Switching your App Store country from Canada to the United States is a straightforward process that can be done right from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. There are a few reasons why you may want to change your App Store country – to access apps or content not available in the Canadian store, take advantage of lower prices in the US, or for other personal reasons. While it’s easy to do, there are some important factors to keep in mind when switching countries.
Can I switch from the Canadian App Store to the US App Store?
Yes, it is possible to change your App Store country from Canada to the United States. Apple allows users to switch between App Store regions, provided the payment method used is valid for that particular country’s store.
How do I change my App Store from Canada to the US?
Follow these steps to change your App Store country on iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch:
- Open the Settings app on your device
- Tap on your name at the top of the screen (Apple ID)
- Select Media & Purchases
- Tap View Account
- Tap Change Country or Region
- Select United States from the list of countries
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions
You will be signed out of the App Store and then prompted to sign in again using your current Apple ID and password. The App Store will now change to the US store after signing back in.
What you need to switch countries
In order to successfully change your App Store country, you will need:
- An Apple ID set to Canada as your account’s country
- A valid US payment method associated with your Apple ID (credit card, PayPal etc)
- An iOS device running a recent version of iOS (ideally the latest)
As long as your account meets these requirements, you should be able to switch over to the US App Store without issues.
Does my Apple ID need to be from the US?
No, you can keep your Canadian Apple ID when changing to the US App Store. Your Apple ID does not need to match the country you are switching to. The only requirement is that you have a valid US payment method attached to the account, such as a credit card with a billing address in the United States or a US PayPal account.
Can I use the same payment method?
Unfortunately, you cannot use the same payment method for both countries’ App Stores. When switching from Canada to the US, you will need to add a new payment method with a US billing address. This is because your existing Canadian payment method can only be used in the Canadian store.
You can add a new US credit card, PayPal account or other accepted US payment method as the new default option for your account. Your Canadian payment method will remain on your account for purchases in the Canadian App Store if you decide to switch back.
Do my purchased apps transfer over?
Yes, when you change your App Store country, all of your existing purchased apps, games, and subscriptions will transfer over. You do not need to re-purchase content you have already bought. The key is that you are using the same Apple ID for both the Canadian and US App Stores.
However, some in-app purchases or subscriptions may not work properly after switching countries. Check with the app developer to determine if any purchases will be affected by changing your App Store region.
Can I switch back to the Canadian App Store?
Yes, you can revert back to the Canadian App Store at any time. Just follow the same steps above, but choose Canada instead of the United States when prompted. All of your purchases will remain intact when you switch back.
You will need to make sure you have a valid Canadian payment method attached to your account, such as a credit card with a Canadian billing address. The US payment method you added will now only work for the US store.
Important things to know when switching
Here are some important factors to keep in mind when changing your App Store country from Canada to the US:
- Not all app or in-app purchase prices are cheaper in the US store. Check pricing before switching.
- You will need to use US gift cards for purchases and credits
- US taxes and fees are applicable on purchases in the US store
- Parental controls and restrictions will remain the same
- Your purchase history will not transfer over with your Apple ID
- You can only change countries once every 90 days
Do apps and games transfer?
When switching your App Store country, any apps or games you already have installed on your device will remain. You do not need to re-download anything after changing to the US store. This applies to both free and paid apps you’ve purchased.
However, there are a couple of exceptions:
- Region restricted apps may disappear after switching countries
- Some location-based apps may not work properly or need reconfiguring
Check each of your apps after changing stores to make sure everything is still functioning correctly. Re-download any that disappeared from your device.
Will my app data be deleted?
In most cases, your app data such as documents, game progress, settings, etc will NOT be lost when switching countries. Anything saved locally on your device or synced to iCloud should remain intact.
However, data stored within the app could potentially be impacted in certain cases. For example, banking apps or region-restricted services. Check with the developer if concerned about any app data loss when changing stores.
Can I get cheaper app prices?
One of the big reasons people switch countries is to get cheaper app and in-app purchase pricing. However, savings isn’t guaranteed.
While many apps and games are cheaper in the US App Store compared to Canada, prices can also be more expensive in some cases. There is no blanket rule, so you’ll need to check pricing on a case-by-case basis.
Some tips for finding deals:
- Browse Top Charts and Categories sections to compare prices
- Use sites like AppShopper.com to see price histories
- Check developer sites for regional pricing info
- Look for flash sales which often have the biggest discounts
Switching countries takes some effort, so be sure the potential savings make it worthwhile before going through the steps.
What about subscriptions?
When you transfer your Apple ID to the new App Store country, any existing subscriptions you have will continue without interruption. For example, an auto-renewing Netflix subscription will continue as normal.
However, take note of the following:
- Free trial eligibility resets when switching countries
- Subscription pricing may differ between countries
- Billing issues can occur if you switch countries multiple times
Check with the app developer to determine if there are any concerns around pricing, renewals or eligibility when changing App Store regions.
Will I lose app recommendations?
When you sign in to the US App Store with your Apple ID, you will lose all of your personalized app recommendations and suggestions that were tailored to your activity in the Canadian store.
Over time, as you download apps and the US store gets a sense of your preferences, new recommendations will be generated. But expect the switch to impact suggestions initially.
If app discovery is important to you, this could be a downside to changing countries. However, recommendations will rebuild over time in the new store.
What about parental controls?
When switching your App Store country, any parental control restrictions you have set up will remain active. This includes:
- Age restrictions on app downloads
- Limiting access to specific app ratings
- Requiring a password for purchases
- Disabling in-app purchases
- Restricting content by age rating
These parental controls are tied to your Apple ID rather than your App Store country. So you can switch countries without worrying about your restrictions being impacted.
Can I return to the Canadian App Store?
Yes, you can go back to the Canadian App Store at any time by following the steps above but choosing Canada instead of the United States. All of your apps will transfer over and you will regain access to the Canadian store’s content.
You will need to make sure you have a valid Canadian payment method attached to your account when switching back. And remember, you can only change countries once every 90 days.
What about changing multiple times?
Apple allows users to change their App Store country as often as every 90 days. If you switch between countries more frequently than that, you may encounter issues.
Potential problems include:
- Payment and billing problems
- Loss of eligibility for free trials and offers
- Possible termination of subscriptions
- Difficulty restoring or re-downloading purchases
- App functionality loss or data deletion
While Apple’s system is designed to handle occasional country changes, frequent switches can confuse things. Stick to the 90 day limit between changes.
Should I use a different Apple ID?
While you can switch countries using your existing Canadian Apple ID, some users prefer to create a second US-based ID for accessing the US store.
Potential benefits of a US Apple ID:
- Keep Canadian and US purchase histories separate
- Take advantage of US-only promotions
- Easier management of multiple payment methods
- Prevent any potential conflicts from frequent country switching
However, the downside is you won’t be able to access all of your current app purchases and subscriptions that are tied to your Canadian ID. There are pros and cons to both setups.
Should I use a VPN?
Using a VPN to access the US App Store without changing countries is not recommended. Apple’s terms prohibit using a VPN to mimic a US location to get around regional restrictions.
Potential risks include:
- Account termination
- Bans from the App Store
- Payment issues
- Problems updating apps
- Loss of app functionality
Changing your Apple ID to the correct country is the safest approach. Using a VPN to bypass regional restrictions could cause problems.
Summary
Switching your App Store country from Canada to the US is a fairly straightforward process that can be done right from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch settings. Simply update your Apple ID’s country, agree to the terms, and add a valid US payment method.
Key things to keep in mind:
- You’ll need a US payment method even if keeping your Canadian Apple ID
- Pricing may not always be cheaper in the US store
- You can switch back and forth, but only every 90 days
- Occasional country changes usually go smoothly
- Frequent switches may cause issues
Changing countries can provide access to apps or content not available in your home country. Just be aware of the impacts to pricing, recommendations, subscriptions and data before making the switch from the Canadian to US App Store.
