How to change your Play Store country
Change your Google Play account country after moving abroad. Requirements, steps, the once-a-year limit and what happens to your balance.
Your Google Play country decides which apps you see, your currency and which payment methods you can use. You can change it, but it's designed for when you move to another country, and only once a year.
Requirements
- Be physically in the new country. Google uses your location; with a VPN the option won't appear or gets reverted.
- A payment method from that country.
- No country change in the last 12 months.
Steps
- Open Play Store and tap your profile picture.
- Go to SettingsGeneralAccount and device preferencesCountry and profiles.
- Tap the new country and add a payment method from there.
It can take up to 48 hours. If the store still shows the old country, clear the Play Store cache.
What happens when you switch
| Item | What happens |
|---|---|
| Google Play balance | Doesn't transfer. It stays tied to the previous country. |
| Installed apps | Stay on the phone; ones unavailable in the new country may stop updating. |
| Subscriptions | Review them: some must be cancelled and restarted in the new currency. |
If you just want one app from another country, don't change your country: you'd burn your yearly change and lose your balance.
Frequently asked questions
How often can I change my Play Store country?
Once a year.
Can I change country with a VPN?
Not reliably. Google checks your location and payment method.