how to change region on ps4

Since you're here, you probably know there's a lot to gain from changing your PSN region. Exclusive deals, earlier access to games, unblocking geo-restricted streams – the list goes on!

And you're not alone, either. With the recent release of the PS5, more and more gamers are looking to access cool content unavailable in their country. Sony offers personalized deals and extras only in certain regions. So, for example, gamers in the US have access to various money-saving deals and content that isn't offered to gamers in the UK and other European countries. Not fair!

Thankfully, it is possible to change your virtual location with a VPN. So, how do you change the region on your PS4 or PS5? Let's get right to it.

Quick steps to change your PSN account region:

Register for a reliable VPN with servers in your desired region – we recommend NordVPN, now 72% off!
Download and install the app on your device.
Connect to a VPN server in your chosen region.
Create a new PSN account and select the region you want during the setup process.
Turn on the PlayStation Store - your PSN account is now in a different region!

How to change a PSN account to a different country

You might already be familiar that different PlayStation Store countries have some differences between them. Not only the price is displayed in other currency some games or apps aren't available. Keep in mind that you just can't hop around the world with your current account – if you've set it up on some country, you won't be able to change it.

The easiest way to change regions on a PSN account is to set up a new account and select the country you want (even if it doesn't match your actual location). You will need a VPN if you want to get other country's IP address and make your PlayStation believing that you are located in the country you have selected. It will also help if you're shopping for that region's gift cards that you could redeem on your account to pay for games.

How to set up a new PSN account for a different region?

If you want to convince PSN that you're from a different region, an IP address can go a long way as far as reassurance goes. This should make sure that your registration passes successfully. You will be able to experience it as if you really were from another region.

Here is a quick step-by-step guide on how to set up a new account on a PlayStation:

Switch on your PlayStation and click New User.
After you have accepted the User Agreement, you will be prompted to create an account.
Select the region you want to use.
Put in your basic details, like your date of birth and language.
Enter the location details you want to use. Here, you will need to enter a fake address in the region you have chosen. If you don't know any, you can use an address generator to get a randomized address.
Enter a valid email address and password that is not already attached to a PSN account.
Create your profile. Create your online ID, choose your gaming avatar and complete any other basic set up details and click Accept on the Terms of Service and User Agreement page.
Open the PlayStation Store and it should be showing content and prices from the new location.

This also means that friends list bought games will remain on a separate account. So, if you are only changing the account's location to take advantage of some better deal, keep this in mind if you're thinking about multiplayer. It also applies to PlayStation Now services that you might be subscribing to.

How to buy games on another country's PlayStation Store

Even if you change the country on your PSN account, you will still be unable to buy games directly from the PlayStation Store. This is because you need to have a PayPal or credit card that is registered to the country that you have selected.

If you don't have a form of payment that is registered to the country of your new PlayStation user, you will need to purchase a gift card from your chosen region's Amazon store. Here's how to do it:

Download a VPN. We recommend NordVPN (now 72% OFF) as it has a large server fleet and has many useful features.
Connect to your chosen region's server and visit the PlayStation Gift Cards website.
Click Buy Now on the gift card that you want to buy.

Choose Amazon as a digital code gift card.
Click Add to Card, and go to the checkout. You will be prompted to sign in or create a new Amazon account.
Enter your payment information. You can use your regular payment method to purchase an Amazon gift card. Within minutes, you will be emailed a digital copy of your gift card and 12-digit code.
Log in to your new PSN account and open the PlayStation store.
Click Redeem Codes and enter the 12-digit code from your email. Once you have selected to continue, the funds of your gift card will be added to your account.
Purchase the game or app that you want to buy.

Why do you need a VPN on PlayStation?

Once you have set up a PlayStation Network (PSN) account, it locks your region and you won't be able to change it. Even if you move permanently to another country, you can't freely change locations in the settings.

But, even if you haven't moved to another country, there are lots of reasons why you might want to change your PSN country. Let's find out what they are.

Accessing region restricted deals

There are lots of deals available in the US that could end up saving you quite a bit of money. So, it's definitely worth using a VPN to bypass region restrictions and gain access to these geo-restricted promo deals.

Buying region restricted games on your PSN account

You can't buy a game from another region without using a local payment method. So, for instance, in order to buy a game from the US PSN store, you would need a US payment method, such as a US credit card or a US PayPal account. However, you can get around this by purchasing a region-specific gift card and using that as payment.

Fast, smooth gameplay

If you like gaming online with players in other countries, you can use a VPN to connect to a server in the same location as your opponent. This will improve gaming performance by reducing lag.

A VPN can also improve speeds more generally, as it encrypts your traffic. This will prevent your ISP or public Wi-Fi connection from throttling your download speeds.

Security

A VPN encrypts your data to keep it safe from cyberattacks while you're online. It will also stop other gamers from being able to overwhelm your connection by bombarding you with spam. Some gamers do this in order to slow down your connection enough to gain a competitive advantage.

Access geo-blocked apps and content

There are lots of apps, such as Hulu, BBC iPlayer and HBO Go, that are only available in certain regions. Equally, most global streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus, have movies and TV shows that you can only access in certain countries. A VPN will help you get around this by issuing you with an IP address from the country of your choice providing unrestricted access.

How to Install a VPN on PS4 and PS5

Unfortunately, there are no VPN apps available on the PlayStation Store. However, you can install a VPN onto your router. Alternatively, you can install one on your PC and connect your PC to your PlayStation via an Ethernet cable to bypass region restriction. Many top-tier VPNs will work with this solution.

Via Router

Once you have set up a VPN on your router, you will need to connect it to your PlayStation. These simple steps will connect your VPN on your router with you PS3, PS4 and PS5:

Go to the Dynamic Menu on your PS4 or PS5.
Select Settings.
Go to Network Settings and click Set Up Internet Connection.
Select Use Wi-Fi and, when asked which connection method you want, choose Easy.
When prompted, choose Do Not Use a Proxy Server and then Accept all Settings.
Click on Test Connection.
Start playing.

Some VPN service providers also offer pre-configured routers. Yo ucan use them out of the box, which is even faster method to connect your console with a VPN.

Via Ethernet Cable

You can connect your PlayStation to your laptop's VPN via an Ethernet cable. Then you will need to follow these steps:

Connect your PC or laptop to your PlayStation with an Ethernet Cable.
Select the TAP/Nordlynx adapter to enable network sharing.
Pick the Ethernet connection that you want to share.
Make sure that UDP/TCP is selected in the app if you are sharing the TAP adapter.
Alternatively, make sure that NordLynx is selected if you are sharing the Nordlynx adapter.
Open the Settings of your VPN app on your laptop, go into Advanced Settings and select Protocol.
Change your default protocol to OpenVPN, connect your VPN with the region you want, and go to the Dynamic Menu on your PS4 or PS5.
Go to Settings, then Network Settings and click Set Up Internet Connection.
Choose Use LAN Cable and, when asked which connection method you want, choose Easy.
When prompted, choose Do Not Use a Proxy Server and then Accept all Settings.
Click on Test Connection.
Start playing.

Set up internet connection settings on PlayStation

Common problems with changing regions on PlayStation

Even once you have changed regions on your PlayStation, you may still run into issues, particularly with region locked content. For instance, if you have used the US store to buy a game, you will only be able to access future downloadable content for that game from the US. That means that, if new content for the game becomes available in your country, you won't be able to access it without buying the game again.

Of course, this also means that the content for that game will be tailored to that region. This means that there may be local references you don't understand, and the game might only be available in that country's native language. Don't forget that this may affect your online gaming experience as well, as you will be connecting to servers located further away.

FAQs

Is it possible to use a free VPN on PlayStation?

It is possible, but not advisable, as most free VPNs can't connect to a router. They are also not as secure, and you are more likely to get caught and receive a ban on your IP address, or even a ban on your console.

How do I check my account region on PlayStation?

The easiest way to check your account region is to use psnprofiles.com. Type your username into the search engine and a flag of your region will appear.

What are the benefits of different regions on PlayStation?

Switching regions on PlayStation will let you access games and apps that are unavailable in your country due to region restriction. You can also get access to early releases and special offers. And you can watch region restricted streaming content, such as Hulu or BBC iPlayer.