The App Store is not a single global catalog. Apple operates region-specific stores — what’s available in Japan isn’t necessarily available in Germany, and what costs $4.99 in the United States may cost significantly less or more in another market. The region on your Apple ID determines which store you access and which payment methods are accepted.
Changing your Apple ID’s country or region is possible, but Apple places specific requirements on it. And if you want to access another region’s store while keeping your existing Apple ID intact — a common situation for travelers, expats, and app collectors — creating a dedicated regional Apple ID is often the more practical approach.
TL;DR: To change your existing Apple ID’s region: cancel all subscriptions, spend your remaining store credit, and have a payment method from the target country. To access another region without disrupting your main account: create a new Apple ID set to the target region, using a virtual number from SMSCode (from $0.005) for verification. The second approach is simpler for most people.
Why Apple ID region matters
App availability by country. App developers can choose which markets to release their apps in. Some apps launch in one region before others. Some never reach certain markets due to legal restrictions, localization effort, or business decisions. If you want an app that isn’t available in your home region’s App Store, you need an account set to a region where it is.
Pricing differences. App Store pricing tiers are set per region in local currency. The same app may cost considerably more or less in different markets depending on exchange rates, local pricing strategy, and Apple’s regional price adjustments. Purchases from different regional stores are made in that region’s currency.
Regional content and streaming apps. Streaming apps available in some countries aren’t available in others due to licensing. Some games — particularly from Japanese and Korean developers — release regionally before coming to Western markets, or never get a Western release at all.
Moving countries. If you’ve relocated, updating your Apple ID region to your current country ensures that you can use local payment methods, access local apps, and have billing in local currency.
Subscriptions and local pricing. App subscriptions are priced per region. In markets where Apple has introduced regional pricing adjustments, switching to those regions can mean lower subscription costs for the same app.
Method 1: Change your existing Apple ID’s region
Apple allows you to change your Apple ID’s country or region, but several conditions must be met first. Attempting to change without meeting these conditions fails.
Requirements before you can change
No active subscriptions. All active subscriptions associated with the Apple ID must be cancelled. This includes App Store subscriptions, Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud+, and any third-party subscriptions billed through the App Store. Subscriptions don’t disappear when cancelled — they continue until the end of the billing period — but they must be in a cancelled state before the region change proceeds.
No remaining store credit. Your Apple ID balance must be zero. If you have gift card credit or promotional credit, you need to spend it before switching regions. Store credit is region-specific and doesn’t transfer across regional stores.
Valid payment method from the target country. Apple requires a payment method associated with the target region. This means a credit or debit card with a billing address in the target country, or (in regions where it’s supported) a carrier billing agreement. If you don’t have a payment method from the target country, you can sometimes select “None” — but only for regions where Apple allows purchases without a payment method on file (not all regions support this).
Steps to change region
- Open Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or go to appleid.apple.com in a browser
- Tap your name → Media & Purchases
- Tap View Account (you may be prompted to sign in)
- Tap Country/Region
- Tap Change Country or Region
- Select your new country from the list
- Agree to the updated Terms and Conditions
- Enter your new payment method details and billing address for the target country
The change takes effect immediately. Your App Store, Apple Books, and other Apple services will switch to the new regional catalog.
What happens to your existing apps and purchases
Downloaded apps remain on your device — changing region doesn’t remove installed apps. However:
- Apps that are not available in the new region will no longer receive updates through the App Store (you can still run the installed version)
- In-app purchase history from the old region stays in your account, but region-specific content may not be accessible from the new region
- Subscriptions cancelled before the switch don’t come back — you’d need to re-subscribe in the new regional store
This is the main reason people use Method 2 instead: keeping a second Apple ID avoids disrupting existing subscriptions and preserves access to your current regional apps and purchases.
Method 2: Create a separate regional Apple ID
This is the approach most people end up using, because it doesn’t disrupt your primary Apple ID at all. You create a second Apple ID with the desired region as its default, and switch to it in the App Store when you want to access that region’s content.
What you’ll need
- An email address that isn’t already associated with an Apple ID
- A phone number for verification (each Apple ID requires its own)
- A payment method from the target region, or no payment method (for free apps only)
The phone number requirement is where virtual numbers come in. Apple requires phone verification when creating a new Apple ID. If you don’t want to use your personal mobile number for a secondary account, a virtual number from SMSCode provides a number from the country you’re targeting — which also helps Apple set the correct regional context for the new account. Prices start from $0.005. Full instructions are in the Apple ID virtual number verification guide.
Creating the regional Apple ID
- Go to appleid.apple.com/account in a browser
- Fill in your name (can be any name — Apple doesn’t verify), birthday, email, and password
- Verify the email address
- Enter a phone number for two-factor authentication — use your virtual number here
- Verify the phone number with the code sent to the number
- After creation, go to your Apple ID settings and navigate to Media & Purchases → Country/Region
- Set the country to your target region
- Add a payment method from that region, or select “None” if you only want free apps
Switching between Apple IDs in the App Store
You don’t need to sign out of your main Apple ID across your device. The App Store lets you switch the signed-in account independently:
- Open the App Store
- Tap your profile photo in the top-right corner
- Scroll down and tap Sign Out
- Sign in with your regional Apple ID
Your primary Apple ID still handles iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, and system-level functions. The App Store uses whichever account is signed into it at that moment. You can switch between your main and regional Apple IDs in the App Store without affecting anything else on your device.
Getting free apps from the regional store
Many regionally-exclusive apps are free. For free apps, you don’t need a payment method on file — you can select “None” when setting up the regional Apple ID, which means you can access free apps from any region without needing a foreign payment method.
For paid apps or subscriptions from the regional store, you’ll need either a payment method from that region or an App Store gift card from that region (purchasable through various online marketplaces that sell international gift cards).
Common regional Apple ID use cases
Japanese App Store. Japan has an enormous catalog of mobile games and apps — including many that never get international releases from mid-sized and indie developers. A Japanese Apple ID with “None” as payment method provides access to all free Japanese apps, and Japanese App Store gift cards (available for purchase online) enable paid purchases.
United States App Store. Apps often launch in the US before other regions. A US Apple ID gives you early access to newly released apps, US-only features in existing apps, and certain media content. Requires a US payment method (or US gift card) for paid purchases.
South Korean App Store. Korean mobile games and certain K-content apps are released regionally first. Similar approach to the Japanese store.
Multiple regions simultaneously. Some users maintain three or four regional Apple IDs — one for their home region, one for Japan, one for the US — switching between them in the App Store as needed. Each needs its own email address and phone number. Virtual numbers from SMSCode handle the phone verification for each.
Transferring apps and purchases between regions
One limitation of the regional Apple ID approach: purchases are tied to the Apple ID and region that made them. An app purchased on your Japanese Apple ID is associated with that account — it won’t appear in your main Apple ID’s purchase history and can only be re-downloaded when signed into the Japanese account.
This creates some practical friction if you rely on an app daily but want it installed via a regional account. The app will be installed on your device and function normally, but updates come through the App Store when you’re signed into the regional account.
For apps that have global releases, buying through your main account is simpler for long-term management. Regional accounts are most useful for apps that are genuinely region-exclusive — ones you can’t get any other way.
Troubleshooting region changes
“An error occurred” during region change. Usually indicates an active subscription that hasn’t been cancelled yet, or remaining store credit. Check both through Apple ID settings before retrying.
“This Apple ID has not yet been used with the App Store.” Appears when creating a new Apple ID and signing into the App Store for the first time. Tap “Review” and agree to the Terms and Conditions for the selected region.
Payment method not accepted. Apple requires a billing address matching the target country. If your card has a US billing address, it won’t work for a UK regional account. App Store gift cards from the target region sidestep payment method requirements for purchases.
Can’t select “None” for payment method. Some regions require a payment method on file even for free apps. If “None” isn’t available, you’ll need a valid payment method or gift card for that region to proceed.
Phone verification failed. If Apple rejects a virtual number during verification, try a different country — some virtual number ranges are known to Apple’s systems. A number from a country closer to the target region sometimes works better, though for Apple ID creation the number’s country doesn’t need to match the account’s intended region.
FAQ
Can I switch between Apple ID regions as often as I want?
You can change your Apple ID’s region once every 90 days. This limit doesn’t apply to switching between multiple Apple IDs — you can use different Apple IDs in the App Store without any restriction on switching frequency. If you need frequent access to multiple regional stores, maintaining separate Apple IDs per region and switching between them in the App Store is the practical approach.
Will I lose my apps if I change my Apple ID’s region?
Downloaded apps stay on your device after a region change. However, apps not available in the new region won’t receive App Store updates, and subscriptions cancelled before the switch need to be re-initiated in the new regional store. Your iCloud data, photos, contacts, and other non-App Store content are unaffected.
Do I need a phone number from the target country?
Not necessarily. A virtual number from any country can be used for Apple ID verification. For a secondary regional Apple ID, using a number from the target country can help establish the regional context — but Apple’s region determination is primarily based on payment method and billing address, not phone number country. Use whatever number works for verification; set the region explicitly through the payment method or “None” selection.
Can I use the same payment method for multiple Apple IDs?
Apple allows the same credit or debit card to be used across multiple Apple IDs. This is different from platforms like eBay where shared payment methods are a tracking signal. Using the same card on two Apple IDs (your main account and a regional secondary) doesn’t cause any account issues.
Is there a cheaper way to get paid apps from another region?
App Store gift cards from the target region are the most straightforward approach if you don’t have a payment method from that country. International gift card marketplaces sell App Store gift cards for many regions. Note that gift card balances are region-specific — a Japanese App Store gift card can only be applied to an account set to Japan.