How to change PSN Region: Unlock global gaming

You can’t actually change a PSN account’s region, but you can create a new account and say you’re somewhere else. There are a few downsides, namely losing unspent PSN credit and having to buy new games with foreign currency. Still, if you’d like to play region-exclusive titles on the original hardware, there’s no alternative. Below, I’ll explain how to set up a PSN account from another country, how to add store credit, and everything else you need to know.

How to create a PSN account in another region: quick version

Creating a PSN account linked to another country is easier than you might expect. However, the exact steps are slightly different depending on whether you’re on PS4 or PS5. Here’s a step-by-step guide to changing PSN region on both consoles.

Getting a foreign PSN account on PlayStation 4

1. On the login screen, select New User, followed by Create a User.
   
   
2. Accept the terms of service and hit Next.
3. On the following page, choose Create an Account. Select the region you’d like to have your new account linked to. English isn’t available everywhere, but if you don’t speak the local language, Google Translate’s camera mode is very helpful.
   
4. Enter a postcode from your chosen region. The state and city don’t matter – I was able to continue whether I typed a real place or just nonsense.
   
5. Enter your email address and desired password, then hit Next.
6. Pick an avatar and user ID. Finally, choose Next, Continue, or Accept on the following pages until the account creation process is complete.
7. Verify your email address and sign in. If you visit the PSN store, the available games may be different and should be priced using the appropriate currency.

   

Creating a foreign PSN account on PlayStation 5 IMAGES

1. Hit Add user on the sign-in screen, then pick Get Started.
   
2. Check I agree and hit the Confirm button, followed by Create an Account.
   
3. Choose your desired region and hit Next.
   
4. Enter your date of birth. PlayStation 5 has mandatory age-verification in some countries. Given the privacy issues third-party age-verification services pose, I’d recommend verifying via text message.
5. Move through the rest of the account creation process, entering your email address and password when prompted.
6. You’ll be asked for your home location. Just choose anywhere in your chosen region, making sure to get the postcode right (the rest doesn’t really matter).
   
7. Pick an avatar and online ID, then set your data preferences. Finish the rest of the account setup process as normal, and when you can, visit the PSN store. You should find that the currency has changed, indicating your region change was successful.

Congratulations – at this point, you should now be able to try any free-to-play game you like! That’s just a tiny portion of what the PSN Store has to offer though. For full access to another country’s catalog, you’ll have to set up a foreign payment method (more on this below).

How to pay when using another country’s PlayStation Store

Setting up a PSN account in another country is easy – it’s purchasing games that’s the hard part. If your billing address and PSN account are from different regions, the payment will fail. On social media, people have had mixed results using their regular credit card via Apple Pay or PayPal. This may have worked in the past but seems far less reliable these days.

Instead, the most straightforward option is to purchase PlayStation gift cards loaded with the appropriate currency. Gift cards only work for PSN accounts in a specific region, so make sure you’re buying a code for the correct region. For example, French PSN cards won’t work in Germany, even though both countries use the Euro.

Make sure to purchase a digital code (not a physical card) and always use a reputable seller (ideally PlayStation’s own website or a big box store like Target). Some sites let you pay less than face value, but in my professional opinion, it’s simply not worth the risk.

To redeem a PlayStation Store gift card, follow these steps:

• PS4: Open the store and pick Redeem Codes from the sidebar. Enter the code from the back of the gift card and hit Continue. The balance will then be added to your account.
  
• PS5: Open the PlayStation Store and open the menu by clicking the three dots in the top-right. Pick Redeem Code, enter the code, then hit Redeem.

Why might I want to change my PlayStation Network region?

There are lots of different reasons someone might want to change PSN catalogs. These range from the practical (moving internationally) to the pragmatic (playing games that aren’t available where you are). Here’s a breakdown of the most common reasons people create new, region-specific PSN accounts:

• You’re moving abroad. It might surprise you to learn that 20 years after PSN launched, Sony still doesn’t have an account-migration process. Each PSN store requires a local payment method, so you won’t be able to purchase new games after moving abroad.
• You want to access region-locked titles, DLC, or events. Some content is only available in specific countries.
• You want to play a specific version of a game. Due to regional censorship laws, some games are dramatically different in one country than another.
• Your local PSN store doesn’t have many games in your native language. These days, games tend to have decent language support. That said, if you’re from a smaller country, your options will likely be very limited.
• You want to back up games you’re interested in. Sony recently closed the PS3 and PS Vita stores, so downloading region-exclusive games now ensures you’ll be able to keep playing them well into the future.
• You’re trying to buy games for the lowest price possible. Prices vary based on your location. For instance, at the time of writing, PlayStation Plus costs $10.99 monthly in the US but only around $4.69 in Ukraine (after conversion).

Changing PSN region: your questions answered

Will I lose my games if I change my PlayStation account region?

You won’t lose anything when changing regions since doing so requires a whole new PSN account. However, your PlayStation Plus subscription isn’t transferable, and if you signed up more than two weeks prior, you won’t be able to get a refund.

Can I play games from another country on my PS4 or PS5?

Unlike older PlayStation consoles, PS4 and PS5 aren’t region-locked. As such, you can purchase and play both digital and physical copies of old games regardless of where you are.

There is one exception: downloadable content (DLC) is regionally restricted. If you purchase the Japanese version of a game, you’ll need the Japanese version of the DLC too. It’s not possible to mix and match regions between games and DLC.

Can I change my PSN’s account’s region with a VPN?

Unfortunately, using a VPN won’t change your PlayStation region as this is permanently set during account setup. However, these services do provide protection against DDoS attacks, wrongful bans, and SWATTING by hiding your real IP address and encrypting your traffic.

Now, while no games console currently supports native VPN apps, it’s still possible to game safely. Check out our guide to setting up a VPN on PS5 – this requires tweaking router settings, but will also protect your Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck.

Final thoughts

It’s disappointing that we still can’t swap our PSN account’s region, but at least making a new account is straightforward. If you have a few minutes to spare and a PSN gift card from another country, you can easily play games from any region that PlayStation supports. That’s important, not only for users who’ve lived in multiple countries, but also for preserving gaming history. After all, every time a console’s online store shuts down, platform-exclusive digital-only titles disappear for good.