Ahmed Khaled
Updated on: December 20, 2023
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Change Your Google Play Store Location in 2024:
- Step 1: Download and install a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because it has servers in 105 countries, excellent security, and super fast speeds to download apps quickly.
- Step 2: Connect to a VPN server. Choose a server in the location where you want to change your Google Play Store to.
- Step 3: Open the Google Play Store. You can now browse and download apps specific to the chosen location.
Google Play Store’s content is region-specific, so you can only download apps and games that are available in your region. For instance, when I went on a vacation in another country, I couldn’t download my online banking app.
This is where a VPN comes into play. A VPN allows you to establish a secure connection to one of its servers located in a different region. By connecting to a VPN server in a specific country, you change your IP address to match the location of that country.
I’ve tested different VPNs to find the best that work with the Google Play Store. My favorite is ExpressVPN because it has a large server network in 105 countries, blazing-fast speeds, and excellent security features.
GET MORE PLAY STORE APPS WITH EXPRESSVPN
Why Do You Need a VPN to Change Your Google Play Store Location?
Google Play uses your IP address to know what country you’re in. Your IP address reveals your general location, which is how Google Play determines which content to show you. This means you won’t be able to see any apps that are not available in your location — for example, if you’re in the US, you won’t see the Sky GO or BBC iPlayer apps because they’re only available to people who live in the UK.
Also, you have to be in a different country to change your Play Store location — unless you use a VPN, which hides your IP address by allowing you to connect to one of its servers. VPNs have servers in countries around the world and when you connect to one of them, the VPN assigns you an IP address that matches the location of that server. This makes it appear as if you’re accessing Google Play Store from that location.
Best VPNs for Changing Google Play Store Location in 2024
- 🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best overall VPN for changing your Google Play Store location in 2024.
- 🥈2. Private Internet Access — Very secure VPN with customizable mobile apps.
- 🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Great VPN for beginners.
- Comparison of the Best VPNs for Changing Google Play Store Location in 2024.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Changing Your Google Play Store Location in 2024
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for changing your Google Play Store location in 2024. It has servers in 105 countries, allowing you to virtually choose any place for your Google Play Store location.
Plus, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN out there. In my tests, I was able to download a 1 GB app from the Google Play Store in just 30 seconds. When I played a couple of online games connected to the VPN, I never experienced any lag. It was also very impressive that there was no buffering in any of my videos.
The provider’s apps for Android and Chromebook are user-friendly. The home screen is easy to navigate, it displays your recently used servers, and I like that it divides its servers into regions, so it’s easier to find the server location you need.
On top of that, ExpressVPN has excellent streaming support as it works with 100+ streaming sites, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. So, it’s a great pick if you want to download different streaming apps from the Google Play store.
Also, ExpressVPN offers a split-tunneling feature that allows you to choose which apps use the VPN connection and which apps use your local network. This means you can keep Google Play Store connected to the VPN and still use apps you already have on your device that are available in your current location.
In terms of security, ExpressVPN is rock-solid. It has advanced security features, including full leak protection, which ensures your real IP address is never revealed. I love how ExpressVPN’s website has a bunch of intuitive IP address-related tools, such as one that tells you your IP address and a DNS and WebRTC leak test — this saves me time from using a third-party website to get this information or conducting these tests. I ran leak tests while connected to multiple servers, and ExpressVPN passed with flying colors.
In addition, ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy. The former wipes all data with each reset and never stores any data on the hard drive, while the latter changes the encryption key for each VPN session. Plus, ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has passed multiple independent audits — this proves that the provider doesn’t track which apps you download in the Google Play Store.
One of my favorite security features is ExpressVPN Keys, a password manager that’s built into the Android app. ExpressVPN Keys generates strong passwords and is a great way to secure your logins for all of the apps you download in the Google Play Store.
ExpressVPN offers several plans, starting at $6.67 / month. The price is a little higher than most competitors, but the great speed, large server network, top security features, and easy-to-use apps make it a good value for money. Plus, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Very Secure & Customizable VPN
Private Internet Access is very secure for downloading apps on Google Play Store. It uses perfect forward secrecy and RAM-only servers, its no-logs policy has been independently audited and confirmed, and you get full leak protection — plus, its website includes a What’s My IP Address tool, as well as DNS and IPv6 leak tests.
PIA’s Android app is also open-source, which allows anyone to inspect the code for vulnerabilities. It also releases regular transparency reports that detail the data it has received and proves that it didn’t comply with any requests (because it doesn’t keep any data).
While PIA might not match ExpressVPN’s speeds, it’s impressively fast. I was able to download a 1 GB app from the Google Play Store in around 45 seconds. Every video I opened loaded instantly, and I was happy to see there wasn’t any lag in my online games.
It’s also very convenient that PIA’s Android and Chromebook apps are highly customizable. You can choose between 128-bit AES (faster but less secure) or 256-bit AES, which is slightly slower but more secure. It’s also possible to switch between the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocol, both of which are pretty fast. And I really like that you can set the app to automatically connect to unsecured Wi-Fi, which is great if you often use public Wi-Fi.
PIA is excellent for streaming. It works with 30+ streaming apps and has dedicated streaming servers in several different countries, including the US, the UK, and Japan. PIA also offers unlimited connections, so you can use it for as many devices as you want simultaneously.
Private Internet Access offers affordable plans starting at $2.11 / month, and it offers a 30-day refund policy for all subscriptions.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-Friendly Apps
CyberGhost VPN’s apps are very easy to use, which is great for beginners that want to change their Google Play Store location. The server list, which includes all servers in 100 locations, is easy to find and there’s a handy search function, so you don’t have to scroll through the entire list to find your preferred server location.
In terms of speeds, CyberGhost is one of the top picks on the market. It took only about a minute to download a 1 GB app from the Google Play Store. There was no lag in my online games and all HD videos loaded instantly. That said, it was still a bit slower than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
It’s great for streaming and gaming. It has 100+ dedicated streaming servers in 20+ countries that are optimized to work with 50+ top streaming services, like Netflix, Disney +, and BBC iPlayer. If you’re an avid gamer, you’ll love how CyberGhost includes dedicated gaming servers in the US, the UK, Germany, and France that provide low ping.
It also doesn’t fall short when it comes to security. CyberGhost uses RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy, and it protects against DNS and IPv6 leaks. It also has a no-logs policy that has been independently audited and confirmed. And like Private Internet Access, it regularly publishes transparency reports.
CyberGhost VPN’s plans start at the very low price of just $2.03 / month. The long-term plans are backed by a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, and its shortest-term plan offers a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
Comparison of the Best VPNs for Changing Your Google Play Store Location in 2024
How to Choose the Best VPN for Changing Your Google Play Store Location in 2024
- Check the server list for your preferred Google Play location. To change your IP address to your desired location, your VPN needs to have servers there. All the VPNs on my list have servers in at least 80+ countries.
- Test for fast speeds. VPNs slow down your internet connection due to the encryption process, so it’s important to have a fast VPN to make sure you don’t have to wait too long for your apps to download from the Google Play Store. I recommend ExpressVPN because it’s the fastest VPN out there.
- Consider ease of use. All VPNs on my list have apps for Android and Chromebook devices that are intuitive and make it easy to find and connect to any server.
- Choose strong security features. Protecting your privacy and data should be a top priority. The VPNs on my list offer military-grades AES-256 encryption, a no-logs policy, and features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection to prevent your data from leaking.
- Get a VPN that provides good value. The VPNs on my list are not only affordable, but they also come with extra features like split-tunneling, allow multiple simultaneous connections, and have at least a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to Change Your Google Play Store Location (Step-By-Step Guide)
Google allows you to change your Play Store location only once a year. Also, you won’t be able to use your old payment method in the new country unless it’s valid there as well. And any remaining balance in your old account won’t be transferred to the new account.
You can’t change your Google Play Store location unless you change your IP address. This is because your IP address reveals your general location. Unfortunately, the Google Play Store won’t give you the option to change your location unless it detects that you’re accessing the app from a different region.
That’s why you need a VPN. The online app gives you a new IP address that matches the location of the VPN server you’re connected to, so you don’t have to be physically located in the country of your choice to change your Google Play Store location — all you have to do is connect to a server that’s located there.
To change your Google Play Store location with a VPN, follow these steps:
- Download and install a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN as it’s the best VPN in the market. Follow the on-screen instructions to set it up on your device. It won’t take more than 1–2 minutes.
- Choose a VPN server. Select a VPN server located in the country where you want your Google Play Store location to be. For this guide, I’m setting my Google Play location to the US.
- Clear Google Play Store Data.
-
- Open your device’s Settings. Look for the Apps or App Manager option (the exact wording may vary depending on your device).
- Tap on it to access the list of installed apps. Scroll down and find the Google Play Store app from the list.
-
- Tap on it and select Storage or Storage & Cache.
- Tap on it and select Storage or Storage & Cache.
- Tap on Clear data and confirm you want to remove all data when prompted.
- Add a new Google Account. If you already have a Google account registered in the country where you want your Google Play location to be, skip to the next step. If you don’t, you’ll need to create a new Google account while connected to the VPN server in that country.
- Change your Google account location. In the Google Play Store app on your device, tap on your profile icon located in the top right corner of the screen.
-
- Select Settings from the menu.
- Select Settings from the menu.
-
- Go to Account and device preferences. I clicked on the General tab to see this option on my tablet.
- Go to Account and device preferences. I clicked on the General tab to see this option on my tablet.
- Scroll down to Country and profiles and select the country where you want your Google Play Store location to be in.
- Set up a payment method. Follow the on-screen prompts to add a payment method that’s available in the country you’ve switched to.
Note that Google takes up to 48 hours to process the country change.
- That’s it! Now you can browse the Play Store and download apps that are available in the country you selected.
What Are the Benefits of Changing Your Google Play Store Location?
- Access exclusive apps and content. Google Play has different stores for different regions. When you change your Google Play Store location, you’ll be able to access apps, games, and content that’s only available in that region.
- Early access to apps. Developers sometimes release apps or updates in specific regions before they become available worldwide. By changing your location, you could get early access to these apps or updates.
- Exclusive deals and promotions. Prices for apps or in-app purchases may vary between regions due to differences in currency, regional sales, or pricing strategies. You could potentially save money by changing your Google Play Store location to a region where the apps are cheaper.
- Bypassing geographic restrictions. If you’re in a country that restricts access to the open internet, changing your Google Play Store location can allow you to bypass these restrictions and download the apps you want. I recommend familiarizing yourself with local rules and regulations before downloading any apps.
- Game server selection. Some games have region-specific servers, so when you change your Play Store location, you’ll be able to access and connect to servers in different regions. This can enhance your gaming experience by providing better connectivity, reduced latency, and a broader player base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Google Play Store location without a VPN?
Yes but only if you’re physically located in a different country. Google Play Store tracks your general location via your IP address, so it won’t give you the option to change your Google Play Store location unless it detects that you’re in another place.
A VPN is the best way to change your Google Play Store location if you’re not in the region where you want to change it to. My top pick is ExpressVPN because it has servers in 105 countries, comes with an excellent Android app, and is the fastest VPN out there.
How often can I change my Google Play Store location?
Google allows you to change your Play Store country once a year. The only way to get around this limit is to create a new Google Play Store account.
If you’re not in the country where you want to access the Play Store, you need a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because it has a larger server network spread across 90+ countries and it’s really fast.
Will changing my Google Play Store location affect my existing apps?
No, but you might not have access to updates on your apps if they aren’t supported in your new location. However, if you want to download new apps that aren’t available in your current location, you need to use a VPN to change your Google Play Store location.
Why can’t I see the apps in my new Google Play Store location after connecting to a VPN server?
It can take up to 48 hours for Google to process the change. If you still can’t see the apps after this period, try clearing the cache and data of your Google Play Store app, and make sure your VPN is connected to the correct location.
