Google curates the content you see on the Play Store based on your country or region. For example, some of thebest entertainment appsin the US may not be available to those residing in Europe, and vice versa. However, if you decide to move to a different geographical location, change your country in the Play Store to see content specific to that region.
You may also want to access another region’s Play Store from your location. This guide walks you through how to change the country in the Google Play Store on your desktop, Android phone, or thebest Android tablet.
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Before you get started
Before you change your country in the Google Play Store, it’s important to be aware of the following conditions:
How to change your Google Play Store country on a desktop
You’ll create a new profile to change your country in Google Play. This requires you to be physically present in the desired country, have an active IP (Internet Protocol) address associated with that location, and have a valid payment method from the new country.
If you meet the requirements mentioned above, follow the steps below to change your Google Play Store country using your desktop.
How to change your Google Play Store country on mobile
You can use your mobile phone to change your geographical location on Google Play Store. Follow the steps below to learn how.
How to change your Google Play country with a VPN
You can only change your Google Play country if your IP address matches your new geographical location. If you’re not physically present in the country you want to set as your new country, use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to hide your real IP address.
Thebest VPN serviceslet you fake your geographic location and trick Google into thinking you moved to a new country. VPNs connect you to servers all over the world and get IP addresses from those regions.
Connect to a VPN and follow the steps below to change your country on the Play Store. However, we don’t recommend doing so. After you change your country, you can’t switch back for a year. Plus, Google might block you from downloading apps that were previously available to you. For example, the banking apps you can install in your current location might not be available in your new country. And while Google lets you use a VPN to change your location, some apps you want to download might not allow VPN use.
Look beyond the Google Play Store
The Play Store is the go-to app store on most Android phones. You can use it to download new apps orupdate your existing Android apps. However, the Play Store isn’t all that great for discovering new and exciting apps. Thebest Google Play Store alternativeshelp you dig up more apps that appeal to your personal and professional interests.
