Using the Google Play Store is pretty simple: you lot pop information technology open, search for the app you want to download, and install it on your device. That's nigh all there is to information technology.

But what happens if you movement to a dissimilar country? You'll need access to the right regional version of the Play Store for billing data. And Google Play features different apps in various countries, which can sometimes allow or block access to certain apps.

Whether you lot've recently moved or desire to try accessing another region's Play Store (which comes with a big caveat), here'southward how to change your state setting in Google Play.

How to Change Country in the Google Play Store

Follow the below steps on your Android device to change your Play Store state:

  1. Open the Play Store app on your Android device.
  2. Tap your profile picture show at the top-right of the screen, so choose Settings.
  3. Select General, followed past Business relationship and device preferences.
  4. Under the Country and profiles section, you'll encounter your name alongside your current Play Store state. If your phone detects that y'all're currently in a dissimilar state, you'll see a Switch to the [region] Play Shop choice below.
    1. If this option doesn't appoear, encounter below for more info.
  5. Under the Switch to the [region] Play Store header, tap 1 of the options to add a payment method for your new state. This will vary past region; most should at to the lowest degree accept the Add credit or debit card selection.
  6. When you tap the new method, a warning will appear (which we discuss farther below). Review the alarm prompt and striking Go on if you're OK with the terms.
  7. Proceed through the prompts to add together a new payment method for the land you lot're switching your Play Shop to.
  8. Once you've switched countries, you're now able to scan the Play Shop for that region. The change may have up to 48 hours to become into effect.

The choice to alter your Play Store country won't announced for everyone. It just shows up if you were previously in a different land than y'all are now (based on IP address). This means you can't just switch your Play Store to any country that you experience similar. In the above example screenshots, nosotros used a VPN to alter our location to Argentina.

If you've previously changed your state in the Google Play Store, you'll accept the option to switch betwixt your old and new accounts, if yous wish. This is helpful if you moved away for a few years and then returned home.

If y'all use the Google Play Family unit Library feature, y'all as well won't see the option to change your Play Store region. Unfortunately, unless Google comes upwardly with a better workaround, y'all'll likely need to dissolve your electric current family unit grouping and start a fresh one in your new region (if it's supported there).

Warnings About Changing Your Google Play Store Country

When y'all alter your Google Play Shop region, you lot must be aware of a few of import points.

First, you cannot utilise your old payment method with your new account. Yous'll have to utilize the one from your new country. Keep in heed that you might lose access to some apps and other content if they aren't available in your new country.

Later swapping Google Play to a new state, you lot can't spend your Google Play balance from the former country. That includes any souvenir cards you've added just not spent yet, as well equally credit earned from Google Opinion Rewards. If you ever switch back to the erstwhile account, you will regain access to that balance, withal.

You will also lose access to Google Play Points when you switch countries, and your level will not transfer to the new region. If you subscribe to Google Play Pass, that subscription will transfer to your new country if the service is available there. In the event that Play Laissez passer isn't bachelor in your new country, y'all won't be able to install whatever more apps from Play Laissez passer in your new region.

Importantly, you lot can only alter your Play Store country in one case per year. Yous won't encounter the pick to change your state if it's been less than a yr since your last change.

Because of all this, nosotros recommend changing countries in the Play Store only if you've actually moved countries, accept a permanent payment method for the new country, and plan on staying for at least a yr. While yous tin fob this by using a VPN, or might want to access some other country'southward store while visiting, it's non worth doing for brusque-term access to a few new apps.

You'll be locked into a Play Store outside your actual region for quite some time, which will be a large pain. That assumes you'll be able to become a payment method for the country you want to switch to, likewise.

If You Tin can't Change Your Land in Google Play

If you lot want to change your country after reading all the to a higher place warnings, just the pick won't appear, make sure you haven't changed the land recently. In case the pick withal won't appear or fails, you should first try updating the Google Play app.

To do this, tap your profile moving-picture show at the top-right of the Play Store, cull Settings, and get to About. Tap Play Store version once hither; information technology will either kickoff an update or bear witness a notification that you're already up to date. Afterward a few minutes, close the Play Store app, and then try again.

If this doesn't work, try clearing cache and data for the Play Store app.

Change Your Play Store Country or Endeavour Some other Store

Now you know how to change your Play Shop country. It's an piece of cake procedure every bit long equally you lot've actually moved countries and have a valid payment method in that location, only make sure yous know what you lot're getting into.

Meanwhile, if you want to access new apps without switching Play Store regions, you'll find lots of alternative places to download Android apps that aren't available on Google Play.

The 4 Best Google Play Alternatives for Downloading Android Apps

Don't want to utilize the Google Play Shop? Or don't have admission to it? Here are the best alternative app stores for Android.

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About The Author

Ben Stegner (1801 Articles Published)

Ben is the Editor in Principal at MakeUseOf. He left his It task to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked back. He'southward been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more as a professional person writer for over eight years.

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