To see all the content in the Play Store, you can change the country. But this only works if you have moved or are on holiday abroad.
Changing country in the Play Store: requirements and consequences
While changing your country in the Play Store gives you access to apps you might not otherwise see, it also comes with significant disadvantages.
- To set up a new country in the Play Store, you must actually be in that country. You will also need a payment method from that country, such as a credit card registered in the desired country.
- You can only change the country in the Play Store once a year, so you can't just switch back and forth.
- If you have set up your payment profile on Google Play, you will also have to wait 12 months before you can specify a different country as your location.
- Your existing balance will remain linked to the original country. You will not be able to use the old balance in the new country.
- Additionally, if you change countries, you may no longer have access to apps, movies, books or games you have already downloaded.
How to change the country in the Play Store
Here's what to do if you want to change the country in the Play Store:
- Open the Play Store on your Android smartphone and select the profile icon at the top right.
- Tap on “Settings” then “General” – “Account and device settings”. Under “Country and profiles” you can change the country if you are already in that country.
- Select the appropriate country and then add a payment method according to the instructions.
- If the country has not been changed after this, restart your device. Reinstalling the Play Store may also help. In some cases, it may take up to 48 hours for the change to take place.