How to Change Your Apple TV App Store Region

How to Change Your Apple TV App Store Region

Apple operates 175 different App Stores around the world — and your account is locked to exactly one of them. That means if you created your Apple ID in Germany and you're trying to download an app that's only available in the US App Store, you're just... out of luck. Unless you know how to change it.

This comes up constantly with streaming apps. Services like Peacock, Paramount+, ESPN+, BritBox, and ITVX are often exclusive to one country's App Store. You can't download them if your account is registered elsewhere. And if you live abroad, travel frequently, or just want access to a different country's streaming library, that wall is genuinely infuriating.

Good news: there's a reliable way around it. Here's exactly how to do it.

Why Your App Store Region Matters (and Why It's Such a Pain)

Apple ties your App Store access directly to your Apple ID's country setting. That country setting is linked to your billing address and payment method. So switching regions isn't as simple as flicking a toggle — Apple wants proof that you actually belong in that country.

The most common scenario we hear about: someone moves from the UK to the US, or vice versa, and suddenly half their apps either disappear or become unavailable to re-download. Or someone wants to access Peacock (US-only) or ITVX (UK-only) on their Apple TV but their account is registered somewhere else entirely.

And just to make things extra fun — even if you change your App Store region successfully and download the app, the app itself may still geo-block you based on your IP address. So you often need two things sorted: the App Store region, and a VPN to actually use the app.

Method 1: Change Your Apple ID Country Officially

This is Apple's "official" path. It works, but it has real requirements.

What you'll need

• A payment method registered in the target country (credit card with a local billing address, or an App Store gift card from that country)
• A valid address in that country — you can use a hotel address or forwarding address if needed
• No outstanding App Store balance or active subscriptions on your current account

Steps to change your region on Apple TV (tvOS)

1. Go to Settings on your Apple TV.
2. Select Users and Accounts, then your account name.
3. Tap Manage Apple ID — this will open a browser or prompt you to go to appleid.apple.com on another device.
4. Sign in at appleid.apple.com on your phone or computer.
5. Go to Personal Information > Country/Region.
6. Select your new country, enter a valid local payment method or gift card, and confirm the address.
7. Back on your Apple TV, sign out and sign back in. Your App Store should now reflect the new region.

The gift card route is genuinely the easiest option if you don't have a local credit card. You can buy US, UK, or Australian App Store gift cards on sites like MyGiftCardSupply or Kinguin for a few dollars/pounds without needing a local bank account.

Method 2: Create a Separate Apple ID for Another Region

This is what most people actually do. It's faster, it doesn't mess with your existing account, and it's completely free.

On your iPhone or iPad

1. Go to Settings > tap your name > Sign Out (don't worry, your data stays).
2. Scroll down and tap App Store.
3. Tap the account icon in the top right and choose Sign Out.
4. Tap Create New Apple ID.
5. Use a different email address, and when asked for a country, select the region you want.
6. When asked for payment info, select None — this option appears if you choose the country before entering any payment details. If you don't see "None," go back and make sure you're selecting the country on the first screen of account creation, not after.
7. Confirm via email, then use this new ID exclusively in the App Store to download region-specific apps.

On Apple TV

1. Go to Settings > Users and Accounts.
2. Select Add New User or sign out of your current account.
3. Sign in with your new region-specific Apple ID.
4. Download the app you need from the regional store.
5. Once installed, you can switch back to your primary Apple ID for purchases — the app stays on your device.

This two-account system is how a huge number of people run their Apple TV setup. Your primary account handles purchases and iCloud. The secondary account is just your "key" to unlock apps from another country's store.

But You'll Still Need a VPN to Actually Watch

Here's the thing: downloading the app is only half the job. Apps like Peacock, ESPN+, and ITVX check your IP address when you open them. If you're in France trying to watch ITVX, it'll tell you the content isn't available in your region — even if you've successfully downloaded the app.

That's where a VPN comes in. A VPN masks your real IP address and makes it look like you're browsing from another country.

We'd recommend NordVPN here, specifically because it has a strong track record of working with streaming services that actively try to block VPNs. Peacock, BBC iPlayer, Hulu — NordVPN keeps updating its servers to stay ahead of the blocks. It's currently around $3.99–$4.99/month (about £3.20–£4 / €3.70–€4.60) on a two-year plan, which is genuinely cheap for what it does.

If NordVPN doesn't suit you, ExpressVPN is the other one we'd point to for Apple TV specifically — it has a native tvOS app, which makes setup much simpler. Surfshark is a solid budget option if cost is the main concern.

Do free VPNs work for this?

Honestly? Not reliably. Free VPNs have limited server options, slower speeds, and most major streaming platforms have already blocked their IP ranges. You'll spend more time troubleshooting than watching. For occasional use, a free trial of a paid VPN (NordVPN offers one) is a much better option than committing to a free service that'll frustrate you within 20 minutes.

How to use NordVPN on Apple TV

1. Download the NordVPN app on your Apple TV via the App Store (it's available globally).
2. Sign in with your NordVPN account.
3. Select a server in your target country — for US content, pick any US server; for UK content, pick a UK server.
4. Connect, then open your streaming app. Done.

If NordVPN isn't in your current region's App Store for some reason, install it on your iPhone first, then use AirPlay to stream to your TV — or set up NordVPN at the router level, which covers all devices on your network including your Apple TV.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

"I don't see the 'None' payment option when creating a new Apple ID"

This almost always means you selected the country after the initial setup screen. Start the account creation fresh, and make sure you pick the country on the very first screen before you enter any other details. The "None" option only appears if no payment is expected upfront.

"The app downloaded but still says it's not available in my region"

You need a VPN connected to the right country before opening the app. Connect to NordVPN first, then launch the app. If it's still blocking you, try a different server in the same country — some server IPs do get flagged.

"My Apple TV won't let me switch App Store regions"

Check for active subscriptions on your current account. Apple won't let you change the country if you have ongoing billing in the current region. Cancel or wait for them to lapse first.

"My previously downloaded apps disappeared after switching regions"

Apps tied to a different region's store can become unavailable after switching. This is why the two-account method is cleaner — don't change your main Apple ID's region, just keep a secondary one for region-specific downloads.

FAQ

Can I have two Apple IDs on one Apple TV?

Yes. You can add multiple user accounts to an Apple TV under Settings > Users and Accounts. You can also use one Apple ID for iCloud/purchases and a different one for the App Store specifically — your Apple TV treats them separately.

Will changing my App Store region affect my existing purchases and subscriptions?

If you change your main Apple ID's country, yes — App Store purchases and active subscriptions may be affected. That's why creating a second Apple ID just for App Store access is the safer move for most people.

Is it legal to change your App Store region or use a VPN?

Changing your App Store region is against Apple's terms of service if you're doing it to circumvent regional restrictions — but it's not illegal. Using a VPN is legal in most countries (notable exceptions include Russia, China, and a handful of others). Apple can theoretically close your account for TOS violations, but in practice this virtually never happens for regular users.

Which streaming services are US App Store only?

Peacock, ESPN+, MLB.TV, and fuboTV are prominent examples. BritBox US is also separate from BritBox UK. Meanwhile, ITVX, Channel 4, and BBC iPlayer are UK App Store exclusives. The list changes, but these are the ones we hear about most.

Does NordVPN work on older Apple TV models?

The NordVPN tvOS app requires Apple TV HD (4th generation) or Apple TV 4K. Older Apple TV models (2nd and 3rd gen) don't support third-party apps at all. For those older devices, your only option is to configure NordVPN on your router so all traffic is routed through the VPN automatically.

How often do I need to switch the VPN server?

Not often. Once you're connected to a working server, it'll stay working until the streaming service identifies and blocks that server's IP. NordVPN updates its server pool regularly to stay ahead of this. If a stream suddenly stops working, switching to a different server in the same country is usually the fix — takes about 30 seconds.

Our Honest Recommendation

If you just want one app from another country's store, create a second Apple ID with no payment method attached — it's free and takes ten minutes. If you're trying to actually watch geo-locked content, pair that with NordVPN on your Apple TV. The combination covers both problems cleanly.

Don't overthink this. Apple's region system is annoying, but it's not a fortress. A spare email address and a $4/month VPN subscription will unlock more content than most people know what to do with.