No Pokemon Go in your country? Here's how to download it internationally right now!

Pokémon Go launched recently... but not everywhere. That's likely to prevent the deluge of eager trainers from overloading the servers and crashing the system. But if we've learned anything since the advent of the internet, it's the geographic borders simply don't exist in a virtual world. So, if you're outside the U.S. or one of the other initial launch countries, you can still get your Pokémon Go on — you simply need to use a U.S. iTunes account.
Update: Pokemon Go is now officially available in Canada, the UK, and most of Europe. So, all you have to do is go to the App Store and download Pokémon Go now (opens in new tab). If Pokemon Go still isn't in your country, read on!
If you already have a U.S. iTunes account — many international Apple customers do! — simply switch to that account and download Pokémon Go now (opens in new tab). If not, keep reading on!
Note: Even if you get the Pokémon Go app, the actual Pokémon have to be available for you to catch in your country. North American and Europe seem to have plenty. Some South American and Southeast Asian countries seem to have few or none.
How to get Pokémon Go from the U.S. App Store, even if you're not in the U.S.
First you need to log out of your local App Store:
- Launch App Store from your Home screen.
- Tap on Apple ID: [your current email] at the very bottom.
- Tap on Sign Out.
Next you need to change the region on your iPhone or iPad:
- Launch Settings from your Home screen.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Language & Region near the bottom.
- Tap on Region
- Check off United States.
Now you need to create the new account in the U.S. Store:
- Go to the Pokémon Go listing on the App Store (opens in new tab) on your iPhone or iPad. (Tap that link!)
- (Tap Change Store if it stays stuck on your old region and says the item isn't available in the current store.)
- Tap Get.
- Tap Install.
- Tap Create New Apple ID.
- Check United States if it isn't already checked.
- Fill out the required information.
- Tap None for billing information. Pokémon Go is free, and you can always buy U.S. iTunes gift cards later if you want to purchase other content from the store.
- Launch Mail to verify the email address you used for the U.S. account.
Finally, download Pokémon Go:
- Go to the Pokémon Go listing on the App Store (opens in new tab) on your iPhone or iPad. (Tap that link!)
- Tap Get.
- Tap Install.
- Login to your new U.S. iTunes Account if you aren't already logged in.
- Repeat the Get and Install steps if you have to.
That should start your Pokémon Go download and, with it, your career as a trainer.
You should change your region back to your local country, and your iTunes account back to your local account, but you can return to the U.S. when and if you need to simply by logging out and then logging back in to the new U.S. account your created.
How to update Pokémon Go from the U.S. App Store, even if you're not in the U.S.
Updating Pokémon Go is just as easy as downloading it, but you'll need to perform these steps manually each time a new version is released. And keep your ear to iMore, since the App Store won't automatically tell you when the app has been updated.
First you need to log out of your local App Store:
- Launch App Store from your Home screen.
- Tap on Apple ID: [your current email] at the very bottom.
- Tap on Sign Out.
- Tap on Sign In.
- Enter U.S. iTunes login information.
- Press OK when prompted.
- Tap on Updates tab at the bottom right of the App Store.
- Tap Update icon next to Pokémon Go.
Once your update is finished, follow the steps again to sign out of the U.S. App Store and login in to your local App Store.
Note: Don't forget to sign back in to your original account! All your iTunes-related content — including Apple Music — is tied to your primary Apple ID, so if you leave your U.S.-based account logged in, you won't be able to play any of your music.
Questions?
Let us know below.
iMore Newsletter
Get the best of iMore in your inbox, every day!
Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.
-
If I do this, will I be able to update using my normal account? Sent from the iMore App
-
Apps downloaded using a different id require that id to update, so no. But you will see the updates usually and need to enter the other accounts password to actually update it.
-
The game saves to you log in to the actual game itself so, if you delete and reinstall when its available in your region, you'll still have your save data and will be able to update the app without switching ID's. Sent from the iMore App
-
YOU CANNOT CHOOSE NONE AS AN OPTION FOR BILLING OPTIONS IN THE US, YOU HAVE TO ADD ONE AND REMOVE IT LATER! FIND ME A DIFFERENT WAY
-
I do not have this option as well, it is demanding credit info, which cannot be entered correctly as my credit card billing address is NOT in the US and keeps getting declined.
-
I found a way!
Create the ID on a computer instead of through the phone directly.
Once it's been created there, there was an option to have "none" as payment method.
Hope this helps others. -
still didn't work because they still asked for the region and phone number
-
You should be able to put in any region/phone number, it shouldn't have to verify it
-
Instead of clicking sign in search Pokemon go while not signed in and click install then when it ask you to login create new id and the none option will be there.
-
it worked but the app keeps on crashing lol
-
Didnt work for me pokemon go still isnt on app store, what do i do?
Is it problem that im using gen 4? -
I don't see the 'change store" option on my iPad? I'm signed out but that link does not appear.
-
It works but it says GPS not found and the only time it worked for my is when I used data from my older sisters phone (because I have a iPad) so pls tell me how to fix it
-
I changed the Region and even signed out, but when I look up Pokemon GO in the app store it still shows nothing! Could this be because I'm trying to install it on my IPod touch 5? Does it only work on iPhone and iPad ?
-
How would you even play it on an iPod Touch? You need to go outside, how are you going to have Internet?
-
Yep. It was already mentioned that iPod touch 5G is NOT supported by the Pokemon go. You may install it on the 6G touch
-
I just hope all these new registrations don't make Apple setup some sort of geoblocking (or similar restrictions), effectively barring non-US IP addresses from logging in to the US iTunes/App Store. I've still got more than $100 of iTunes credit in my US Apple account (the account I use full time) and would hate to have to spend extra on a VPN to access it.
-
Get Opera VPN for iPhone. It's free Sent from the iMore App
-
It's so funny how many people are complaining on the AC site about all the Pokémon articles. Lot more civil here. Thanks Mobile Nations for putting in the time for the readers who are interested. Posted via the iMore App for Android
-
The downside of doing this is that if you use Apple Music and downloaded songs for offline listening, your iCloud Music Library automatically turns off on signing-in to a diff. ID and the songs which you have downloaded would be deleted! You have to manually turn on the iCloud Music Library option and then re-download all the songs which you want for offline listening! Please update this in your main post.
-
The game is still geo locked :( However to download from the US iTunes store in general most people use the US Unlocked Card, works like a charm.
-
I currently live in Asia and my country doesn't have Pokemon Go yet. I do have a U.S Apple ID so i was able to download the game. My question is, how do I make in-game purchases considering my U.S Apple ID keeps declining my credit card as it is our of region? Thanks!