Skip to content

How to Change Country in Google Play

The content inside the Google Play Store differs depending on the region where you live. In this guide, we will show you how to change google play country.

You can find dates of release right down to the apps on offer changes, and if there is the latest app you want, and you can’t get a hold of it. It can become frustrating. A good example is all those in China who lack access to the Play Store full stop.

While not as drastic, the effect can be the same when your Play Store is geo-restricted and you wish to change Play Store region.

Luckily, you can open the apps store, change country of your device so you can access the desire Play Store and grab a bargain or the app you desire.

All it takes is a little know-how and a premium (virtual private network) VPN service to change the location of your device. With this, you can bypass the entire rights reserved garb they add, and you can appear to be in another country.


Why Change Country?

There are many reasons why you may need to know how to change the country in the app store. It could be either you have moved to another region?

The apps are in a different language, or you already have paid for apps, and you will lose the updates, as they are not available where you live.

Other reasons for app store country change can be content that isn’t available where you live. There is all manner of digital content you can access, and this isn’t available in every Play Store around the world.

The US Play Store version, for example, offers a lot more music and movies than other locations, and often at a reduced rate in comparison.

Besides all this, Google gathers much information about each user, and changing country can prevent them from building up any relevant profile that relates to your real location.


How to Change Country for Google Play

Here are the steps how to change Play Store country in Google Play. Although it begins by removing your original account, you will keep this. You can see why you do this in the following section.

Step 1: Remove your account from your device

  1. Navigate to Settings on your device and tap ‘Accounts’ icon
  2. Search for the Google icon and tap
  3. Tap on your drop-down bar (top right of screen) then tap on ‘Remove account’
  4. Your device explains removing the account deletes all messages, contacts, and other Google data from your device. To confirm tap on ‘Remove Account’ then enter passcode when prompted.

Once you delete your account, it is advisable to clear the Google Play cache. It isn’t always necessary, yet it can prevent issues.

How to clear Google Play cache? Steps are shown following this guide.

Step 2: Connecting to a VPN server

Once you have removed the original Google account, you need to create yourself a new one for the chosen country

  • To proceed, you will need one of the following Android VPN’s in the following list. Once you have a VPN installed, select your new country. This example is for the USA
  • Run the client and choose one of the USA VPN servers (if you want another country, select from the list)

Step 3: Setting up your new Gmail account

Once connected via your VPN, the best method is creating your new Google Play account with a new Gmail account (Doing this makes sure your old Gmail is registered to your original Google Play account, and it makes it easy to switch back from your new country)

Step 4: Logging into Google Play with new Gmail

Here you will be logging into Google Play with your new account

  1. Check you are connected to your new region with your VPN
  2. Tap to open the Google Play Store app.
  3. Tap Menu and Account. It will ask you to ‘Sign in’
  4. Under “Country and Profiles” find your new country
  5. Tap the ‘green button’ and enter your new Gmail address and password
  6. Next, agree to the Terms of Service
  7. Google checks the new IP address. It does this to check your location and which Google Play Store to allow access
  8. Google asks if you wish to back up data as you proceed. Click ‘More’ then Accept.
  9. Google asks for a payment method. Select No Thanks if you are not going to purchase any apps then click ‘Continue’ and the app store will open

Step 5: Has it Worked?

If it has worked, you will see dollar signs rather than the currency in your home location.


How to Clear Google Play Cache

  1. Head to Settings on your device then tap Apps
  2. Tap on Google Play Store app, then long press on ‘Storage’
  3. In the next screen, tap on both ‘Clear Cache’ and ‘Clear Data.’ This clears both lots of data.

Why You Need a VPN to Change Country in App Store

Without a VPN, you physically need to be in a particular country to change Google Store country. While you may think this is acceptable, you can find you can only do this once per year.

Not only is there a delay before you access the app store, how to change country back, it means you can’t access your old Play Store. A VPN offers you the flexibility to create an account for various country and profiles that you want.

Secondly, by doing so, your VPN encrypts your data; therefore, Google can’t relate this to your device or your location. (Read Sorry This Content Isn’t Available Right Now Facebook)


Best VPNs to Change your Google Play Region

Here are the main criteria for finding the best VPNs to change your Google Play Store country

  • The VPN has servers in many areas to unlock different Google Play Store regions
  • You have access to fast and reliable connections for streaming or using the apps
  • The VPN offers high-grade security and encryption with a “no logs” policy
  • There is 24/7 customer support with live chat
  • Easy to use apps on mobile devices
  • Offer money-back guarantees so users can try risk-free

1. ExpressVPN

The VPN offers easy configuration and is the best Google Play Store VPN. ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on Android with over 3,000+ high-speed servers in 94 countries. Using this VPN, you have the best way how to change country in-app store.

The VPN runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android TV, Linux, Chrome and Firefox as well as on certain routers. MediaStreamer technology is used on devices that do not have apps, such as game consoles and smart TVs.

Headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, they are located outside any 14-eye jurisdiction. For security, they use OpenVPN and military-level encryption, including 256-bit AES encryption, zero-logs policy, and kill switch.

With DNS leak protection and split tunneling, Google Play cannot see your original country. Customer support is available around the clock via live chat.

ExpressVPN runs TrustedServer technology, where servers run in RAM. When they are restarted, all user data is deleted, making them secure.

Users can try ExpressVPN risk-free on five devices with the 30-day money-back guarantee. There is also a lot of payment method you can choose.

Read our ExpressVPN review

2. Surfshark

With 1,700 in 60 countries, it covers enough Google Play locations. In tests, popular services such as Netflix US, HBO and iPlayer in HD are easily unlocked.

Users can use Surfshark with unlimited simultaneous device connections and with unlimited data and bandwidth.

The app comes with ad-blocking, malware protection and a special Android kill switch as well as the standard kill switch to work with the Whitelister feature.

Headquartered in the BVI, they are outside any 5/9/14 eye alliance. With the best security through 256-bit AES encryption and zero-logging policy.

Surfshark also provides obfuscation settings to bypass censorship and any VPN prohibition. Stealth mode can mask VPN connections, and there is a MultiHop feature for added security. Customer support is 24/7 with live chat, and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee to test all features.

Read our Surfshark review

3. NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the best VPN’s for Android and offers robust security. It provides double encryption and a vast server network that includes 5,100 servers.

Its features are included in the user-friendly Android app, and each account allows six simultaneous device connections.

NordVPN is also suitable for streaming Netflix, iPlayer, and other streaming services in HD. The SmartPlay function automatically detects the ideal servers. Headquartered in Panama, they are located outside the 5/9/14 eyes jurisdiction.

NordVPN uses the best 256-bit encryption with a strict zero log policy. The Android application provides an automatic kill switch along with the Cyber Sec feature to block advertising, trackers and malware.

It also features advanced obfuscation to bypass censorship. You also have 24/7 customer support with live chat and email.

Read our NordVPN review

4. Private Internet Access

PIA is a popular choice for Android because it protects devices with 256-bit encryption and a kill switch.

Among other things, it uses the new WireGuard protocol, and follows a strict “no logs” policy and tracks Android updates via the Play Store.

PIA offers its MACE function, which is equipped with an ad-blocker, tracker prevention, and malware blockers.

The network includes 3274 servers in 48 countries, covering most Google Play Stores. It also unblocks Netflix, Hulu, and other US streaming sites.

It now offers 24/7 live chat and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee to test all features. You can make up to 10 simultaneous connections for each account. The VPN runs on desktops, iOS, and Linux, except for Android devices.

Read our Private Internet Access review


What’s the bottom line?

When you use any of the VPN providers listed here to change your country, it is easy to access all the content you wish to find in your new country.

With the above VPN’s you will find that they all easily change the country quickly and you can then swap between your accounts rather than change your Google Play country on a permanent basis, or at least once per year.

By the time, you check out all the features, you’ll see there are many other reasons to use a VPN rather than just to change your country to access a store app from another region.

nv-author-image

Streamr Go

StreamrGo is always about privacy, specifically protecting your privacy online by increasing security and better standard privacy practices.