How to Override Detected Region for Microsoft Store on Windows 11

Quick fix: Microsoft Store uses your Microsoft account’s registered country. To override: visit account.microsoft.com → Your info → Edit name (Country/region). Change region. Note: country change is allowed only once every 90 days. Restart Microsoft Store. Apps available in new region now shown.

Microsoft Store filters apps by your Microsoft account’s country. Travelers, app developers, and users wanting region-specific apps can override the detected region. The change applies to all your devices signed in with that Microsoft account.

What causes this need

Microsoft Store apps may be: region-locked (only available in certain countries), priced differently per region, or have different ratings. Users override region to:

• Get apps not available in their actual country.
• Test app from a developer perspective.
• Match cheaper pricing in some regions.
• Bypass content filters in restrictive regions.

Method 1: Change Microsoft account country/region

The standard route.

1. Open browser → account.microsoft.com. Sign in.
2. Click your profile → Your info.
3. Click Edit name or Edit profile info.
4. Find Country/region. Click to change.
5. Pick new country.
6. Save. Wait 5-10 minutes for change to propagate to all Microsoft services.
7. Restart Microsoft Store (close + reopen).
8. Microsoft Store now shows apps for new region.
9. For pricing: new region’s prices shown.
10. Caveat: country change limited to once every 90 days. Plan accordingly.
11. For US-bound accounts: payment method must be US. Don’t change to country where your bank account isn’t recognized.

This is the standard route.

Method 2: Use a second Microsoft account for different region

For frequent region needs.

1. Create a second Microsoft account with the desired region. signup.live.com.
2. Sign in to Microsoft Store with that account.
3. Switch accounts in Store: click profile icon → sign out → sign in with other account.
4. Two accounts: each with its own region. Switch as needed.
5. For PC-level region: also change Windows region: Settings → Time & language → Region.
6. For Microsoft Store specifically: account region controls availability.
7. For Microsoft 365 / Office: subscription tied to one account, can’t share between regions.
8. For Xbox: similar; account region controls Xbox game store.

This is the multi-account route.

Method 3: Region override via developer-mode (sideload)

For specific app you can’t access via region.

1. If you can’t / don’t want to change Microsoft account region: sideload the .appx / .msix file directly.
2. Settings → Privacy & security → For developers → enable Developer Mode.
3. Find .appx file from app’s developer (some publish elsewhere).
4. Right-click .appx → Install. Or via PowerShell:

   Add-AppxPackage -Path "C:\Downloads\app.appx"

5. App installs locally, bypassing Microsoft Store.
6. Caveat: app updates won’t auto-apply (no Store connection).
7. Manual updates: download new .appx and re-install.
8. For broader regional content (Microsoft 365 apps, etc.): sideloading not applicable. Account region only.
9. For specific games: Steam, Epic Games, GOG don’t have region locks (mostly). Use those instead.

This is the sideload route.

How to verify the fix worked

• Microsoft Store → click your profile → Settings (or My account on web). Shows current region.
• Apps available in new region appear in search.
• Apps not in new region’s store no longer show.
• Pricing reflects new region currency.

If none of these work

If change doesn’t take effect: 90-day cooldown: check last change date in account. Wait. VPN active: Microsoft may detect VPN and resist region change. Disconnect VPN. For payment method mismatch: some regions require local payment methods. Update payment to match. For Xbox concerns: changing Microsoft account region affects Xbox availability and currency. Plan if you have Xbox content. For corporate Microsoft accounts: Entra ID/work accounts may be region-locked by company. Contact IT. For Windows Store on Windows 11: Settings → Time & language → Region matters too; ensure aligned. For specific app not appearing: developer may have pulled app, or it’s actually not in that region. Check official developer announcement.

Bottom line: account.microsoft.com → Your info → edit Country/region. 90-day cooldown applies. Match Windows Settings → Time & language → Region. For region needs without changing account: use second Microsoft account or sideload .appx.