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How to Change the Device Region on iPhone
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap your name (Apple Account) at the top.
- Tap Media & Purchases, then tap View Account. You might need to sign in.
- Tap Country/Region, then tap Change Country or Region.
- Select your new country or region.
- Read the Terms & Conditions, then tap Agree.
- Enter a valid payment method and new billing address for the selected region, then tap Done or Next.
After this, iOS updates the date order, the 12 or 24 hour clock, the currency symbol, decimal marks and other formats. On the same screen you can also adjust:
- Preferred Languages. Add Arabic, English or another language and drag to set the order.
- Calendar. Choose Gregorian, Islamic or another calendar.
- Temperature Unit. Choose Celsius or Fahrenheit.
- Measurement System. Choose Metric, UK or US.
- First Day of Week. Pick the day your calendar starts with.
Changing the device region does not change the App Store, your apps or your iCloud data.
Pro Tip
Start cancelling subscriptions and spending your Apple balance about a month before you move. Subscriptions often need to reach the end of their billing period before Apple lets you change country, and many people lose a week or more on move day because one forgotten subscription blocks the change.
How to Change Your Apple Account Country or Region on iPhone
Understanding the Difference
- Device Region: Controls local date, time formats, number styles, and regional system defaults. It does not change your App Store access.
- App Store Country (Apple Account): Controls which regional App Store you shop from, which apps you can download, and what currency or payment methods you need.
Prerequisites Before Changing App Store Country
- Empty your balance: Spend any remaining Apple Account balance so it reaches zero.
- Cancel active subscriptions: Wait for current subscription periods to end or cancel them if they block the region change.
- Leave Family Sharing: You cannot change regions if you belong to a Family Sharing group.
- Get a local payment method: Prepare a valid payment card and billing address from your target country.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Method 1: Change App Store Country / Apple Account Region
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap your name at the top.
- Tap Media & Purchases, then select View Account (you may need to sign in).
- Tap Country/Region, then select Change Country or Region.
- Choose your new country or region.
- Review the Terms & Conditions and tap Agree.
- Enter a valid payment method and a local billing address for that new country, then tap Done
Your App Store now shows apps, prices and services for the new country.
Method 2: Change Device Region (Format and Language Settings)
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap Language & Region.
- Tap Region and select your preferred location from the list.
You moved to Dubai, or you are moving away, or you want an app that only exists in another country’s App Store, and you searched for how to change regions on your iPhone. The tricky part is that “region” means two different things on an iPhone, and changing the wrong one does nothing for you. One is the region that controls date formats, currency and measurements.
The other is the country of your Apple Account, which controls the App Store, your payment method and which apps you can download. This guide explains both, shows the steps for each, lists what must be done before you can change the App Store country, and covers what UAE residents should know.
To successfully switch your iPhone’s App Store country or device region to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), follow the precise steps outlined below.
Step 1: Change App Store Country to UAE
- Go to Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap your name (Apple Account) at the top of the menu.
- Choose Media & Purchases, then tap View Account.
- Select Country/Region and tap Change Country or Region.
- Select United Arab Emirates from the list.
- Review the terms and tap Agree.
Enter a UAE-based payment method and a local billing address (e.g., street, city/emirate). Major local institutions like HSBC UAE, ADCB, and Sharjah Islamic Bank seamlessly support Apple ecosystems.
What You Must Do Before You Can Change the App Store Country
Apple blocks the change if anything on your account is tied to the old country. Prepare these first:
- Cancel active subscriptions. Cancel every paid subscription, including Apple Music, iCloud storage subscriptions and app subscriptions. Some can only be cancelled at the end of the billing period, so the change may need to wait.
- Use up your store credit. Spend any Apple Account balance, such as gift cards, before you switch.
- Wait for pending items. Pre orders, rentals, memberships and refunds must be finished.
- Check Family Sharing. If you belong to a family group, you may need to leave it or agree with the organiser. Family Sharing can block the change.
- Get a payment method for the new country. You need a valid card or payment method from the country you are moving to.
- Back up your iPhone. Changing the country does not delete data, but it is a good moment for a backup.
What Changes When You Change Your App Store Country
- Available apps. Apps that are not released in the new country will disappear from search, and apps from the old country may stop updating.
- Prices and currency. App Store prices, iCloud storage subscription prices and Apple service prices change to the new country’s rates.
- Payment methods. Only payment methods that work in the new country can be used.
- Purchased content. Some previously bought movies, music or books may not be available in the new country.
- Apple Pay and Wallet. Cards and passes depend on the country and the bank, so you may need to add them again.
Extra Note for UAE Residents and People Moving to the UAE
The UAE App Store gives you access to apps that matter for daily life in the country, including government apps such as UAE PASS, many bank apps and local delivery and service apps. If you have just arrived in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, the easiest path is to change your Apple Account country to the United Arab Emirates once your subscriptions are cancelled and your UAE payment method is ready.
Also set your device region to the United Arab Emirates, add Arabic as a preferred language if you need it and choose the calendar and first day of the week that match your working week. Some people who travel between countries keep their main Apple Account in one country and use a second Apple Account only for App Store downloads in another.
This works through Settings > Media & Purchases, where you can sign out of one store account and sign in to another, while your iCloud data stays with your main account. Follow Apple’s terms, use only accounts that belong to you and remember that a second account has its own purchases and subscriptions.
If your work involves sharing location with your other Apple devices, see how to switch location from iPhone to an iPad, which is handy when you settle into a new country and set up several devices.
Fixes When You Cannot Change Region on iPhone
The Change Country or Region Option Is Missing or Grey
Check Family Sharing, active subscriptions, pending refunds, store credit and any Screen Time restrictions. Sign out and back in to Media & Purchases and try again.
“You Cannot Change Your Country or Region at This Time”
This message usually means you still have a subscription, a balance or a pending purchase. Cancel subscriptions, spend your credit and wait for pending items to finish. Contact Apple Support if the message continues.
Your Payment Method Is Not Accepted
Use a payment method from the new country, with a billing address in that country. A card from your old country may be refused after the change.
Apps Disappeared After the Change
Some apps are only available in specific countries. Search again in the App Store, and for missing apps sign in with an account from the country where the app is available or contact the developer.
Date and Currency Still Look Wrong
The device region and the Apple Account country are separate. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region and set the device region too.
You Want to Change Back
You can switch back to your old country with the same steps, but the same conditions apply, so cancel subscriptions and spend credit first.
More iPhone Guides for Moving and Travelling
After you set your region, you can connect iPhone to smart TV to watch shows from your new App Store, activate eSIM on iPhone for a local line, scan documents in iPhone for your visa and tenancy paperwork, and check the rules before you record calls on iPhone, because availability differs by country.
Setting Up Rented iPhones for Visiting Teams
Companies in the UAE often bring in speakers, exhibitors and project teams from other countries for a few days or weeks. If you give them rented iPhones, the region settings matter. Set the device region, language and calendar to what your team uses, add Arabic if needed and sign in with a company or temporary account so App Store purchases and subscriptions do not mix with anyone’s personal account.
Do not change the Apple Account country on a rented device, because that changes billing and can block the change back. Instead, sign in with the account you plan to use and remove it when the rental ends.
If you need laptops or desktops for the same team, look at the rental for IT projects guidance and browse the best office laptops Dubai teams choose. To check which iPhone models are available for your dates and group size, contact our rental team.
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Region on iPhone
How do I change the region on my iPhone?
Go to Settings, General, Language and Region, tap Region and choose your country. This changes date format, currency and units. To change the App Store country, go to Settings, your name, Media and Purchases, View Account, Country/Region.
How do I change my App Store country on iPhone?
Open Settings, tap your name, tap Media and Purchases, tap View Account, tap Country/Region and choose Change Country or Region. Accept the terms and add a payment method for the new country.
Why can’t I change my country or region on iPhone?
Usually because you have an active subscription, a store credit balance, a pending refund or pre order, or Family Sharing. Cancel subscriptions, spend the balance and wait for pending items, then try again.
Will changing region delete my apps or photos?
No. Changing the region does not delete apps, photos or messages. It changes the App Store, prices and formats, and some apps from your old country may stop updating.
Does changing region change the language on my iPhone?
No. Region and language are separate. Set the language in Settings, General, Language and Region, under Preferred Languages. Region changes formats such as date, currency and measurements.
Can I have two Apple Accounts for two countries?
Yes. You can keep one main account and sign in to another account in Media and Purchases for downloads from that country. Use accounts that belong to you and follow Apple’s terms.
What region should I set for the UAE?
Set the device region to United Arab Emirates to get local date, currency and calendar options. Change your Apple Account country to the UAE if you live there and have a UAE payment method, so you can download UAE apps.
Can I change the region on a rented iPhone?
You can change the device region, language and calendar on a rented iPhone, but do not change the Apple Account country. Sign in with a company or temporary account and remove it before returning the phone.
Can I rent iPhones for visiting teams in the UAE?
Yes. You can rent iPhones for the dates of an event or project and set them up with the region and language your team needs. Contact the rental team to check available models and dates.
