptions continue to work, but the price may change depending on the new country's pricing. The payment method used will be one registered in the new country. If you do not want the price to change, keep a payment method from your old country on file and select it manually when you renew, though this may not work for all subscriptions depending on Google's regional rules.