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App Store message account not in this store. Please switch

Account not in this store. Your account is not valid for use in the … store

By 38 comments Last updated January 6, 2020

Having trouble downloading, installing, or updating apps because you get an error that your account is not in this store? Wondering why and what you can do about it?

Several users have reported that an error message prevents users from buying/downloading/updating apps. The error message is: Account Not In This Store. Your account is not valid for use in the … Store. You must switch to … Store before purchasing.

For example, account not in this store. Your account is not valid for use in the German store. You must switch to the US store before purchasing.

This message often appears when you are in a different country or region other than your home country, like when traveling for business, taking a vacation, or working and living abroad.

Quick Tips quick tips 2019

Follow These Quick Tips To Get Your App Store Working Again

  • If applicable, change your country or region for the iTunes and App Store
  • If in a Family Sharing Group, verify the country and region settings with the designated Family Organizer
  • Sign out of the App Store and then sign back in
  • Make sure you do not have any restrictions on your device
  • Try turning WiFi on your device off and back on again (add a restart in-between if it doesn’t work at first)
  • Check that your billing address on your Apple ID is set to your current country of residence address
  • Sign out of your Apple ID on the iTunes & App Store and then sign back in
  • Update your country of residence for your Apple ID

Related Posts

Recently Moved? Change Your Local Settings

If you are indeed in another region or country on a long term basis, you should change your settings to reflect your new address!

Scroll to the section Try Changing Your iTunes & App Store Country to learn how update your information.

Seeing Account Not in this Store in Error? Sign Out of App Store and Sign Back In!

When you sign out of the App Store app, you usually see a prompt to sign back into the App Store with your Apple ID in the current region or country you’re located in.

How To Sign Out of App Store

  1. Open the App Store app and choose the Today tab app store account setting using Today tab and profile
  2. Tap the profile picture or icon in the upper-right corner
  3. Choose Sign Out sign out of app store app iOS 12 on iPhone
  4. At the prompt, enter your Apple ID and password
  5. Tap Sign In enter Apple ID and password
  6. Wait while the App Store connect to Apple’s Servers and verifies your credentials
  7. When the sign in is successful, tap your Name and Apple ID verify Apple ID account details on iPhone
  8. Look at the Country/Region setting and confirm it’s correct apple id country and region settings
  9. If it’s incorrect, open a web browser (like Safari) and go to your Apple ID account page and change your Apple ID information
    1. You must also enter a payment method for your new country or region
    2. Spend any store credit before changing regions/countries
    3. Cancel all subscriptions including Apple Music
    4. If in a family sharing plan, leave that family sharing group. Country and Region settings are managed by the family organizer
  10. Once you verify information is correct, tap Done done button for account settings in app store iTunes store

Toggle WiFi

Several readers let us know that simply toggling WiFi off, waiting 20-30 seconds, and then toggling WiFi back on fix this issue. If that didn’t work, try adding a restart or force restart in between the toggling off and on and see if that does the trick. iPhone Can't Connect to Unsecured Network? How-To Fix

Check Any Restrictions

First, check that you don’t have any restrictions enabled by going to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Where are Restrictions in iOS 12? We Found It and More!

For older iOS, go to General > Restrictions Can't Delete Safari History on iPhone, Fix

Sign Out and In of iTunes & App Stores to Fix This Account Issue

  1. Tap Settings > Apple ID Profile > iTunes & App Stores
  2. You see your Apple ID; tap it, and a pop up shows up
  3. Tap Sign Out
  4. Enter your Apple ID and password to sign back in
  5. Go to the Home Screen or App Store and try downloading your app again Account not in this store. Your account is not valid for use in the ... store

Try Changing Your iTunes and App Store Country

When you change your Apple ID (App Store or iTunes Store) country of residence, you must spend any current balance you have before you change to a new country setting. Store balances DO NOT transfer.

Update Country or Region on your iDevice

  1. Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store
  2. Tap on your Apple ID
  3. Choose View Apple ID View Apple ID Information on iPhone using iOS 11
  4. Tap on Country/Region country or region settings for Apple ID on iPhone
  5. Choose Change Country or Region change country or region for Apple ID
  6. Choose your new area
    1. Make sure you choose a location that matches your payment method’s billing address  new region or country for Apple ID
  7. Agree to the terms and conditions
  8. Enter a payment method that has your current address (new location) as the billing address
  9. Tap Next, and you’re good to go!

Can’t Change The Country?

If you are unable to change your country, it’s likely that you are part of a Family Sharing Plan. cannot change region or country on Apple ID with family sharing group Ask the Family Organizer to change the country or region or leave the Family plan.

Your Apple ID country or region updates for all of your Apple services on all of your Apple products that use the same Apple ID

Update Settings in iTunes or Via Apple ID Website

  1. Open iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC and sign in to your Apple ID Account Information page and select Account > View My Account at the top of the iTunes window Account not in this store. Your account is not valid for use in the ... store
    1. Enter Your Apple ID and Passcode if requested
    2. On the Account Information page, look to the right of Country/Region and choose Change Country or Region Account not in this store. Your account is not valid for use in the ... store
    3. From the select a country or region menu, choose your new country or region
    4. Click Change
    5. On the Welcome to the iTunes Store page, tap Continue
    6. Agree to the Terms and Conditions and Apple Privacy Policy
    7. Enter your new payment information and billing address
    8. You have to enter a valid payment method for your new country or region–you can change your payment method to None later, once your account confirms

When you change your billing address from your Apple ID account page or through the iTunes Store or App Store, it updates your billing address for all of the Apple services with which you use the same Apple ID

Or go to your Apple ID account on the website

  1. Tap Account > Edit
  2. From the Country/Region menu, select your new country or region
  3. Enter your new payment information
  4. You have to enter a valid payment method for your new country or region. You can change your payment method to None later, once your account confirms
  5. Click Save

When you change your billing address from your Apple ID account page or through the iTunes Store or App Store, it updates your billing address for all of the Apple services with which you use the same Apple ID

Seeing your country cannot be changed at this time. Learn more? Account not in this store. Your account is not valid for use in the ... store

If your country or region is grayed out and not allowing you to make any changes, it’s likely that your account still has a credit on it. Spend that remaining balance, and it should work.

If you belong to a family sharing group, you must exit the group before changing your country and region.

Before you change your country or region

  1. Your store credit is associated with the individual country’s or regions store, so spend any remaining credit before changing your country
  2. Download all your past purchases to your device(s)
  3. Cancel any subscriptions, including Apple Music! These must be subscribed to again in the new country’s store
  4. Back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to iTunes (your iCloud account is tied to your country, so it’s safer to trust iTunes for this backup)
  5. If you’re a part of a Family Sharing group, you might not be able to change your country or region until you leave that Family Sharing group
  6. When you shift iTunes and Apple Store countries or areas, you should download all your past purchases before you change your country or region. You may be able to re-download them after you make the change, depending on the new store’s availability and local laws, but it’s not guaranteed.

Only One iTunes/App Store Allowed

At this time, you cannot purchase any media (music, apps, and so forth) from an iTunes or App Store different from the store where you list your residence on your Apple ID account.

Your billing address (and your credit card) determine which country’s Apple Store you can make purchases from.

When you visit another country, even if for an extended visit, Apple does not allow you to purchase apps from any other iTunes or App stores other than your resident country’s store.

Reader Tips 

  • For folks seeing this on the Mac App Store, try the following:
    • Close the Mac App Store application
    • Launch Terminal Application Folder > Utilities folder > Terminal App
    • Copy and paste the following command into Terminal:  defaults delete com.apple.appstore.commerce
    • Close Terminal and try opening the Mac App Store

Related Posts:

Reader Interactions

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Show 38 Comments

  5. Brian Buxton says

    This is why people are ditching Apple products.
    Not just computers phones and those stupid watches too.
    Greedy company scrambling to achieve a Darwin award.

    Reply

  6. vic says

    THANK YOU. I was about to try to waste my itunes money because that’s what it kept prompting me to do and it was getting frustrating so thank you very much.

    Reply

  7. Natalie Tarnopolsky says

    This happened to my kids and me (we have 5 iPhones + several macs all joined together through Family Share) and I tried all of the above plus spending 3 hours on the phone with Apple Support and talking with four different members of their Apple Support team. All the regions were the same; we turned on and off the computers, iPhones, AppleID, iTunes and App Store several times.

    That wasn’t the problem. Four IT specialists later, they finally pinpointed the problem.

    The problem was that we had all initially used my husband’s Apple ID to set up the iPhones. All of the apps were automatically downloaded because they were part of his profile. My husband’s Apple ID must have the region set to US. So when we tried to update the applications that were initially downloaded via his Apple ID, we received this error message (because we are not living in the US). The only way to fix this was to delete every single application and then re-download them again using our own IDs. Takes a lot of time, but only a fraction of the time I spent on the phone with the Apple IT Service team.

    Reply

  10. Oscar Baptiste says

    I own an iPhone 6s. For the last three weeks, I have been getting an “Account Not In This Store” error message when I attempt to download updates for my apps.

    With respect to my Apple account, only my credit card information needed updating (and I have done that) as my previous card expired in October 2018. My only other change was from the US store to the TT store.

    I have tried the tips listed in the “toolbox”, however, I am still encountering the same error message when I try to download. I have been trying for the last week to resolve this condition; I am now out of ideas!!!!

    Reply

  11. Alex Fraguglia says

    IT’s A FLAW FROM APPLE.

    I set everyday ipads and iphones devices for business users and I create the iCloud id which is set correctly to the country and billing address with NONE as form of payment and address filled correctly. Once i sign into apple store in the device, when trying to download anything, it gives me this crap message.
    The way out is, go to your country region select another country and go back and select the country in which you register in first place, its takes, STUPIDLY, back to the payment details, which you need to put NONE as form of payment and do not filing anything again(address)…as you/i already done via apple id website when registering the icloud account.

    WHY I NEED TO TO AGAIN INTO THE DEVICE!? …pathetic!!!

    Reply

    • John Mc says

      Thanks Karen – after trying all the other above ideas, it was your sign out from the App store and back in that got me back from the US store to my home UK store.

      Reply

  13. Lisa says

    I have never lived in another country, my billing information is US, the computer and iPhone are in the US, but keeps saying I am trying to purchase something from UK store and need to switch, except I’m unable to do that.

    Reply

    • SK says

      Hi Lisa,

      Since you have tried and been unable to switch your information, call Apple directly and explain the problem to them.

      There might be something on your account at their end that’s making this challenging.

      Sam

      Reply

    • SK says

      Hi Dinesh,

      We cannot change your store. That switch is something you must do on your own–you can do this on your Apple device or via a computer.

      On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
      On your device, tap Settings > Apple ID > iTunes & App Store

        Tap your Apple ID, then tap View Apple ID–sign in if asked

        Tap Country/Region, then tap “Change Country or Region”

        Tap your new country or region, then review the Terms & Conditions

        Tap Agree in the upper-right corner, then tap Agree again to confirm

        Select a payment method and enter your new payment information and billing address, then tap Next

        Your Apple ID country or region updates for all of your Apple services on all of your Apple products

      Change on a computer

        Open iTunes and select Account > View My Account

        Sign in with your Apple ID, then click View Account

        On the Account Information page, click “Change Country or Region” to the right of Country/Region

        From the “Select a country or region” menu, select your new country or region

        Review the Terms & Conditions, then click Agree. Click Agree again to confirm

      Sam

      Reply

  18. ANAS says

    I PURACHASE I PHONE X IN KUWAIT VIVA ,NOW ICANT DOWNLOAD AND UPDATE APPLICATIONS IN APPSTORE..NOW THE DOWNLOADING TIME NOW IN INDIAN STORE U MUST SWITCH IN TO KUWAIT STORE TO COING MESSAGE,HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM

    Reply

  19. zahid Naeem says

    acoount is not in this store ipnoe 7 i try the country region but not slove my problem please help me

    Reply

  20. Cindy says

    Inadequate answer. On my new Macbook with High Sierra MacOs there is no such setting as iTunes & App Stores > Apple ID > View Apple ID. My company in New Zealand purchased this for me when I was there and now back home in the U.S. I am suddenly unable to purchase anything from the APple Store.
    It says I need to change Store Location so I click that, but then it just hangs

    Cindy

    Reply

    • SK says

      HI Cindy,

      Please follow these steps to change the store on your MacBook. Please note: if you have any store balance remaining, you will NOT be able to change your iTunes Store. You must spend the full balance before you can change your store–balances do not currently transfer

      Update Settings in iTunes or Via Apple ID Website

        Open iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC and sign in to your Apple ID Account Information page and select Account > View My Account at the top of the iTunes window
        Enter Your Apple ID and Passcode if requested
        On the Account Information page, look to the right of Country/Region and choose Change Country or Region
        From the Select a country or region menu, select your new country or region
        Click Change
        On the Welcome to the iTunes Store page, click Continue
        Review the Terms and Conditions and Apple Privacy Policy and select I have read and agree to these terms and conditions
        Click Agree
        Enter your new payment information. You have to enter a valid payment method for your new country or region
        Enter your billing address
        Click Continue
        When you change your billing address from your Apple ID account page or through the iTunes Store or App Store, it updates your billing address for all of the Apple services with which you use the same Apple ID

      Hope that clarifies.

      Reply

  21. Michael Collinson says

    “Your account is not valid for use in the Spanish store. You must switch to the Swedish store before purchasing.” So I click “Change Store” and nothing happens.

    I am British and prefer to use English. I am resident in Sweden, my AppleId is there, my bank account is there. I am in Spain for an extended period but am not formally resident here.

    Any solution?

    Reply

    • SK says

      Hi Michael,

      Sorry to hear about your issues with the iTunes/App Stores. Try going into your Settings App and updating the information there.

        Tap Settings > iTunes & App Stores > Apple ID > View Apple ID
        Tap Country/Region
        Choose Change Country/Region
        Select the region where you are located
        Review the Terms and Conditions and Apple Privacy Policy and select Agree
        Provide Credit Card info if requested
        Update your payment details to reflect your current country of residence and billing address
        Your Apple ID country or region updates for all of your Apple services on all of your Apple products that use the same Apple ID

      If the problem persists, contact Apple Support to help sort out the issue. If you’re a resident of Sweden and your billing address is also Sweden, your store should be Sweden, not Spain.

      SK

      Reply

  22. unsatisfied customer says

    JHC, can Apple be any more worthless!?!?!?!

    Every software company in the world about is available internationally, yet Apple decides to be different. Reason why? Tax reasons?

    By the way I can’t change stores because I have to “spend the balance in the current store first”.

    It’s insane! Apple get your stuff together, this sucks!!!

    Reply

  23. Whatsapp user says

    I downloaded whatsapp from India store, while in USA.
    Now the update ask to change the store in USA. I tried all the options but it does not change the country to India – even after putting indian credit card info. I created new apple ID through my friend in India, used that and again it changed the region to US, without me doing anything after using that to login to iTunes/App Store on my phone in USA.

    As I am already using whatsapp, i dont want to lose all the data in there by deleting & downloading again.

    Anyone else facing the same? Solution please.

    Reply

    • Elizabeth says

      Hi Reinaldo,

      Unfortunately, Apple makes a move to a new country/region rather difficult. Here’s their current info.

      What to do before changing your country or region

        Re-download any past purchases that you want to keep on your device. Your Purchased section no longer shows items that you purchased from the store in the previous country or region. You won’t be able to update these apps or content without downloading or purchasing them again in your new country or region. Additionally, if you use iCloud Music Library, the content in your library won’t appear in your library after you change your country or region.
        Spend any store credit remaining on your Apple ID. You must also wait for any pending store credit refunds to process before you can change your country or region.
        Cancel any subscriptions and wait for any memberships, pre-orders, iTunes movie rentals, or Season Passes to complete.
        Update your payment method. For example, only German credit cards can be used to buy content from the German iTunes Store, iBooks Store, and App Store. Have your credit or debit card for your new country on hand.
        Back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to iTunes. You might need to temporarily downgrade your iCloud storage until you switch to the new country.
        If you’re a part of a Family Sharing group, you might not be able to change your country or region. Learn how to leave a Family Sharing group.
      Reply

  25. Anjali Arya says

    It does not work as it asks for a credit/debit card details of that country. Did not resolve the problem for me.

    Reply

  26. Jeroen says

    My (foreign) employer requires me to install apps from the (foreign) app store. 1st option did not work for me. 2nd option requires me to register a ‘local’ credit card number, which I do not have and a local address. This is very complicated. I assume I need to change this back to my original account details after installation of the apps (and do this again for downloading any updates). Is there an easier way to resolve the issue?

    Reply

  30. Julie says

    I tried both solutions, but it still doesn’t work. I even rebooted my iPad, and it doesn’t work even after doing that. Help, please? I have this problem since I downloaded iOS7…

    Reply