Guide · 01 / 05
How to change your Apple ID region
The complete walkthrough for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web: what to prepare, how to get through the switch without errors, and why everything hinges on one number — your account balance.
What changing region actually does
The country on your Apple Account decides which App Store you see: which apps exist for you, what they cost, which subscriptions are offered, which payment methods work and what language the content comes in.
People switch when they relocate, when an app simply isn't published in their store, or to pay less for subscriptions. Which countries are worth switching to is covered in why change your region and which countries are cheapest.
- Apps you already bought don't disappear — they belong to the account, not the country.
- Active subscriptions have to be cancelled first, or the switch won't proceed.
- Store credit doesn't transfer between countries and isn't refunded in cash.
- Some content that isn't licensed in the new country may stop opening.
Checklist before you switch
Apple checks several conditions at once. Miss one and the country button is greyed out or throws an error.
- Clear the balanceIt has to read 0.00. This is the most common blocker — the mechanics are in the minimum price tier and every way out is in how to clear your balance.
- Cancel subscriptionsEverything active, including iCloud+, Apple Music and third-party ones. Either wait out the paid period or ask Apple Support to end them early.
- Close pending activityPre-orders, movie rentals, season passes and open refund requests all keep the country locked.
- Check Family SharingIf you're in a family group, the organiser's country can block your change. Leaving the group or adjusting its settings fixes it.
- Prepare the new country's detailsYou'll need a valid address there and, usually, a local payment method or gift card.
On iPhone and iPad
The shortest route is on the device itself.
- Open SettingsTap your name at the very top.
- Media & PurchasesSelect it, then tap View Account and sign in if asked.
- Country or RegionOpen it and tap Change Country or Region.
- Pick the new countryFind it in the list, confirm, then read and accept the new store's terms.
- Payment and addressEnter a payment method for the new country (or None, if it's offered) and a valid local address, then save.
If None isn't offered as a payment option, something on the account is still open — almost always a non-zero balance or a subscription that hasn't ended. Go back to the checklist.
In a browser and on Mac
- In a browser: sign in at account.apple.com and open the section with your payment and country details.
- On a Mac: Music or App Store → account menu → View My Account → country/region section.
The conditions are identical to the iPhone route: zero balance, no active subscriptions, nothing pending.
If the button is greyed out
Nine times out of ten it's money on the account. The nasty version is a tiny leftover: you can't spend it on a normal purchase because it's less than the cheapest price the store allows.
You have $0.11 left and the cheapest app or in-app purchase costs $0.99. There's nothing to buy, nothing to spend it on, and the region won't change. The next two articles explain why and what to do.
Balance Cleaner
iOS · utilityThe app drains a stuck balance down to $0.00: it lists small in-app purchases and picks the combination that spends your leftover with the least possible overspend. Once the balance is zero, the region switch unlocks.
FAQ
Is changing your Apple ID region free?
Changing the region itself costs nothing. The only spending comes from emptying the balance: if you can't hit zero exactly, you may need to buy something and cover the difference with a card.
Will I lose the apps I've already bought?
No. Purchased content is tied to your Apple Account, not to a country. What changes is pricing, the catalogue available to you and the accepted payment methods.
How often can I change region?
There is no hard limit, but repeated switching can look like suspicious activity to Apple. Change your country deliberately rather than back and forth.
Do I need a card issued in the new country?
Not to browse the store. To buy anything there you normally need a local payment method or a gift card bought in that country.