If and when you do move from one country to another (for whatever reason), you might want to change the listed country in Google Play Store, as the need may be. Your listed country in Google Play Store determines the kinds of apps, games, and content that you have access to in there.
In this guide, I will list out the pros and cons, as well as walk you through the step-by-step process, of changing your Google Play Country. By the end of this article, you will be able to easily switch to a new country and enjoy access to apps and content that were previously unavailable to you.
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What are the pros and cons of changing your country in Google Play Store?
There are both pros and cons to changing your Google Play country.
Pros:
- Get access to new apps and content: Changing your Google Play country can open up a world of new apps and content that may not be available in your current location.
- Enjoy regional discounts and offers: Different countries may have different prices for apps and games, and changing your Google Play country could give you access to regional discounts and offers that you wouldn’t otherwise have.
- Get multilingual support: If you move to a new country or are learning a new language, changing your Google Play country can give you access to apps and content that are in your target language.
Cons:
- Possible loss of access to current apps and content: Changing your Google Play country means that you may lose access to apps and content that are available in your current location but not in the new one.
- Payment issues: Changing your Google Play country may affect your ability to pay for apps and content if the payment methods used in your new country are not the same as those in your current location.
- You can’t use your Google Play balance from your old country in your new one. The balance is there though, and if you switch back to your old country, you will have access to it again. Of course, that also means you will no longer have access to any balance you have in the other country.
- You will lose access to your Google Play Points, and your level won’t carry over to the new country you are switching to.
- Legal issues: Changing your Google Play country may not be legal in certain situations, such as if you are trying to circumvent regional restrictions on certain content.
Changing the listed country in Google Play Store can be beneficial in certain situations, but it is important to weigh the potential benefits against the potential drawbacks before making a decision.
Conditions required to change your country in Google Play Store
- You need to wait for a period of 12 months after creating a payments profile before you can change your Google Play country. You are allowed to change your listed country in Google Play Store only once a year. This means you can’t change it back to what it was or to some other country for a full year.
- You need to set up a new country in Google Play Store to change your country.
- To set up a new country, you must be in that country (Google checks to confirm that your IP address matches the new country). If you are not physically present in the country you want to change to, you will need to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to hide your real IP address.
- You need to have a payment method from the new country.
How to change your country in Google Play Store
- Using your Android smartphone, open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap on the profile icon at the top right of your screen.
- Tap on Settings – General – Account and device preferences – Country and profiles.
- Select the country where you want to add an account.
- Follow the rest of the on-screen instructions to add a payment method for that country.
Note: Your profile could take as long as 48 hours to be updated to your current status.
