If you are a foreigner or a traveler trying to download apps from the iTunes or App Store of other countries, you may encounter a geoblock.
The Apple Store imposes geographic restrictions on apps, which prevents users from downloading apps and other content to their iOS devices.
For example, if you live in Australia, you may not be privileged to download some popular games that US and Canadian residents can download for free at any time. Likewise, you won’t be able to download free apps on iTunes if your account is not tied to the US
How to download geo-restricted apps via iTunes
Luckily, you can access and download apps that were previously restricted to specific locations by setting up an iTunes account for a different country in the App Store. The problem with this method is that you have to enter a new payment method every time.
Another solution is to create a second Apple ID for the country with the apps you want to download.
You don’t need to include your credit card in the payment options section as there is no valid payment method associated with your second Apple ID as it only applies to free apps and games.
You can buy a gift card from another country online and add it as a payment method for an additional ID.
Note. When you change the country associated with your iTunes account, the country for the App Store is updated and the opposite applies.
For example, if you specify your country as Japan on your iPhone for the App Store, your changes will be reflected in the Apple ID on all other devices using your Apple ID, such as iPhone, iPad, or Mac among others.
- On iPhone or iPad
- On Mac or PC
- From Apple ID Account Profile
iPhone or iPad
Set up an iTunes account for another country
- on iPhone or iPad
- on your Mac or PC
- From your Apple ID account profile
iPhone or iPad
Setting up an iTunes account for a different country on your iPhone or iPad is possible, but not as easy as on a desktop computer. Here’s how to do it.
The first step is to cancel any Apple Music or iTunes Match subscriptions you have and other services associated with your local Apple ID, then sign back in after switching.
- Open settings> [Your name]
- Click iTunes & App Store.
- Then tap your Apple ID. If asked to sign in, authenticate with Touch ID or password.
- Click View Apple ID.
- Click Country / Region.
- Click Change Country and Region.
- Select a new country or region and click Next.
- Read the terms and click “Agree” to confirm your agreement.
- Enter your payment method (valid for your new country or region) and new billing information, then click Next when done.
Note. To change your billing information, go to Settings> [Your Name]> iTunes & App Store and click Manage Billing (or Billing Information depending on your iOS version). You can add, remove, reorder, or update your payment methods, and you can update iCloud storage for new country or region pricing.
Everything is ready to download apps from your newly created iTunes account. New country or region updates associated with your Apple ID will be reflected across all Apple services on all your iOS devices.
On Mac or PC
- Open iTunes on your Mac or PC. On the menu bar, click Account> View My Account.
- Sign in with your Apple ID and press Enter or click View Account.
- Click Change Country or Region on the Account Information page.
- Read the terms and conditions and click “Agree” to confirm your agreement.
- Enter your new payment method (valid for the new country or region) and billing information and click Continue.
New country or region updates associated with your Apple ID will be reflected across all Apple services on all your iOS devices.
From your Apple ID account profile
- Sign in to your Apple ID account profile, scroll to Account and click Country / Region.
- Select a new country or region from the Country / Region menu.
- A prompt appears asking if you want to change your country or region. Click “Continue” to update.
- Enter a new payment method (valid for the new country / region) and billing information. After filling in all the data, click “Save”.
New country / region updates will be reflected across all your iOS devices and Apple services.
Switch between multiple countries on iTunes or App Store
As mentioned earlier, you can create an account with a new Apple ID and use that to sign in and out of the store. So you can download an app that is not in the store of your current location, but it only helps you download free apps for your iOS devices.
Unfortunately, you cannot use this method to purchase “paid apps” as you will need to add a credit card as your payment method and also a billing address for your country. Additionally, if you need to download updates for any US-based apps, you must sign in with your US registered Apple ID.
- To switch between multiple countries, log out of your current country. / regional iTunes or App Store by going to App Store> Apple ID [your current email address].
- Click Sign Out.
- Click Open> Preferences> General.
- Click Language & Region.
- Click Region
- Select the new country you want to access and then create a new iTunes or App Store account from which you want to download apps. To do this, find a free app that is linked to the US store or store you want to go to.
- Click on the application. If it still shows your old country / region or notifies you that an item is not available in your current store, click Change Store.
- Go back to the App Store listing and click Get> Install.
- Click Create New Apple ID, select the country you want and enter the required information.
- In the Payment section, click No.
- If you want to buy content from a store, you can get an iTunes Gift Card for the country you want and add it later as a payment method.
- Open Mail to verify your email address and download the app.
- Then return to the App Store listing from your iOS device and tap the link. Tap Get> Install.
- Sign in to your new iTunes account or Apple ID for the country of your choice and, if necessary, click Get> Install Again to start the download and go to the new store.
From now on, you can switch between stores by entering and exiting iTunes or the App Store depending on your country or region.
–