Do you know you can change your country in the Google Play Store? Due to licensing agreements, Google limits the content you see on the Play Store depending on your country or region. You may be missing out on some great apps and discount deals just because of your geographical location.
But, you can remedy this. It’s easy to change your country in the Google Play Store. There are two options:
- Changing your country permanently: This is only recommended if you’re moving to a different country as you can only do it once a year.
- Changing your country temporarily: You can use a VPN to change your country temporarily in the Play Store. A VPN allows changes your IP address, making it appear as though you’re in a different country.
If you just want to download geo-restricted apps and access platforms like Netflix or Hulu, we recommend going with option number two. A VPN lets you switch between different countries as much as you want and you can always return to your actual region simply by turning it off.
NordVPN is the best VPN for Google Play. It’s the most secure service on the market and one of the topmost option in our rankings. NordVPN offers amazing speeds and unparalleled geo-unblocking capabilities.
Note: Google doesn’t have a ban on using VPNs to change your location to access geo-restricted content on the Play Store. However, the publishers of the apps and games you’re accessing may have policies against this. We recommend you look at each app’s user agreement to determine if you’re violating their user agreement.
Keep reading to learn more about how to change your location in the Google Play Store.
Google tailors the content on its Play Store based on your country or region. This means you could be missing out on Android apps, games, and other content just because of where you live. Also, you could be paying significantly more for apps than users in some other countries.
Changing your Play Store country could allow you to access more content and save money. It could also come in handy if you’re traveling and want access to the same apps on the Play Store. If this sounds interesting, keep reading to learn how to change your Google Play Store region or country.
Why Would You Change Your Play Store Country?
There are several reasons you may want (or need) to change your Google Play Store country, including the following:
- Traveling: If you want to keep accessing the same apps while abroad (this is true for online banking apps).
- Geo-restrictions: If you want access to apps and other content unavailable in your country. For example, streaming services like Hulu and BBC iPlayer.
- Censorship: If your government blocks access to Google’s platforms, like in China, for example.
- Pricing: If you want to save money on apps that are cheaper in other regions.
Before changing your Play Store location, you’ll need to identify your goal (i.e., why you need to change your country). Then, you can pick the techniques that best suit your needs.
How to Change Your Country on Google Play Store
Google determines your location based on your IP address. This allows the company to enforce its geo-blocking restrictions, preventing users from outside of authorized countries or regions from accessing particular content.
You can change your Play Store country by masking your real IP or moving to a different region. Let’s call these temporary and permanent ways to change your Google Play Store country.
How to change your Google Play Store country permanently
Google allows you to change your country once every 12 months. It’s very important to think this through since you can’t revert the change for an entire year.
If you make a mistake here, you’ll have to create another Google account and try again. This can be quite annoying since you probably have many services tied to your main Google account.
Here are the steps you’ll have to go through to change your Play Store country permanently:
On your Android device
- Launch the Google Play Store app.
- Tap your avatar in the top-right corner.
- Go to Settings>General>Account and device preferences.
- Find your country under “Country and profiles.”
- Add your new payment method.
- Wait for the change to take place (it can take up to 48 hours).
On desktop devices
- Go to pay.google.com.
- Log in and go to “Settings.”
- Go to “Payments profile.”
- Click the pen icon next to “Country/Region.”
- Click “Create new profile.”
- Follow the instructions to complete the change.
Google recommends this change only if you’re moving to a different country. It’s not a “temporary fix” to access unavailable apps and services.
Important!
Before changing your Play Store country permanently, you’ll have to delete your current payment method. Then, you’ll need to add a billing method available in the new country.
Here’s what happens when you switch the country in your Play Store using this method:
- One change per year limit: You won’t be able to go change your country again for a full year.
- Google Play Balance: Your Google Play Balance is linked to your current country. If you change it, you won’t be able to use it until you switch back.
- Google Play Pass: If Play Pass isn’t available in the new country, you won’t be able to browse or install any additional Play Pass apps.
Note: You can’t use this option if you have a Family link library. In other words, if you’re managing your child’s account, you’ll be locked to their current country.
How to change your Google Play country with a VPN
Note
While Google doesn’t have strict rules against changing your Google Play Store country with a VPN, the publishers of the apps and games you’re accessing may have policies against this. We recommend that you check the user agreement of each app or game before accessing it.
A VPN hides your real IP and encrypts your traffic. In other words, it’s a perfect geo-spoofing tool and can prevent Google from “seeing” your real IP.
You can connect to servers all over the world and get IPs from these respective regions. This will allow you to access content that would otherwise be unavailable in your country.
Here’s how to bypass Google’s geo-restrictions with a VPN on Android:
- Choose a good VPN and install it on your Android device.
- Log in with your chosen credentials (usually username and password).
- Connect to a server in the selected country.
- Open “Android Settings” and go to “Apps.”
- Go to “Google Play Store.”
- Tap on “Force stop.”
- Clear your cache and data.
- Launch Google Play Store and check the results.
After you’re done, check the paid apps and pay attention to the currency symbol. If it corresponds to your chosen VPN server location, you’ve successfully changed your Play Store country. You can repeat this process with different locations as often as you wish.
VPNs will temporarily change your country in Google’s eyes. You can turn the VPN off at any moment and return to your original Play Store country. With that said, picking the right VPN is important.
The Best VPNs for When You Want to Change Your Country in Google Play Store
We’ve tested 23 different VPN services to find the best providers for the job. We paid special attention to their server networks, performance, security, and ease of use.
Here are the top three VPNs for Google Play Store:
1. NordVPN: Effective and fast
Features:
- 5,200+ servers around the globe
- Excellent speeds
- The best security package on the market
- Beginner-friendly apps
NordVPN offers 5,200+ servers in 50+ countries, which makes it an excellent choice for geo-unblocking. The sheer size of the network guarantees minimal server crowding and great speeds. In short: you’ll be able to use Google Play from a virtual location anywhere in the world without having to deal with lag.
When it comes to security, NordVPN is the best option available today. It supports the most secure VPN protocols, blocks malware, and supports obfuscation to deal with restrictive firewalls. It also has a zero-log policy.
This provider has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which you can use to test NordVPN for free.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
2. Surfshark: A cheap but excellent option
Features:
- One of the fastest VPNs available today
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- 3,200+ servers around the world
- Beginner-friendly apps
Surfshark offers 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries, meaning you have plenty of choice when it comes to changing your Google Play location. It’s also one of the fastest VPNs with the lowest latency values. This is especially important if you’re planning to connect to distant servers.
Surfshark supports the best protocols (including WireGuard), offers solid encryption, and maintains a strict no-logging policy. It supports obfuscation with its “camouflage mode,” which can help you beat online censorship all over the globe.
You can take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee to test Surfshark cost-free.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
3. CyberGhost: User-friendly for Google Play users
Features:
- Beginner-friendly app
- 6,000+ servers in 90+ countries
- Good speeds
- Solid security with a paid anti-malware add-on
CyberGhost is an excellent option if you’ve never used a VPN before. It operates 6,000+ servers in 90+ countries. While CyberGhost may be slower than NordVPN and Surfshark, its security levels are quite close to perfect. It supports solid protocols, blocks ads and malware, and has a solid zero-logging policy. This all means it will work perfectly for changing your Google Play Store country, while allowing you to do so much more.
Unfortunately, the VPN doesn’t support obfuscation, but you can use its Security Suite for this purpose. Unfortunately, this add-on is billed separately. So, we would recommend sticking with our previous two options if you’re in a country with strict online censorship.
This company offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. So, you can get the CyberGhost free trial and try the service at no cost.
- Very user-friendly
- High quality for a low price
- Torrents and Netflix possible
Services to Avoid When Changing Your Google Play Store Country
Premium VPNs are not the only tools that can change your Play Store country. However, they are arguably the most effective and secure option. We don’t recommend using the following solutions to change your Google Play country:
- Smart DNS: It routes your DNS traffic through a proxy server. However, it doesn’t offer any encryption, leaving you vulnerable to the prying eyes of hackers and other parties.
- Proxy servers: This transmits your connection through a proxy server. Proxy servers don’t guarantee full anonymity.
- Free VPNs: Some free VPNs, like Hola and BeetVPN, are too slow or may expose you to malware.
If you’re on a budget, take a look at our list of the best free VPNs for Android. We definitely recommend using Proton VPN in these situations.
Conclusion: Changing Your Google Play Location
Beyond changing your Google Play location, a VPN has many other benefits. It can help you score amazing discounts and save money, access streaming content from other countries, and so much more. Check out these insightful articles below to learn more:
- Save Money With a VPN – Unlock Massive Discounts!
- Bypass Online Censorship: How to Freely Access the Internet
- Unblock YouTube Videos: How to Watch YouTube Anywhere
Do you have questions about changing your Play Store country? Click one of the questions below to see an answer.
You can either change the country in your Google settings permanently, which is only recommended if you’re moving to that country. Alternatively, you can use a good VPN to change your country temporarily. VPNs will change your IP address, which will make Google “think” that you’re in a different country.
There are several potential reasons for this, including:
- You’ve changed your country within the last year (you can only do it once a year).
- You’re not physically in a new country (Google monitors your IP to determine this).
- You’re a part of a Family Library.
If you can’t switch your Play Store country permanently, read our full guide on how to do it temporarily.
VPNs hides your IP address and replaces it with another one. This makes Google “think” you’re in a different country. To do this, simply purchase a VPN and connect to a server in your desired country.
After testing 23 VPNs, we recommend going with NordVPN. It offers top-notch security, excellent speeds, and unparalleled geo-unblocking capabilities. It’s the best VPN for changing your Google Play region at the moment. You can learn all about it in our NordVPN review.
