SLON Privacy
How to Change Your App Store Region or Create a Foreign Apple Account
Some apps may be unavailable in the Russian App Store. This includes apps that can be used to connect to Slon Privacy.
If the app you need does not appear in App Store search or its page says that it is unavailable in your region, there are two ways to solve the problem:
- Change your App Store region. You continue using your current Apple Account but gain access to apps from another region.
- Create an additional Apple Account. This is a backup option if you cannot change the region of your current account or do not want to change its settings.
Since April 2026, changing the App Store region has become easier for some Russian accounts. In some cases, the region can be changed without adding a bank card and without canceling some active subscriptions.
We therefore recommend trying to change the region of your current account first — this is usually easier than creating an additional Apple Account.
Important: requirements may vary depending on the status of your account. Apple may require you to spend your remaining balance, cancel certain subscriptions, change Family Sharing settings, or add a payment method.
If you cannot change the region, use the second option — create an additional Apple Account.
App availability depends on the country or region of your Apple Account. To download an app that is not available in the Russian App Store, you can change the region of your current account or create an additional foreign Apple Account.
Change App Store Region
Changing your region gives you access to apps from another App Store while continuing to use your current Apple Account.
Check the remaining balance on your Apple Account. Any remaining balance must be spent before changing the region.
Open App Store → profile and check your account balance.
If the remaining amount is too small to make a purchase, contact Apple Support.
Also check your active subscriptions, Family Sharing membership, and available payment methods.
In some cases, Apple allows you to change the region without canceling active subscriptions or adding a bank card. We therefore recommend trying the steps below first.
If Apple does not allow you to continue, the system will usually indicate what is preventing the region change.
Open your account settings
Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap your profile icon, then tap your account name.
If necessary, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your password.
Open the region settings
Go to:
“Country/Region” → “Change Country or Region”.
Choose a new region
Select the country whose App Store you want to use. Most importantly, make sure the app you need is available in that region.
You can consider:
- Kazakhstan — a convenient option for Russian-speaking users.
- Türkiye — many international apps are available.
- United States — one of the most extensive App Store catalogs.
- Germany and other EU countries — also suitable for accessing most international apps.
Accept Apple's terms
Review the terms and conditions for the selected region and confirm your agreement.
Enter the required information
Apple will ask you to provide information for the selected region.
If the None option is available, you can select it instead of adding a bank card.
Complete the remaining required fields. Use valid address information for the selected country and region.
Complete the region change
Tap “Done” and wait for the App Store to update.
If the changes do not apply immediately, completely close and reopen the App Store. Restart your device if necessary.
Then find the app you need and install it as usual.
Troubleshooting
Apple does not allow me to change the region
Check the reason shown by the system. A remaining account balance, certain subscriptions, or other account restrictions may prevent you from changing the region.
There is no “None” option for the payment method
Whether you can continue without a payment method depends on the selected region and the status of your account. In some cases, Apple may require payment information.
Family Sharing prevents me from changing the region
For some accounts, participation in a Family Sharing group may prevent a region change. Follow the message Apple displays for your account.
The app does not appear after changing the region
Completely close the App Store and open it again. Restart your device if necessary.
Also make sure the app you need is actually available in the selected region.
I cannot change the region
Use the second option — .
Create a New Apple Account
If you cannot change the region of your main account, you can create an additional Apple Account for another region.
You can use it only for the App Store — to install and update the apps you need. You do not need to change your main iCloud account with your photos, contacts, backups, and other data.
Prepare:
- a separate email address that has not previously been used for an Apple Account;
- a permanent phone number for registration verification that you will continue to have access to;
- the country or region for the new account.
Choose a region where the app you need is available.
Create a new Apple Account
Go to Apple's official account creation page.
You can use your browser's private or incognito mode when registering the additional account.
Enter your information
Provide:
- your first and last name;
- date of birth;
- the required country or region;
- a new email address;
- a strong password;
- a phone number.
If you plan to pay for apps or subscriptions using the new account, check the available payment methods for the selected country in advance.
The country of your phone number does not necessarily have to match the account region. In some cases, a Russian phone number with the +7 country code can be used for an account in another region.
Verify your registration
Apple will send verification codes to the email address and phone number you provided.
Enter the codes and complete the account creation process.
If the email does not arrive, check your Spam folder.
Sign in to the new account in the App Store
Open the App Store and tap your profile icon.
Scroll down and tap “Sign Out”.
After signing out:
- Tap “Sign In With Apple Account”.
- Choose the option to sign in with another account.
- Enter the credentials for the account you created.
Install the app
After you sign in, the App Store will show apps from the region of the new account.
Find Happ or INCY, make sure the correct developer is listed, and install the app.
Use the additional account only for the App Store. Do not move photos, contacts, backups, or other data from your main account to it.
Troubleshooting
The verification code does not arrive
Check the phone number and email address. Check your Spam folder and request the code again if necessary.
If Apple offers verification by phone call, you can try that option instead of SMS.
Apple does not accept the phone number
Use another permanent phone number that you will continue to have access to, or try registering again later.
I cannot create an account
Try your browser's private mode, another email address, or a different Internet connection.
The app I need is not available after signing in
Check the region of the account you created and make sure the app is available in the App Store for the selected country.