How to change steam country

How to change steam country

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Install the program and restart your computer to ensure the fake network card is activated.

Check the regional Steam prices using <ССЫЛКА УДАЛЕНА>Steamdb.

The converted price and sale percentage compares with the base price in USD.
Alternatively convert the currency by typing, eg, »400 RUB to USD» in the Google Searchbar.
Russia in Europe, Mexico in the Americas, and Malaysia in Asia usually has the cheapest prices.

This is to make sure that Steam registers the new location upon running the Steam services again.

Quit Steam without, or with the VPN already activated.
Toggle the VPN location, or let it stay activated.
Run the Steam service again.

This is required to actually be able to buy with the country’s price and their currency.

Find Account Details under your Steam username in the top right corner of the client.
Go there and update your country. You should be able to pick the country of the relay.
Restart Steam again if you aren’t able to change location.

You aren’t required to use a VPN after you’ve updated your country details. You are however required to purchase games with credit cards as PayPal validates your location, thus it can’t be used unless the details matches.

You will always be required to type out a random billing address per purchase with credit cards unless you save the purchase option. The billing address may be your own, the country may not. You may also add your real phone number with the country code.

There’s no actual need to keep the VPN on while downloading games, unless it’s a region-locked game. Region-locked games always include CIS in their names, and there will be a list of countries in which the game will be unavailable upon adding the game to your cart. You can also check which games are region-locked <ССЫЛКА УДАЛЕНА>here.

This has never been an issue for me, but I buy a game once per month at most being a student.

I’ve been warned and had one game removed for unknowingly buying games off scammers using third part sellers, such as Gameflip, K(i)nguin and G(2)A, but I’ve never been warned or reprimanded for buying off the Steam Store directly with this method. Refunds are possible for those wondering.

How to change your Steam region and country?

Steam has two types of selections for countries. One of them shows up on your public profile alongwith the country’s flag while the other country is used to show you prices in the Steam store as well as the user’s wallet.

If you’re having trouble figuring out how to change your Steam country or region for payment methods and currency, check out the guide below to learn how to do that.

How to change your Steam country on PC?

Open your Steam client on PC and follow the steps mentioned below to change your Steam account country, which appears on your Steam profile.

Step 1: Click on your current username from the toolbar options at the top and then select Profile from the dropdown menu list. Now on your Profile page, click on the Edit Profile button.

Step 2: On the next page, click on the downward-facing arrow in the box beside Country and choose your preferred country from the dropdown list.

Step 3: At the bottom of the Edit Profile page, click on Save Changes.

How to change Steam country on the smartphone app?

Open the Steam app and follow the steps mentioned below to change change Steam country via the smartphone app.

How to change your Steam region?

Open your Steam client on PC and follow the steps mentioned below to change your Steam account region that’s used to convert currency in its Store or for the wallet.

Step 1: Click on your account name at the near the top-right corner of the Steam client window. From the dropdown menu list, select Account details.

On your account page (with Account details selected on the left sidebar), click on the Update store country link under Store & Purchase History.

Step 2: On the next page, click on the downward-facing arrow in the box under Please select your country of residence.

Your changes will be saved. As per the page above, if you travel often or keep shuttling between places, you should select the country of your primary residence here — the one where you have a payment method.

How to change your Steam region on the smartphone app?

Yatharth believes social media is the coolest thing to have happened to humankind — connecting across borders. He writes about Apple, gaming and social platforms and also indulges in offbeat tech stuff from time to time.

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Can You Change Steam Region Locations With a VPN in 2022?

It used to be that if you wanted a Steam game cheaper, all you had to do was use a VPN to change your region on Steam to countries like Argentina or Turkey. That doesn’t work anymore, but you can still get certain games cheaper, and it’s still worth using a VPN.

At one point, a few years ago, Steam adjusted the prices and currencies it displayed based on the user’s IP address. Currency fluctuations and differences in purchasing power meant that changing your Steam region could net you significantly discounted prices.

Nowadays, things don’t work like that. Steam doesn’t care about your IP address anymore, rendering VPN usage ineffective for buying cheap games from the Steam marketplace. Now, you need your Steam region to be set to the country you’d like to buy from, and you’ll need a payment method from said store region.

Key Takeaways:

You can change your Steam region without a VPN, but we still recommend using one for security reasons. A VPN adds a layer of encryption to your connection and protects you from things like DDoS attacks. Let’s look closer at how to change your Steam country and why you should still use a VPN with Steam.

No, using a VPN to buy Steam games from another country won’t work. Steam no longer looks at your IP address to determine your region, and relies instead on your account details and payment method to determine the correct account country.

There is no need to change your Steam region if you travel a lot. Every Steam product is available worldwide, so you can enjoy Steam games regardless of where you’re traveling.

No, changing regions on Steam isn’t illegal.

Change Steam Region: VPN vs Credit Card Country

The “old way” required you to use a VPN. You would connect to a server in the Steam region you want to buy games from, then access Steam. You no longer need a VPN to change the region now, but you do need a payment method from the region you want to change to.

Why is this the case? Because you can easily get a new IP address with a VPN and enjoy cheaper games, which Steam considers to be gaming the system. Obtaining a local payment method from a specific country is much harder, though not impossible.

Another reason the old trick no longer works: You can only change your Steam region once every 14 days. If you want to buy cheap Steam games from a different country, you’ll need to wait for two weeks before you switch again.

Will My Steam Account Be Banned If I Use a VPN?

The Steam subscriber agreement doesn’t mention VPNs or changing Steam regions, so using a VPN won’t get your Steam account banned. This wasn’t always the case — at one point, Valve specifically prohibited the use of VPNs because of users who changed their store country to get cheaper games.

They no longer need to prohibit that, because Steam doesn’t care about your IP address anymore, which means a VPN won’t help you buy the same game cheaper. Nor will a VPN help you access geoblocked content here: Nothing on Steam is region-locked, except in very limited scenarios where the restrictions are clearly stated.

What a VPN can do is keep your connection secure and encrypted, and allow you to enjoy a huge server network that keeps you protected while you’re gaming. TL;DR, it’s a good idea to use a VPN when you’re gaming (even if it doesn’t get you cheaper games) and you won’t be at risk of a Steam ban.

Is It Possible to Change Steam Region Locations Now?

Yes, you can change your Steam region from within the Steam account settings. Note that you’ll need to purchase something on Steam using a payment method from the new region before you can change your location.

If you’ve moved to a new country, you can use a credit card or payment app issued in said country to buy something on Steam. Alternatively, if you have close friends in the country you want to change your store region to, you can ask them to exchange payment information so you can change your region. Make sure it’s someone you really trust!

How to Change Region on Steam

Changing the region on Steam is rather simple. You don’t need to use a VPN or any other tool to virtually change your current location. Instead, you change region manually and by entering a new billing address when you purchase something on Steam.

Open the Steam store and choose the product you’d like to buy. It could be a game, or a DLC, or other software available on Steam. Add it to your cart from the Steam store product page.

Then, click on the “cart” button and choose “purchase for myself” or “purchase as a gift,” depending on whether you’re buying for yourself.

The next step is where you choose how you’re going to pay. If you want to update your store country, you must choose a payment method from the country you’d like to update your region to. The billing address must match the new region. Enter the details and complete the purchase using the payment method you’ve chosen, then change your region.

Once you’ve completed the purchase with your new payment method, you’ll be able to choose the new region from your account settings. To do this, click on your Steam username in the top-right corner, and from the dropdown menu, choose “account details.” Then, click “update store country.”

Why Use a VPN for Steam?

When you take into consideration that you can’t get cheaper games with a VPN anymore, you’re left with one huge reason to still use a VPN for Steam: security. A VPN will encrypt your internet connection and hide user data (like your IP address and the websites you visit) from the prying eyes of your internet service provider (or anyone else that might be snooping).

Many VPNs also add features like split tunneling, which lets you choose which apps use the secured connection, and a kill switch that will disable your internet connection if you disconnect from the VPN server.

That being said, using a VPN will always impact your internet connection’s speed and latency, two critical aspects for gaming. If you want said impact to be minimal, you want to use a VPN from our list of best VPNs for gaming — any one of them is an excellent tool for the job.

The Best VPNs for Steam

When you use a VPN for playing Steam games, you want to choose a provider that focuses on keeping speeds high and latency low, but doesn’t put security in the back seat. These three VPNs are all excellent choices for gaming.

ExpressVPN is our go-to suggestion when both speed and security are priorities. The VPN comes with all the security features you’d need — split tunneling, kill switch and a strict no-logs policy. It performed admirably in our speed tests, increasing latency by only 3ms when connecting to nearby servers. It’s expensive, but as we mention in our ExpressVPN review, it’s worth every penny.

NordVPN comes in a very close second, with a strong focus on security, a large global server network and respectable speeds. The only reason it doesn’t take the top spot is the fact that speeds and latency aren’t as consistent as ExpressVPN on more distant servers — which we explain in detail in our NordVPN review.

Our third suggestion is Surfshark. Not only did we get excellent results during our performance tests, but Surfshark also checks all the security boxes, with a configurable split tunneling feature, kill switch and strict no-logs policy.

You also get unlimited simultaneous device connections, but as we mention in our Surfshark review, the monthly price is a tad high.

Final Thoughts

Even though you can no longer change the Steam store region to get cheaper games with a VPN, there are still ways to pay less for certain titles. You just need a payment method from the region you want to buy games from.

That being said, a VPN is still a great idea because it adds a layer of security to your connection and keeps your data away from prying eyes. Have you tried our method of how to change Steam region? Did you manage to get games at a cheaper price? Let us know in the comments, and as always, thank you for reading.

How to change region on Steam with a VPN

Certain Steam games are restricted by country or region, or are more expensive in some countries than in others. Additionally, some countries such as China have restrictive censorship laws that prevent you from accessing Steam altogether.

However, there’s a way around these geo-restrictions. Using a VPN to change your store country on Steam will get you access to geo-restricted games, discounts, and better deals.

But changing Steam region is not as simple as it used to be in the olden days. In this article, I will take you through the steps on how to change your region on Steam, discuss the best Steam VPNs, and talk about what to keep in mind when changing your steam country.

Change Steam region with a VPN

How to change your store region on Steam with a VPN – a detailed guide:

While changing your location on Steam used to be simple and straightforward back in the early days, it’s not so simple now. Also, keep in mind that Steam lets you change your store region and currency only once in three months.

Here’s a comprehensive and detailed step-by-step guide on how to change your store region on Steam with a VPN:

If you’re looking for more information on how to use VPNs on various devices, you can take a look at our detailed guides below:

Things to keep in mind while changing store country on Steam

Changing your store region and currency on Steam may seem simple and straightforward, but there are some things worth taking into consideration. Here’s the most important stuff to remember before, while, and after changing Steam country:

Can you get banned for using a VPN on Steam?

No, you won’t get banned by Steam for using a VPN to protect your identity, avoid DDoS attacks, or improve your Internet connection while gaming. So, unless using a VPN in your country is illegal, you should be in the clear.

However, using a VPN to change countries in order to get cheaper and/or geo-restricted game deals is against Steam Terms of Service. Steam parent company Valve reserves the right to suspend or permanently ban your account if you are caught purchasing games and items in Steam with a VPN.

If you’re going to risk it, I recommend you to pick the right VPN provider, one that is sophisticated enough to help you avoid getting banned from Steam.

Besides using a VPN, there are some other ways you could change your country on Steam without a VPN, such as:

However, we don’t recommend changing Steam region without a VPN, as the methods mentioned above are against Steam’s ToC and it might result in getting banned. For this reason, we encourage using VPN for a safe and reliable experience.

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If you’re looking for more information on how to use VPNs on various devices, you can take a look at our detailed guides below:

Best Steam VPNs tested in 2022

While using a VPN is the best way to change your region on Steam, finding the best provider may not be so easy. But don’t worry, we did some research on your behalf and made a list of the best Steam VPNs to use on all of your gaming devices:

For more information about each VPN, keep on reading below:

1. NordVPN – the best VPN for Steam

Our top VPN provider for Steam is NordVPN. This VPN uses military-grade encryption and a host of other features to keep your browsing identity private. It’s lightning-fast, with the option to get a dedicated static IP address for an additional fee, and no throttling or bandwidth limitations, so it won’t slow down your gaming.

To learn more about NordVPN, see our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark – the cheapest VPN to change Steam country

Our next pick that will serve you well when changing a region on Steam is Surfshark. What’s even better is that for “team” gamers, Surfshark offers the advantage of using unlimited devices on one subscription. You and a whole cohort of your friends can game together with one VPN subscription.

For more Surfshark features, check our Surfshark VPN review.

3. IPVanish – lots of privacy features

IPVanish is a solid VPN capable of making geo-restrictions a thing of the past. This provider will not only help you to change your location on Steam but will also bypass geo-restrictions for streaming.

With one of the lowest VPN prices in the market, IPVanish offers insane value. It’s compatible with torrenting clients, includes split tunneling, SOCKS5 proxy, and can obfuscate your traffic. That way, no one will even find out that you’re using a VPN.

Make sure to read our IPVanish review to learn about all the included features.

4. PrivateVPN – customizable security options

Private VPN has over 200 servers in 63 locations and is a solid VPN for Steam. It offers the option to customize your security settings as you please. This allows for greater flexibility when you value speed over security more, or vice versa.

On top of that, IPVanish has some pretty neat additional features, such as port forwarding, SOCKS5 proxies, and obfuscated servers. It works with all major operating systems, a few minor ones, and is even capable of unblocking Netflix and DAZN.

For more details, take a look at our PrivateVPN review.

5. PureVPN – top-tier security guarantees

Another great VPN provider for altering regions on Steam is PureVPN. This one has the biggest number of server locations all over the world – you’ll be able to unblock Steam content in 78 countries and enjoy otherwise unavailable games from anywhere.

This VPN provider is also great at unblocking streaming content from various sites, including Netflix and even DAZN. And while it doesn’t have that many additional features, PureVPN can offer you really good speeds and up to 10 simultaneous connections. All of your gaming devices will be under top-tier VPN protection.

To learn more, read our PureVPN review.

Best VPNs for Steam comparison

Here’s how the best Steam VPNs compare to each other:

NordVPN	Surfshark	PrivateVPN	IPVanish	PureVPN
Brand
Rating
Simultaneous connections	6	Unlimited	6	Unlimited	10
Servers	5500+ servers in 59 countries	3200+ servers in 95 countries	200+ servers in 63 countries	2000+ servers in 50 countries	6500+ servers in 78 countries
Streaming	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, Youtube, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, Disney+	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Youtube, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, Disney+	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, Youtube	Netflix, YouTube	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, Youtube
Price (lowest price per month)	$3.29	$2.30	$2.00	$3.99	$1.99
Review	NordVPN review	Surfshark VPN review	PrivateVPN review	IPVanish review	PureVPN review

In what countries is Steam unavailable?

Steam is a software distribution platform and gaming hardware producer owned by Valve Corporation, and it is available globally, with few exceptions. Valve is a US corporation, and the United States has software export prohibitions due to sanctions applied to some countries. Some countries in which Steam may not be available:

North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Sudan, Iran.

Why do I need a VPN for Steam?

If you’re not unsure whether you should really use a VPN to change region on Steam, here are some of the benefits that can make you reconsider:

Steam not working with a VPN – what to do?

Sometimes, even the best VPN doesn’t work as it’s supposed to, and you can’t change your Steam country. Here are some things you can do to fix your VPN problems:

Can you change your region on Steam with a free VPN?

Yes, changing your store region with a free VPN is possible, but it will come with certain limitations.

Free VPNs usually don’t have that many servers and locations to choose from, so it is not guaranteed that you’ll be able to change your Steam region to the one you need. Besides that, free VPNs usually don’t offer any additional features, such as specialised servers, ad-blocking, or obfuscated servers for maximum privacy. And on top of that, free VPNs are known to sell user data to third parties.

But if you really want to try and change your store country on Steam with a free VPN, I suggest you look into freemium VPNs, such as Atlas VPN. Freemium VPNs have pretty good free versions, and the option to upgrade to even better paid plans for agreeable prices.

Another option is to also look into VPNs that have free trials and/or money back guarantees:

Video Review

Bottom line

The 500-pound gorilla of PC gaming, Steam can be a fantastic and affordable platform for buying and playing games. However, if you’re not in the right region, it can also get pretty expensive or simply unavailable. In some countries, access to games on Steam is restricted or with huge prices.

However, a fast and reliable VPN with a lot of servers worldwide can help you change your virtual location and allow you to buy games for lower prices in a different region. On top of that, a good VPN also comes with additional benefits – you’ll be able to unblock streaming platforms and other content, as well as protect yourself from DDoS attacks while gaming.

The best VPNs for changing Steam country are NordVPN and Surfshark. Try them out, and let us know in the comments your experience of changing your store region on Steam.

More guides from Cybernews:

Why can’t I change my country on Steam?

You probably can’t change your location on Steam because the country of your IP address and billing address don’t match. To get around this issue, use a VPN to change your IP address to your chosen country. We think NordVPN is the best option for changing your store country on Steam.

Can Steam ban you for using a VPN?

Yes, Steam can technically ban you for using a VPN to change the store region in order to buy cheaper games. However, if you’re using a VPN for other purposes, such as privacy and protection, Steam won’t really care and you most likely won’t get banned.

Why is my Steam region-locked?

Your Steam may be region-locked while trying to play a gifted game because that game is only available to play in the country of purchase and other specified territories. Steam will warn you if the game has geo-restrictions before you buy it.

Why are Steam prices different in different countries?

Game prices on Steam are different in different countries, because some countries are wealthier than others, so games in those countries may be more expensive than elsewhere in the world. Game prices are controlled by the game distributors, and not by Steam itself.

How to change steam country

Also if you’re going to buy Steam wallet cards from your local stores, you can buy one, and give the code to your friend, and will work, as Steam wallet cards are not region bound, what happens is it auto convert the currency to their once they redeem the code, or accepted your Steam gift wallet funds, as it will tell them how much in convertsion it will be.

I need help! So i have friend in usa who wants to send me 10$ steam giftcard
But if he sends me digital ones it won’t lift restrictions even if i spend it. So if he buys physical gift card and sends that code to me will it work?
And steam wallet cards and steam giftcard are different?

You shouldn’t be purposefully looking for ways to circumvent the region lock. You’re not allowed to and it could lock your store to that region until the next purchase from your own country. You have to use the store of the country you reside in.

Also, you should read this, it counts for you as well:

What if I move and want to change my store country to the new location?
If you have moved to a new place, or are living abroad for an extended period of time, you can update your Steam country setting when you complete your first purchase using a payment method from that region. If your location differs from your current Steam account store country setting you’ll have an option to change your store region while you view your cart or as you complete your purchase.

Example scenario: moving from Germany to the United States
Let’s say you’ve recently moved from Germany to the United States. When checking out you will be able to select the country in which you are currently located on the cart page. From this page you can select the United States to update your cart, pricing, and payment method options. After completing your purchase with a payment method from the United States your account country will be updated to the United States.

What if I want to purchase in a currency or region other than what is shown?
Your store country must be set to the country where you currently reside and you must have a local payment method you can use to make purchases.

All available payment methods in your current region are listed during the checkout process.

If you are unable to make purchases in your current region, look for Steam-compatible CD Keys and/or Steam Wallet Codes available for purchase at your local gaming retail stores.

What do I do if I am a new user that is currently traveling?
If you are a new Steam user it is not possible to temporarily change your store region to make purchases while traveling. You will need to return to your country of residence before you can set your store country.

We suggest setting up your account and your store region before traveling. Doing so allows you to see the store in your country’s prices and to be able to make purchases as you would normally at home.

Example scenario: a permanent resident to the US creates an account in Spain
If your permanent residence is in the United States and you created a Steam account while traveling in Spain, you will not be able to set United States as your store country until you have returned home. To complete purchases while traveling in Spain, you will need to use a Spanish payment method or Steam Wallet Code.

Edit:
In other words, find another way for your friend to send you the required amount. If they’re your friend IRL this shouldn’t be an issue.

Also, a word of warning, if you do not know this person IRL or for a significant period of time, then don’t go through with this. Strangers on the internet, that you’ve known for a short period, don’t just decide to gift you free money. This is known as bait.