To update an iOS app that is not available in your current country, the most direct method is to change the country or region associated with your Apple ID to where the app is officially supported.
Changing Your Apple ID Country or Region
This method allows you to access the App Store in the desired region, enabling you to download or update region-locked applications. However, it requires careful preparation.
Prerequisites Before Changing Your Region
Before initiating a region change for your Apple ID, ensure you meet the following conditions to avoid complications:
- Spend All Store Credit: You must have a zero balance on your Apple ID. If you have any remaining funds, you will need to spend them.
- Cancel Subscriptions: All active subscriptions, including Apple Music, iCloud storage, and third-party app subscriptions, must be canceled and allowed to expire.
- Payment Method for New Region: You will need a valid payment method and billing address associated with the new country or region you are switching to.
- Family Sharing: If you are part of an Apple Family Sharing group, you might need to leave it before changing your region.
- App and Content Availability: Be aware that some apps, movies, music, or books purchased in your original region may not be available or accessible in the new region.
Step-by-Step Guide to Change Your Apple ID Region
Follow these steps on your iPhone or iPad to change your App Store country or region:
- Open Settings: Launch the Settings app on your device.
- Tap Your Apple ID: Tap on your name (the Apple ID banner) located at the very top of the screen.
- Access Media & Purchases: Select Media & Purchases from the options.
- View Account: Tap on View Account. You may be prompted to enter your Apple ID password or use Face ID/Touch ID for verification.
- Select Country/Region: Tap on Country/Region.
- Change Country or Region: Choose the Change Country or Region option.
- Select New Region: From the list provided, select the country or region where the app you wish to update is available.
- Agree to Terms: Carefully review the Terms and Conditions for the new region, then tap Agree (usually in the upper-right corner), and confirm your agreement.
- Enter Payment and Billing Info: Provide a valid payment method and a billing address that corresponds to the new country. If applicable for the selected region, you might be able to select "None" as a payment option.
- Confirm: Follow any further on-screen prompts to complete the region change.
Once your Apple ID's region is successfully updated, open the App Store, search for the app, and you should now be able to update it. After the update, you can revert your Apple ID to your original country by repeating these steps, ensuring you meet the prerequisites again. For more detailed information on changing your region, refer to Apple Support.
Alternative Approach: Using a Secondary Apple ID
Instead of frequently altering your primary Apple ID's region, another viable method is to create and use a secondary Apple ID specifically for the region where the app is available.
- Create a New Apple ID: Register for a new Apple ID, ensuring you select the target country during the creation process. This will require a different email address from your primary Apple ID.
- Switch and Update: When an update is needed for the region-locked app, sign out of your primary Apple ID in the App Store (this is separate from signing out in your device's main Settings app), then sign in with your secondary Apple ID. You can then download or update the app.
- Sign Back In: Once the update is complete, sign out of the secondary Apple ID and sign back in with your primary one.
Pros and Cons of Each Method
Here's a comparison to help you choose the best approach:
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Change Primary Apple ID | Uses your existing Apple ID and content. | Requires spending credit, canceling subscriptions, and a valid local payment method. Can be disruptive to services. |
| Secondary Apple ID (New) | Avoids disrupting primary Apple ID subscriptions or credit. | Requires creating and managing a separate Apple ID. Switching accounts in the App Store can be a repetitive, manual process. |
Important Considerations
- App Functionality & Geo-restrictions: Even after updating, some apps might still have geo-restricted content or features based on your device's actual location or IP address, regardless of your App Store region. In such cases, using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) might be necessary to access full functionality.
- Terms of Service: While generally not an issue for legitimate reasons, be mindful that frequent or misleading changes to your App Store region could potentially be seen as violating Apple's Terms of Service.
By carefully following these methods, you can successfully update iOS apps that are not available in your current geographical location.
