How to Change Your Apple, Xbox or PlayStation Account Region to the US
Some gift cards only work if your account is in the US. Here's how to check and change your region on Apple, Xbox and PlayStation — the simple way, before you buy.
If you bought an Apple, Xbox or PlayStation gift card in US dollars and your account is registered in another country, the code may not redeem. Here is how to check your current region and the simplest way to fix it — before you buy.
Why your account region matters
Apple, Microsoft and Sony sell content and balance by region. A gift card bought for the US can only be redeemed on an account whose region is also the United States.
Apple ID (App Store / iTunes)
- Check your region: Settings → your name → Media & Purchases → View Account → your country/region is shown there.
- Can you change it? Yes, but you must spend any remaining balance and have no active subscriptions before changing the country on that same screen.
- Recommended: create a NEW Apple ID choosing United States from the start, dedicated to redeeming your USD gift cards.
Microsoft / Xbox account
- Check your region: On your console: Profile → Settings → System → Language & location. On PC: account.microsoft.com → your info.
- Can you change it? Yes, but first spend the balance in your current region (Microsoft blocks changing region with balance left).
- Recommended: create a NEW Microsoft account selecting United States at sign-up, for your Xbox gift cards in USD.
PlayStation Network (PSN)
- Check your region: On your console: Settings → Users and Accounts → Account → Info, or by signing in at account.sony.com.
- Can you change it? No. Sony does NOT allow changing the region of an existing PSN account.
- Solution: create a NEW PSN account choosing United States during sign-up, just for redeeming your PSN gift cards in USD.
Which gift card do I need?
Krosty Shop sells Apple, Xbox and PlayStation gift cards. If your account is already in the United States, buy and redeem directly. If not, create the new US-region account first as shown above, then redeem the code there.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't my gift card code work?
Almost always because your account is in a different region than the code (for example, your account is in Venezuela and the code is for the US).
Can I change the region of my current PSN account?
No. Sony does not allow changing the region of an existing PSN account; you must create a new account in the US region.
Do I lose my purchases if I create a new account?
Yes, a new account starts without your previous purchases. That's why it's best to use it only for content you buy with US gift cards, and keep your main account separate.
Can I change my Apple ID or Microsoft account region?
Yes, but first you must spend any balance or cancel active subscriptions. Often it's simpler to create a new US account.