Miscellaneous 4 min. read

How to Change Your Google Play Store Country to Access More Apps

How to Change Your Google Play Store Country to Access More Apps

Blog Hotspot Shield_Change your Google Play store country

Google Play offers a wealth of apps for everything from entertainment to productivity. Though you have ample options for interesting downloads, you’re not seeing everything that’s available. The Google Play Store has a different selection for every region, so visitors in the UK have access to different shows, movies, and apps than those in the US. Fortunately, you don’t have to physically travel the globe to see what’s available in other regions. Read on to learn how you can change your region and gain access with VPN from the comfort of your couch.

Clear Your Cached Region

The Google Play Store determines your region based on your IP address, then stores this information for future visits. Before you worry about changing your location, you should delete the old one. Open the settings for the Google Play Store and tap “Force Stop,” then “Clear Data.” This will tell the store to forget where you’ve previously accessed it and offer a clean slate for your next connection.

Sign Up with a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is a security tool that masks your location. It routes your information through a remote server and encrypts and decrypts the data for added safety. Using a VPN when you’re publicly accessing the Internet is a smart security measure regardless, but a VPN like Hotspot Shield offers added perks when it comes to accessing geo-restricted content. Start reaping the benefits of a VPN and download Hotspot Shield from Google Play.

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To access Hotspot Shield’s 20+ virtual locations and content, you’ll need to sign up for a Hotspot Shield account and upgrade to the premium version: Hotspot Shield Elite. This gives you optimal protection, ad-free browsing, and the ability to use your VPN with up to five devices at a time.

Decide Where You Want to Be

With an Elite Membership to Hotspot Shield, you can access over 20 virtual locations around the globe. Accessing new content on the Google Play Store isn’t as simple as choosing a random location. It’s helpful to have an idea of what you want to access.

For example, Pandora Internet Radio app is available only in the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, so UK users would need to use a VPN, choosing one of those Virtual locations to access it. Though you may not realize it until you’re abroad, many apps are US-exclusive or feature US-exclusive content, like Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, CBS All Access, FXNow, and WWE Network. These same programs may also contain country-specific content that you’re missing out on in the US. Browsing Netflix from a different region will reveal a different selection of movies and television shows.

If you’re accustomed to accessing US content but are traveling outside the country, you’ll want to use a US location to get the items you’re used to.  If you’re interested in a popular UK program but you’re stuck stateside, you can hop on over to a VPN across the pond to see what you’re missing.

Set Your Location

Clear your browser’s cache and cookies before you start to avoid any hiccups. Sign in to your Hotspot Shield account. Turn on the protection and open your virtual location settings (you must be an Elite Member to unlock this feature). Choose the country that you want Google Play to think you’re in. Your VPN will now route your traffic through a remote server in that location, so the Google Play Store sees you as a visitor from the location of your choice.

If you want to explore the options available from different locations, you can repeat this process as many times as you like. Clear your cache and cookies, have the Google Play Store clear your data, and start fresh from a new location. While it’s helpful to have an idea of what you’re looking for, you can also use this strategy to simply explore what’s out there. Get a taste of worldwide cultural offerings without setting foot on a plane. Your VPN makes it easy to access media that’s popular in different countries.

Using Purchased Apps

While you may have to use the VPN to purchase a particular app that’s not available in your Google Play Store region, you won’t have to use the VPN every time you open the app. Once you’ve paid for and downloaded a particular app, it’s yours to keep regardless of how you access it in the future. This means you won’t have to fuss with VPN settings constantly to enjoy the newfound functionality of international apps.

Other Benefits of Your VPN

The ability to unlock content is one of the greatest draws of a VPN, but you should turn to Hotspot Shield at other times too. Make the most of your Elite membership and turn on Hotspot Shield any time you’re using a public Internet connection. Routing your information through a remote server will help keep your information safe. You don’t always have to select a specific remote location, and in fact, you’ll enjoy faster speeds if you elect for a server that’s closer to home.

If you’re ready to explore your options when you unlock with VPN services, download Hotspot Shield today. You’ll be exploring a new world of content through the Google Play Store in no time.

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