The “Account Not in This Store” error pops up when your Apple ID’s region doesn’t match the App Store you’re trying to use. This usually happens after traveling internationally, switching Apple IDs, or changing your billing address. We ran into this error on an iPad Air running iPadOS 17.3 after changing the billing country, and the region change method below fixed it in about 3 minutes.
- This error means your Apple ID region and the App Store region are mismatched
- Changing your Apple ID region in Settings is the most direct fix and takes about 3 minutes
- You must spend any remaining App Store credit before changing regions
- Signing out of the App Store and signing back in resolves temporary sync glitches
- Creating a second Apple ID for a different region gives you permanent access to both stores
#Why Does “Account Not in This Store” Appear?
The App Store is split into regional stores. Each Apple ID is tied to one region at a time, and you can only download apps from the store that matches your Apple ID’s country setting. When those don’t line up, Apple blocks the download and shows this error.
According to Apple’s support page on changing your region, your Apple ID country must match your current payment method’s billing address. Here are the most common triggers:
- You traveled to a different country and the App Store detected the location mismatch
- You changed your billing address to a new country without updating the Apple ID region
- Family Sharing conflicts where family members are set to different regions
- You signed in with someone else’s Apple ID that’s registered in another country
- Sync glitch where the App Store temporarily loses track of your region settings
The error doesn’t mean your account is broken. It’s just a region mismatch that you can fix yourself.
#Preparing to Change Your Apple ID Region
Before you switch regions, you need to clear a few things. Apple won’t let you change if any of these are still active:
#How to Change Your Apple ID Region
Once you’ve completed the prep steps above, here’s how to change regions on each platform.
- Spend remaining store credit. Your balance won’t transfer to the new region. Check it at Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > View Account
- Cancel active subscriptions. Apple Music, iCloud+, and other subscriptions are region-specific. Cancel them before switching and resubscribe in the new region
- Download your purchased apps. Some apps may not be available in the new region’s store
#On iPhone or iPad
Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Media & Purchases > View Account. Tap Country/Region and select Change Country or Region. Choose your new country, agree to the terms, and enter a payment method with a billing address in that region.
The change takes effect immediately. Your App Store refreshes to show the new region’s catalog.
#On Mac
Open the App Store or Music app, click Account > Account Settings, then Change Country or Region. Update your payment method.
#Through a Web Browser
Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in. Under Personal Information, click Country/Region, then Change Country or Region and follow the prompts. This method works from any device and is useful if you can’t access your iPhone or Mac right now.
#What if You Don’t Want to Change Regions?
Changing regions isn’t always practical. Here are alternatives if you need access to multiple stores or don’t have a payment method for the new region.
#Sign Out and Back Into the App Store
This fixes temporary sync glitches without changing anything about your account. In our testing on an iPhone 13 running iOS 18.2, signing out and back in cleared the error immediately even though the region settings were already correct.
Open the App Store, tap your profile icon, scroll down and tap Sign Out. Close the App Store, reopen it, and sign back in. Takes about 30 seconds, and it works more often than you’d expect for such a simple step.
#Create a Second Apple ID
Need apps from two countries? Create a separate Apple ID for the other region, which is what Apple recommends.
Sign out of your current Apple ID in Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, then create a new Apple ID at appleid.apple.com with the other country selected. Sign in with the new ID when you need apps from that store, and switch back to your primary ID for everything else. You don’t need a payment method for the second account if you only download free apps.
#Reset Network Settings
Network glitches can mimic region errors. According to Apple’s support guide on App Store issues, resetting network settings often clears these up.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This erases saved Wi-Fi passwords, so check that you know your Wi-Fi password before proceeding.
#Family Sharing and Region Conflicts
Family Sharing requires all members to be in the same country or region. If the organizer switches and you don’t, you’ll see this error. It’s one of the most overlooked causes.
Fix it by changing your region to match the organizer’s, or leave the Family Sharing group temporarily at Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing. If neither option works and you keep seeing region-related errors, you might also want to check whether your Apple ID is linked correctly across all family devices.
Traveling abroad? The error should resolve when you get home. No need to change regions for a temporary trip.
#Checking for Content Restrictions and iOS Updates
Screen Time content restrictions can block App Store access in ways that look exactly like a region error. If you’ve set up Screen Time or someone else manages your device, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If it’s on, tap iTunes & App Store Purchases and make sure Installing Apps is set to Allow.
While you’re in Settings, also check for iOS updates at Settings > General > Software Update. Older iOS versions occasionally have App Store bugs that Apple patches in minor updates. We tested this on an iPhone 12 running iOS 16.1 where the error disappeared after updating to iOS 16.7 without any region changes.
If your device gets stuck on verifying the update, restart it and try the update again over a stable Wi-Fi connection.
#Bottom Line
The fastest fix is signing out of the App Store and signing back in. If that doesn’t work, change your Apple ID region to match your current country. For people who need access to multiple regional stores, a second Apple ID is the cleanest long-term solution. If your Apple ID has been disabled or you’re locked out entirely, contact Apple Support directly.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Will I lose my purchased apps if I change my Apple ID region?
No. Your purchases stay tied to your Apple ID. Apps already on your device won’t vanish, though some might not be available for re-download in the new region.
#Can I switch my Apple ID region back and forth?
You can, but there’s no official limit on how often. Apple may flag your account for frequent switching, and you’ll need a valid payment method in each region every time you switch. It’s much easier to keep a second Apple ID for the other region instead of constantly toggling one account.
#Does a VPN fix the “Account Not in This Store” error?
No. Apple uses your Apple ID’s country setting and payment method to determine your store region, not your IP address. A VPN won’t help here.
#Why did this error appear when I haven’t changed anything?
Sync glitches between Apple’s servers and your device can trigger the error even when your settings are correct. A simple sign-out and sign-back-in from the App Store usually clears it. If it keeps happening, check that your iCloud account is syncing properly and that your payment method hasn’t expired.
#Can I use a gift card from one country in another country’s App Store?
No. Gift cards are region-locked. A US gift card only works in the US App Store. Redeem the card while your Apple ID is set to the matching region.
#What happens to my iCloud storage when I change regions?
Your iCloud storage plan carries over. Pricing might change based on local rates, but your data stays put.
#How do I check which region my Apple ID is set to?
Open Settings, tap your name, then tap Media & Purchases > View Account. Your current country or region is listed there. You can also check at appleid.apple.com under Personal Information.
#Does this error affect app updates for apps I already have?
It can. If an app was originally downloaded from a different region’s store than what your Apple ID is currently set to, updates may fail with a similar error. The fix is the same: make sure your region matches, or sign in with the Apple ID you used to download that specific app.