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Downloading Apps when overseas

Why can't we download Apps when overseas.

I live half in Singapore and half in London.

I am unable to download apps when in London as my iPhone was registered in Singapore.

When I try to download an app in London I am told I have to have an account in London including a bank account paid for by a U.K. credit card with a UK address in the account.That is so even if it is a free app.

What nonsense is this?

On Android there is no such stupid and unnecessary clause.

The only solution seems to be to buy an Android phone for use just in London.

iPhone 13

Posted on Jul 4, 2022 7:18 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 4, 2022 1:49 PM

Let's clarify a few things.


  1. The place you bought or registered your iPhone is not important. What is important is the country set for the Apple ID it is using, that controls the App Store country you can access.
  2. When downloading an App no such request for an account in London or a bank account exists. If the App exists in the store for the country your Apple ID is set to, you can download it directly without having to do anything. Some Apps have a country restriction imposed by their developers where they can only be downloaded form the store in a specific country. Apple has nothing to do with this. Complain to the developers as to why they limit their Apps. There is no reason for this.
  3. On Android, Google does much the same thing when it comes to country specific Apps and changing countries: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7431675?hl=en. Apple Developers may choose to not restrict Apps to specific countries when they release their Apps on android as opposed to iOS, again this is down to the developers. Not Apple or Google
  4. Yes, this is a pointless thing to do, because many people move between countries and require access to apps for specific countries without having to change account regions unnecessarily.


1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 4, 2022 1:49 PM in response to nickfromsingapore

Let's clarify a few things.


  1. The place you bought or registered your iPhone is not important. What is important is the country set for the Apple ID it is using, that controls the App Store country you can access.
  2. When downloading an App no such request for an account in London or a bank account exists. If the App exists in the store for the country your Apple ID is set to, you can download it directly without having to do anything. Some Apps have a country restriction imposed by their developers where they can only be downloaded form the store in a specific country. Apple has nothing to do with this. Complain to the developers as to why they limit their Apps. There is no reason for this.
  3. On Android, Google does much the same thing when it comes to country specific Apps and changing countries: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7431675?hl=en. Apple Developers may choose to not restrict Apps to specific countries when they release their Apps on android as opposed to iOS, again this is down to the developers. Not Apple or Google
  4. Yes, this is a pointless thing to do, because many people move between countries and require access to apps for specific countries without having to change account regions unnecessarily.


Downloading Apps when overseas

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