Tag: software

Google recently introduced a major update to the Find My Device app, bringing a refreshed design and a new People section for location sharing. With this update, you can now share your location with others, track friends or family, and manage your devices—all within the app.

Since smartphones are an integral part of daily life, location tracking has become more useful than ever. Google’s decision to integrate location sharing into Find My Device makes it even easier to keep track of loved ones or misplaced devices. However, to access these features, you must update the app to the latest version.

New Features in the Find My Device App

Previously, the Find My Device app focused solely on tracking devices. Upon opening the app, users can view a list of their connected devices and track them if needed.

With the latest update, the interface has been redesigned. The screen is now divided into two sections:

• Devices: This section still allows you to track your registered devices.
• People: A new addition that enables location sharing with friends and family.

Additionally, the pull tab at the top of the screen has been merged into the profile menu, making it easier to switch accounts, sign in as a guest, manage blocked users, and adjust location-sharing settings.

How Location Sharing Works on Find My Device

The People tab is where all location-sharing and tracking activities take place. While still in beta, the feature is stable and functions similarly to Google Maps’ location-sharing.

Users can:

• Share their location with specific people.
• View the real-time location of those who have shared their location with them.
• Filter contacts based on whether they are sharing their location with you or vice versa.
• To begin sharing your location, tap the floating (+) button in the bottom right corner of the map. A preview will appear, allowing you to set a sharing duration, with options such as:
  • For 1 hour
  • Today only
  • Until you turn this off
  • Custom duration
• You can then choose to share via a link or directly with selected contacts.

How to Share Your Location on the Find My Device App

If you’ve previously shared your location on Google Maps, your contacts will automatically appear in Find My Device after you update the app.

Steps to Share Your Location:

1. Open the Find My Device app and navigate to the People section.
2. Tap the + icon on the right side of the map.
3. Use the dropdown menu to select your preferred sharing duration.
4. Scroll through the list of contacts or swipe left to find the person you want to share with.
5. Alternatively, copy the share link and send it via social media or SMS.
6. Once the recipient accepts, their profile will appear on the map under the People section.
7. Tap on their profile to see their location and use the “Get Directions” option if needed.

You can also enable location sharing by tapping the “Share Your Location” button.

Conclusion

The location-sharing feature in Find My Device is nearly identical to Google Maps but may be more convenient for tracking purposes. Google likely intends for Maps to remain the primary navigation tool, while Find My Device focuses on tracking both people and devices.

Regardless, both apps work seamlessly, giving you flexible options for location sharing and tracking.

TikTok is currently one of the most popular social media platforms. It has about 1 billion monthly active users, making it the best place to add people from other countries. On TikTok, you can make foreign friends, learn life hacks, join challenges to grow your account, and possibly make money while at it. 

Like other social media platforms, TikTok allows you to add people from other countries as friends. The company knows that making it easy to make friends from all over the world on the platform will encourage more individuals to use the app. That seems to have worked, including the fun videos and challenge videos that flood the app. 

Why are people adding TikTok friends from other countries?

TikTok has grown over the years. The chaos caused by the US government’s move to ban the social media platform in the country shows how popular it is. Many people use the app to engage their followers, grow their businesses, learn life hacks, make foreign friends, and do other things. Hence, you are not only making friends from TikTok but learning different and new things.

• Business: A personal experiment shows that TikTok is the best social media platform for growing your business. That includes growing your page to reach more people who become customers. 
• Fun: There have been many challenges on TikTok. Most times, these are global challenges, which can be very fun. We understand people join the platform to experience this kind of thing. 
• Learn life hacks: There are many life hacks on TikTok. You can join today to learn.
• Making new friends: Probably the top priority for individuals joining TikTok. However, there are many fake accounts. It’s important to vet before following anyone on the platform. 

Before following someone on the platform, it’s necessary to update your profile. It should look as genuine as possible. Before someone follows you on TikTok, they probably go through your profile. If it doesn’t look authentic, they will not follow you back. 

Ensure your latest picture is on the platform and loads of pictures on your profile. The people you follow on the platform matter, as people with the same interests will follow each other faster. 

Also Read: How to make foreign friends on Snapchat for free

How to add people from other countries on TikTok 

You can start by exploring global hashtags and location filters. Search for hashtags like #Globalfriends or #internationalfriends. Also, engage with popular videos by liking and commenting, as this may lead to a follow request.

Join TikTok Live and engage. Oftentimes, popular accounts on TikTok start Live with many joining. You can engage with their live stream. Comment, interact, and make connections that could lead to friendship. 

Meanwhile, there are simple ways you can make foreign friends on TikTok. You can search for a country, state, or Town you wish to make friends from on TikTok. When it pops up, there are filters to narrow the search and follow people from that location. 

• Head to TikTok and tap the search icon 
• On the Search Bar, type the country you want to make friends from
• Use the filter below the search bar to narrow down your search. You should tap on Users
  • There are options like Places, Photos, Live, Videos…
• A load of accounts will appear. On the left, you will see a follow button. Tap it to start following the account. 

That is probably how to add friends on TikTok from other countries, but they need to follow back before you interact for a locked account. However, most accounts are public, but it will make sense to wait for a follow before sending a message. 

The reason is that before someone follows back, they must have checked your profile. Perhaps you have a common interest or the person likes you. It will be much easier to start a conversation.

Meanwhile, before following anyone on TikTok, properly vet their profile. Check who they follow, and their interactions on the platform. Ensure the account is genuine before giving them a follow and don’t send money to anyone. 

Conclusion 

Making foreign friends on TikTok is very easy but it can be difficult to meet genuine people. But that’s on you the type of people you meet on the platform. Hence, vet a profile before following to ensure they are actually in the country they claim to be.

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 2 billion monthly active users. Although Instagram is basically for sharing photos and videos, a lot more happens on that platform. People have met the love of their life on Instagram, while some have made very good friends. It’s not surprising that people are looking for ways to add friends on Instagram using their location. 

Luckily, it is easy to add friends on Instagram using location. That makes it simple to add a USA friend. Perhaps you are a student about to move to the States for your studies, and you probably want to make a few friends before you move. Instagram knows of these situations and perhaps why they made it easy to add friends from anywhere in the world. 

Why would I want to add a USA friend on Instagram 

It’s easy to understand why most people are looking to make friends from the US. The country presents loads of opportunities for people: work, studies, and business. There are many openings in the US for people looking to venture into tech, further their studies, or start up a business. Nevertheless, we understand why making friends and meeting new people tops why many people are looking to add a USA friend on Instagram. 

While Instagram lets you follow anyone on that platform, it is not the same as texting someone. For a private account, the individual needs to accept your request before you can access the message button. Also, following someone doesn’t automatically make them friends.

What to do before adding foreign friends on Instagram 

There are many fake accounts on Instagram. People trying to scam naive and vulnerable people, making it a bit difficult to make friends on the platform. 

• Update your profile: Instagram has a bio where you can write everything about yourself. You should use that provision to tell people why they follow you on Instagram and hopefully become friends. 
• Real pictures as Profile Picture: When looking to make friends, you want to appear as real as possible. Hence, to get new friends on Instagram, we recommend using your original pictures.
• Upload as many pictures as possible: Before someone follows you back on Instagram, they probably have gone through your profile. When you have just a few pictures, there are high chance you will not get a follow back. 
• People you follow: Surprisingly, people might look at who you follow and who follows you on Instagram before following back. When you are looking to make friends in the USA, you probably need to be following some of the celebrities there. That probably means you would have something to discuss with your potential new friends. 

Also read: How to add a USA friend on Snapchat for free

How to add USA friend on Instagram 

Let us assume you have set up your Instagram profile properly, you still need to follow people and hope they follow back. Of course, Instagram makes suggestions, but mostly people you know or mutual. Nevertheless, you can follow the procedure to add friends from the USA and anywhere.

• Step 1. Launch the Instagram app and click on the Search icon 
• Step 2. On the search bar, type the City you want to make friends from
  • (Use Google to search for cities in the US and enter it in the search bar)
• Step 3. Use the filter under the search bar to narrow down your search 
  • We recommend tapping on places 
• Step 4. From the available locations, select a place of interest 
• Step 5. After selecting a place of interest, on the next page, you can choose either Top or Recent 
  • There’s an option to change location using the Map that appears when you swipe down.
  • You can click on neighbouring cities around the one you initially selected 
  • Top: videos or photos with the most engagement 
  • Recent: videos or pictures posted recently 
• Step 6. If you see a photo or video you are interested in, tap on it to zoom.
• Step 7. Tap the follow button on the top right or tap their profile avatar to check their profile before following them. 

What happens after following someone on Instagram 

It can be slow to make friends on Instagram because of the process involved. You follow someone and hope they follow back. Meanwhile, you can message someone on Instagram without waiting for a follow back. There’s a chance your message will be stuck on request, and the person might miss it. You can try anyway, as you might be lucky. 

Nevertheless, we recommend waiting for a follow before messaging a potential friend on Instagram. That way, you are sure the person is interested in you. We believe before someone follows back, they have probably checked your profile and liked your person. It will be easy to get along when they have followed you back. 

Conclusion 

It’s super easy to add a USA friend on Instagram, but you should set up your profile properly before following people with the hope they follow back. We recommend waiting for a follow back before messaging someone on the platform. That way, it means they are probably interested in you, and that will help with the conversation. 

Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the world. It has over 3 billion active monthly users, which makes sense why people turn to it when making friends. It is easy to add people on Facebook from other countries, but there are a few things you need to know. 

If you have been using Facebook, you must have noticed that friends are suggested to you based on your location and friends of friends. The latter means those you have a mutual friend with. Social media platforms hardly suggest a friend from a different country unless you have a friend in that region. 

Nevertheless, Facebook allows you to make friends anywhere in the world. Of course, you need to send a friend request, and only when the individual accepts it can you both become friends on Facebook. But why do people add friends on Facebook from other countries?

Why are people adding Facebook friends from other countries?

There are many reasons for adding friends on Facebook are from different locations. For someone moving to a different country, it is important to have some friends there. Also, know about culture and understand how people from other regions see life. 

• Migration: Many people will start all over after moving to a new country. This means making new friends and learning a new culture. Having friends in this location before moving will help you adapt easily and faster. 
• New culture: It is now easy to learn people’s ways of life by following them on social media. You can learn about culture, dress, food, and others from your friends on Facebook.
• Friends: Probably, the main reason for adding people on Facebook. However, you do not automatically become someone’s friend because they accepted your friend request. It goes beyond that. It takes time, and you both need to share some genuine interest.

Before adding someone on Facebook, here is what you should do:

• Update your profile: If you have been sending friend requests and they are not being accepted, it might be due to your profile. Ensure you have your latest picture and a few other photos. The truth is that before someone accepts your request, they might go through your profile.
• Other details: Facebook lets you list your location, education, relationship status. These details are needed before adding people on Facebook. 
• Where you work and location is necessary: Ensure you have your location set and where you work on your profile. This helps people with the same interests and who are close to each other to meet on Facebook. 

Also read: How to add friends on Snapchat that are from a different location

Assuming all these are in place, you can now start adding friends. Remember to do it reasonably, as you might get flagged. Most times when you add many people, and none of them accepts your request, Facebook will restrict you from sending new requests. 

How to add friends on Facebook from a different location 

• Step 1: Open the Facebook app and tap on the search icon.
• Step 2: If you want friends from a particular country, type the country’s name in the search box.
• Step 3: You can filter your search by post, people, group, and others
  • To ensure you don’t add scammers, tap on the group. This will show you groups in the country you searched for.
• Step 4: Look for the ones with the highest members and join. An admin might need to accept your request for a closed group. 
• Step 5: Ensure people in the group are real. For instance, there is engagement; people comment and talk about things happening in that country.
• Step 6: You can add someone from the comment.
  • Open the comment, tap on the person’s profile picture to open their profile, and click “Add Friend.” Wait for your request to be accepted.
• Step 7: Add friends from the members section.
  • Open the Group and tap on Members.
  • Tap on See All.
  • You will see different options to filter members in the group. Anyone you decide to go for, tap on Sell All.
  • To add friends, tap on the + icon on the right side

Things you should know before you add people on Facebook from other countries

• Unless you know the name of the person you want to add as a friend on Facebook, we don’t recommend using names. People impersonate each other on Facebook, and some accounts are not real. It is important to add genuine people, especially when you are looking for real people.
• Another thing to do is, before adding anyone on Facebook, go through their profile picture. There should be some consistency in the picture they post. Also, look at the details on their profile: where they live, work, friends, family, and who they follow on Facebook.
• When you see someone, you wish to add, and there is no button to do that, they have restricted friend requests to mutual friends. In that situation, you can only send them a direct message or follow them. 

Conclusion

Facebook remains the only place to make friends from foreign countries easily, due to the number of people that have access to Facebook. However, ensure you are adding genuine people. You should check pictures, friends, and families before sending a request on the platform.

For most relationships, by simply asking your girlfriend who they are calling and texting, you will learn everything you need to know. However, it can be difficult sometimes, especially when your girlfriend is cheating on you. She will not allow you access to her phone, and it will be nearly impossible to see who your girlfriend is calling and texting.

The best way to know who your wife is talking with is by asking her. Of course, she might lie about it, especially when she is having an affair with the person. That might result in checking her phone secretly, but you are probably going to find nothing to prove your point. This is because she might delete her call logs and messages, making it difficult to see the people she has conversations with daily.

The best way to see who your girlfriend is texting is by monitoring her phone in real time. That way, it will be difficult to miss any information. You will see who she is texting and calling even if she deleted them, as a copy will be saved on your dashboard for anything you can access. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it sounds. You will need access to your girlfriend’s phone to install this app, and sometimes, you will need to pay a fee.

Also read: How can I see who my girlfriend /wife is calling and texting

Can I monitor my girlfriend’s phone and see who he is calling and texting without him knowing?

Yes. You can monitor your girlfriend’s phone in real time. We recommend discussing it with her before since you need physical access to her phone. Also, your relationship might be at risk due to your insecurity if she finds out you are monitoring her without giving you consent.

It might be a dead end to purchase a spy app to monitor your spouse. Come to think of it, why risk a relationship by spying on your wife instead of asking her questions or discussing your fears? Nevertheless, we have listed an app that can solve the problem and find out who your woman has been giving her time.

How to see who my girlfriend is calling and texting?

Just grab her phone and go through her call logs, messages, and social media. We know that can be difficult, and it is not always the most effective way. Using a spy app gives you access to her phone 24/7. It works in stealth mode, so it will be almost impossible for her to detect it. Aside from monitoring her call logs and messages, you will see all her activities on social media. You will be able to monitor emails and other things.

To do these things, you need mSpy. It is an all-in-one spy app to monitor your girlfriend’s activities. The app works on iOS and Android, but you need a paid version to use the app.

mSpy allows you to check everything on your wife’s phone remotely. These include contacts, messages (deleted), call logs, media files, bookmarks, browser history, emails, calendars, and app activities. Also, you can track over 40 social media platforms, including iMessage, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Email, Twitter (X), etc.

You are probably interested in who she calls, but what if you can hear her conversation? That would be better, and you can use mSpy to record phone conversations. Also, WhatsApp calls can be recorded, and you can trigger a camera and microphone to see where your girlfriend is and what is being said.

The GPS tracker ensures you know her location 247. It supports timestamps and coordinates to help you accurately say where your husband has been in the last days/weeks.

Features of mSpy

mSpy helps you to “stop relying on the hunch.” It allows couples to find out the truth by leveraging the features below.

• Keystrokes: It tracks and monitors keystrokes on the target device. This means you can see the messages being typed and the password of some apps.
• GPS Location: The location is updated 24/7 with accurate coordinates and timestamps. You can also enable geo-fencing in restricted areas.
• Call log: Aside from giving you access to call logs; you can see newly saved and renamed contacts.
• Social Media Monitoring: Deleted messages and screenshots are uploaded to your dashboard. You can view them anytime you visit your dashboard.
• Media file access: mSpy lets you see all images that have been sent and received. You can see deleted ones.
• Stealth mode: It is nearly impossible to detect. Hence your boyfriend will not be aware you are monitoring him.

How to start using mSpy

• Visit the mSpy website and click on Try Now.
• Create your mSpy account, sign in with your email account, and tap continue.
• Select your boyfriend’s device: Android or iPhone
• Choose a plan: monthly, quarterly, or yearly (yearly is better)
• After paying for your preferred plan, details and how to install the app will be sent to your email
• Follow the instructions to set up the app and start monitoring the target device from your dashboard.

Conclusion

We do not recommend using a tracking device on your girlfriend. Talking to her might save you a few bucks. Also, after paying for these apps, you need to access her phone to install it, which might be difficult. There are ways to detect when a spy app is running on your device, and once that is detected, the aim is defeated. If you must use a spy app, do not spend heavy on it.

Snapchat has grown past social media, where you only share snaps with people you know. It is a place where you can make new friends using the Snap Map to add friends from all over the world. This works irrespective of your location, and of course, you can add a USA friend on Snapchat using this method. 

Perhaps you will soon be relocating to the US and wish to make a few friends before making that big move. Snapchat is probably one of the best platforms to help you make friends in a new location. The Map helps narrow down your search to a particular region. However, while you can add or subscribe to anyone on Snapchat, the person needs to accept your request before you can send them messages. 

Nevertheless, you can always try, as this method has been used by friends from around the world. Below, I will explain how you can add a USA friend on Snapchat using the app’s built-in Map. 

Why add foreign friends on Snapchat?

There are many reasons people are looking to find friends from another country. Perhaps they plan on moving to the country and want to learn how people there behave. It is always difficult to settle in a new environment, and having friends there will facilitate settling in a new region. Also, some people want to learn about new cultures, and since Snapchat is where you can meet people from different backgrounds, it makes sense why people use the platform to find foreign friends. 

• Immigration: Having friends in the country to plan to migrate to is essential. This will help you find your feet faster in a new country as you will have people to show you around. It will be easy to learn about places you go for shopping and get local foods.
• New cultures: Culture differs from different countries. That’s what makes the world special, and every day, people try to learn new ones. Snapchat will help you to learn new ways of doing things when you make new friends from different regions. 
• Friends: Perhaps what Snapchat is for. However, you can make new ones from different parts of the world. Using the Snap Map, you can explore the world from the comfort of your home. 

How to add a USA friend on Snapchat 

Adding friends on Snapchat is the same process. Whether you wish to add a US or UK friend, you will follow the same procedure. Unfortunately, the individual has to accept your request before you both become friends on the platform. Otherwise, you will only see their Snaps as people you are subscribed to on the platform. 

• Launch the Snapchat app and tap on the Map icon at the bottom left
• Zoom in on the Map to where the US is located and tap on it
• You will start seeing Snaps from people that live in the US. 
• Unfortunately, there is no way to know the particular state these people stay. You just have to add them like that.
• When you see someone, you want to add, tap on their name to open their profile 
• Click add to send them a friend request 
• Now, you have to wait for the person to accept you. Otherwise, you will only see their future snaps but cannot message them.

Conclusion 

To add a USA friend on Snapchat is easy, but the same cannot be said about them accepting you. The platform is mostly for people who already know each other, but you can still make new friends there. I suggest you have a picture or video of yourself on your profile before adding foreign friends on Snapchat. 

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While Snapchat is designed primarily for sending and receiving snaps with your friends, it can also be a safety tool. Whether it is for monitoring your child or spouse, the app does a good job of keeping tap with people sharing their location with you. 

Like other social media platforms, you can now share your location on Snapchat. Depending on your settings, those you are sharing your location with can see the exact place you are once they log in on Snapchat and visit your profile. 

How does location sharing work on Snapchat?

Snapchat has what is called Snap Map. It is a map that shows your location to your friends when Ghost mode is not enabled. You can send live locations to friends, and they will locate you using the Snap Map. It is an essential part of the app for people to discover their friends’ whereabouts. 

However, you decide who sees your location on Snapchat. There is another option to share with “My Friends” “My Friends Except” and “Only these Friends.” The latter allows you to choose people you want to see in your real-time location, but you can enable Ghost Mode to hide your whereabouts from everyone.

• Launch Snapchat and tap the map icon on the bottom right.
• Tap on the gear icon at the top right. 
• Under ”Who Can See My Location;”
  • Enable Ghost Mode if you want to disable friends from seeing where you are.
• Below, you can use the three options to adjust who can see where you are on the Maps.

How to share live location on Snapchat 

Interestingly, if you have Ghost Mode enabled, you can still share live locations on Snapchat with your friends. Unfortunately, we do not know how long the link remains active, but you can delete the message to stop your friend from tracking your location. 

• Launch the Snapchat app.
• Tap on the friend’s icon or message tab if you have messages with the person already. 
• Open the chat of the friend you wish to share a live location with
• Tap the + icon on the bottom right beside the message box.
• You will see the current location tap on the Send button.
• Your friend will get the message, and with the link, he/she can find your location. 

Another way to share your live location on Snapchat;

This method works even when you have Ghost Mode enabled. However, you will get a prompt just before sharing your live location that you will exit Ghost mode to share the location.

• Launch Snapchat and head to the Friends tab.
• Tab and hold the friend you want to share your location with.
• Tap on the Map that appears. 
• When the map opens, on top of your friend’s Bitmoji, you will see “Let ‘name your friend’ see my location.”
• Tab on it, and you will get a prompt “Share your location and exit Ghost mode”
• Tap Share Location 

What happens after you Tap Share Location – all your friends, depending on your settings, will be able to see your location. It does not share your location with just one person, but everyone will see it. To share your live location with just one person, use the inbox method. 

How do you know when someone views your live location?

If your location is visible to everyone on Snapchat or your friends, you will not know when they have viewed your live location. However, you will have an idea of that when you share that with them via their inbox. You will know when they open your message, meaning they have probably viewed your location.

Conclusion

It is probably more easy sharing your location on Snapchat compared to other social media platforms. However, the app does not let you manage your privacy like Google Maps. Unless you only have friends that you know on your list and close families, we do not recommend sharing your location using Snapchat.

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Unlike Android, iOS does not allow the installation of third-party apps, at least not in every country. If an app is not available in your location on your iPhone, there are only a few things you can do. Luckily, that works, but it requires so much to pull it off. Hence, downloading an app not available in your location on your iPhone should be worth it before following the steps below. 

You have probably seen a new social media app you wish to install but could not because you cannot even find it on the app store. The next thing is to use Google and search for the app. Of course, you will see it, but tapping it takes you back to the app store. Unfortunately, you will see an error message “cannot connect to App Store” or “this requested app is not available in your country.” 

Since iOS does not allow installing APK files, you probably have just one option to install this app. And that is changing your location on the App Store, which comes with many prior adjustments. I do not think it is worth it, but if you will change your region to download an app, below is how you can go about it. 

What are the things you need before changing locations on the App Store?

• A local number
• Address of the country with the ZIP code.
• A valid payment option 

It is necessary to have these things before you can successfully change your location. Nevertheless, since a code is not sent for confirmation, you can browse a café in that country and use their details. That is assuming you are doing it for a short period. 

Fortunately, your FaceTime or iMessage number will remain the same after changing your location. 

Before you proceed, here are things you should know

• If you have a store credit or Apple ID balance, it might be difficult to change your location. Hence, you need to spend that before attempting. 
• You need to cancel any active subscriptions or wait till your current ones end, as that is when you can change your location on the App Store. 
• A new payment method will be required. This time, it has to be a local form of payment. That is from the country you are switching to. 
• If you have a payment method attached to your App Store, we recommend removing it because if you do not, you will be asked for a local payment method. If you do not have it, you can switch to a new country. When you remove the current payment method, you probably will see ”None” as one of the payment options when selecting a new region. Luckily, you can keep it like that after changing to a new country.
• Any pending refund needs to be completed before you proceed.
• And if you are in Family Sharing, you need to leave it. 

Also read: How to change your location on Android and download apps not available in your location

Let us assume you have everything; you can proceed with the steps below. If you do not, you can create a new Apple ID using details of the new country you want to switch to. 

Steps to download an app not available in your country on iPhone

• Launch the App Store and click your profile picture. You will find it at the top right 
• Click your name and email tile from the top
• Click County/Region
• Click Change Country or Region
• Now, choose the preferred country. It should be where the app you want to download is available. 
• Input an address, ZIP code, and phone number, and click Next, then Done. 
• Now, you have successfully changed your location on the App Store. You can search the app, and you will see it for download. From then, your recommendation and app prices will be the region. 

After successfully installing these apps, it might still not work in your country. That is because the app does not have the license or necessary things to operate. Nevertheless, you can use a VPN. 

To make in-app purchases, you will update your payment method. When you do not have that, it can be a problem. Unless you have one from that country, it is almost impossible to get a paid app.

We recommend changing countries on the App Store for individuals who travel often, as it allows them to have fun for the little time they spend in the new location. However, you might need a new Apple ID if you change your location frequently. 

You might be wondering how to revert to your original location, simply follow the steps above. It is necessary to change back to your original location to easily update your existing apps linked to your home country’s app store. 

Conclusion 

Considering everything on your plate, changing your App Store location just to download a few apps might not be worth the effort. It is better to create a new Apple ID unless you are permanently relocating or planning to stay in the new location for several years. This is particularly advisable for students moving abroad for their studies.

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Apps make the smartphone experience smooth. They offer different functionalities, entertainment, convenience, financial transactions, and more. However, you might often encounter an error, “App not available in your country,” when installing a certain app. While it can be frustrating, it is probably due to government restrictions or OS compatibility. 

You might be surprised to learn that Google does not work in China. That is due to government restrictions. In 2024, the US government moved to ban TikTok. If this happens, the app will not be functional in that region. These are government restrictions and can be the reason an app is not available in your location. In addition, some OS versions are dropped by developers. That might be another factor, but often, you will see the app but cannot download it.

But that is the beauty of Android as an open source. You can download apps from third-party websites or even change your location to access restricted apps in your region. Fortunately, you can do all these on your device by following a few steps. But before we dive into how to solve this problem, let us see how they can come about.

What are the reasons an app is not available in your location?

There are many reasons, like regional restrictions, government interference, local challenges, and OS version. Any of these can restrict the availability of certain apps in your region, but there is a way around it. 

• Regional Restrictions: Like OTA updates, which are released in batches to contain serious issues, developers employ this technique when releasing their apps. Especially for new apps, it allows designers to ensure compliance with local laws and another experience with the locals.
• Government interference: Some apps do not appear on your Play Store because the government has banned them. Political tension can result in the exclusion of some apps from certain regions, just like the case of Google and China. Developers are forced to leave our apps. 
• Local challenges: Some apps are meant for a particular region and hence difficult to install in other countries. WeChat is a Chinese app with Chinese as the language. It is almost impossible for an English-speaking person to use the app. 
• OS version: Meta recently announced it will stop supporting phones running Android 4.4. It means you might get an error message trying to install WhatsApp on devices still running this OS version. Also, developers sometimes limit their apps to a particular OS version. That is probably the reason an app is not available in your location. 

How to resolve an app not available in your country 

If you travel to a different country for a vacation and need to install an app designed for that region. Unfortunately, you can not because the app is not available in your original country. How do you then go about that? Well, Google knows that can happen, and they offer a simple step to adjust it. 

Change Google Play store country

If you are visiting a country and need to install a local app, you can adjust your region in the Play Store. Google only allows that once a year, so it is essential you think about it very well before utilizing it. 

• Head to Play Store and tap on your profile icon.
• Click on Settings>>General.
• Tap on Account and Device Preference. 
• Select Country, and profiles and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the procedure. 

Download the APK file.

The issue with installing an APK file is that if an app is limited to only a particular region, side-loading it will not work. Even when it does, it will be impossible to get the full functionality. Resulting to this method should be when you are in that region but cannot change your location on the Play Store. Perhaps you are only there for a few days. 

• Head to your browser and search for the app you want to download 
• From the results, download the APK file 
• Once the app has finished downloading, tap on it to start the installation 
• You might be asked to enable installation from an unknown source, tap continue.
• When that is done, launch the app and start using it.

Also read: How to share your live location with your friends and family for easy monitoring

Use VPN 

Since VPN masks your current location by rerouting your internet connection through servers in different regions, it will trick Play Store into believing you are in that region. That way, you can download apps limited to that particular region. However, most VPNs that let you do this are paid, but you can try Windscribe.

• Head to the Play Store and download Windscribe or any other liable VPN.
• Launch the app and select a country you want to connect to
• Once the connection is established, head to your home screen.
• Long press on the Play Store app icon 
• Tap on App info from the pop-up menu
• Tap Clear data and click on Clear cache 
• Head back to the home screen and trigger the App info, but this time, you need to Force Close the app.
• After that, relaunch the app and search for the app you wish to download.

Why can I not change my region on the Google Play store?

Aside from the fact that you can only change your location on the Play Store once a year, if you have an active subscription, Google will not allow you to change to a new region. The idea is to stop people from changing your location to get a cheaper offer from what is being paid in their current location. 

In addition, your Google Play balance becomes unusable when you switch locations. Your balance is linked to your original location in your account settings.

Conclusion 

The best way to resolve an app now available in your country in the Play Store is to find an alternative app in your region. Since Google restricts changing location to once a year in the Play Store, it is impossible to change it on each trip. Also, you risk your balance being unusable and other things that come with that.

Also, downloading APK files is not ideal since many of these apps were kicked out of the Play Store due to some violations. You risk exposing your data to scammers and stalkers.