How to change region on Steam

Steam is a popular platform for purchasing and playing games, but sometimes, you might need to change your region. Whether you are moving to a new country, traveling, or accessing region-specific content, changing your region on Steam isn’t as straightforward as you might expect.

This guide will walk you through the process, explain the best VPNs for changing regions, and offer tips to ensure you do it safely and within Steam’s terms of service. Before we dive in, here’s a list of the top VPNs we tested with Steam.

Top VPNs to change Steam region:

1. NordVPN: The best overall VPN for changing Steam regions with 7,000+ servers across 100+ countries and excellent gaming speeds. TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Steam.
2. Surfshark: The best budget VPN for Steam region changes with unlimited simultaneous connections and 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries. 
3. IPVanish: A reliable VPN with 2,400+ servers in 108+ countries and unlimited device connections, perfect for gamers.
4. ExpressVPN: Premium VPN with blazing-fast speeds and servers in 105+ countries. It is ideal for gaming and downloading Steam content.
5. CyberGhost: User-friendly VPN with 8,000+ servers in 100+ countries and specialized gaming-optimized connections. 
6. PrivateVPN: Privacy-focused VPN covering 63 countries with stealth mode specifically designed to avoid detection. 
7. Private Internet Access: Highly customizable VPN with a massive network of 30,000+ servers across 91 countries and a court-proven no-logs policy.

How to change your Steam region

Our research shows that the most reliable way to change your Steam region is by using a VPN. Simply follow these instructions:

1. Download and install a reliable VPN that works well with Steam. We recommend NordVPN for its extensive server network across 100+ countries and strong ability to bypass regional restrictions. Surfshark and IPVanish are also great alternatives.
2. Launch the VPN app and connect to a server in your desired country. Select a server with good speeds to ensure smooth performance on Steam.
3. Open Steam and sign in to your account.
4. Navigate to Account Details by clicking on your username in the top-right corner and selecting “Account Details” from the dropdown menu.
5. Update your store country by finding the “Store & Purchase History” section and clicking “Update store country.”
6. Enter a billing address in your chosen country. This needs to match the region of the VPN server you’re connected to.
7. Complete a purchase using a payment method from that region. This could be a local credit card, PayPal account set to that region, or Steam gift cards purchased for that region.

Important: While changing your Steam region for legitimate reasons, like relocation, is permitted, doing so solely to exploit regional pricing differences violates Steam’s terms of service and could result in account restrictions. Always use a VPN with strong security features like NordVPN to protect your account and personal information.

How we identified the best VPNs for changing Steam region

To find the best VPNs for safely and reliably changing your Steam region, we evaluated providers based on the following criteria:

• VPNs must consistently bypass Steam’s region detection to allow smooth region changes without risking account restrictions.
• Providers should offer a wide selection of servers in multiple countries, especially regions popular among Steam users.
• VPNs must deliver stable, high-speed connections suitable for gaming, downloading, and updating games on Steam.
• To protect user privacy, providers must offer robust encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy.

For more detailed information about how we recommend VPNs for Steam, check out our full VPN testing methodology later in this article.

Best VPNs for UK Expats – Our hands-on review

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Steam.

Best VPNs to change your Steam region

Here’s a closer look at the best VPNs to change your Steam region:

1. NordVPN

Mar 2025

NordVPN is a highly trusted VPN provider ideal for securely changing your Steam region. It operates over 7,000 servers across 100+ countries, ensuring you can reliably connect to your desired region. Because of its consistently fast speeds, it’s a popular VPN for gamers.

NordVPN safeguards your privacy with military-grade AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. Its strict no-logs policy has been independently audited, meaning your online activities remain private.

It consistently bypasses VPN detection measures, making it ideal for Steam region changes. Customer support is responsive and available 24/7 via live chat. NordVPN offers intuitive Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and FireTV apps, allowing up to ten simultaneous connections.

It also includes advanced features like Double VPN, split tunneling, and CyberSec (ad-blocking and malware protection). All subscriptions come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

BEST VPN FOR CHANGING STEAM REGION:NordVPN includes over 7,000 servers in 100+ countries, military-grade encryption, and a verified no-logs policy. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review here.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is an affordable yet powerful VPN service based in the British Virgin Islands, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction with no mandatory data retention laws. It operates over 3,200 servers in 100+ countries and is a reliable Steam VPN.

Surfshark secures traffic with AES-256 encryption, DNS, IPv6, WebRTC leak protection, and a kill switch. Its strict no-logs policy ensures your online activities remain private. Surfshark reliably bypasses VPN detection, making it ideal for safely updating your Steam region.

It offers unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing you to protect all your devices at once. Customer support is responsive and available 24/7 via live chat. Additional features include CleanWeb (ad-blocking), MultiHop servers, split tunneling, and camouflage mode. Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

BEST BUDGET VPN FOR STEAM:Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, strong encryption, and servers in 100+ countries, which is perfect for changing your Steam region. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review

3. IPVanish

IPVanish is a privacy-focused VPN service with over 2,400 servers in 108+ locations worldwide. It is suitable for safely changing your Steam region and works great with the most popular gaming titles, like Valorant, World of Warcraft, and Fortnite.

It provides robust AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch to protect your data. IPVanish adheres to a strict zero-logs policy, ensuring your activities remain confidential. It reliably bypasses VPN detection, allowing smooth Steam region changes.

IPVanish offers unlimited simultaneous connections, perfect for gamers with multiple devices. Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat, and all subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Additional features include split tunneling, SOCKS5 proxy, and user-friendly apps for all major platforms.

UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS:IPVanish provides over 2,200 servers in 108+ locations, which is ideal for changing your Steam region on multiple devices simultaneously. It offers strong encryption, a verified zero-logs policy, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our comprehensive IPVanish review.

4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a premium VPN known for its exceptional speeds and robust security features. With servers in 105+ countries, it easily facilitates Steam region changes.

ExpressVPN secures your data with AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. Its no-logs policy has been independently verified, and the VPN consistently bypasses VPN detection measures.

ExpressVPN provides excellent speeds, ideal for gaming and downloading content from Steam. It also works for torrenting and other data-intensive tasks. Customer support is outstanding, with 24/7 live chat assistance. ExpressVPN offers intuitive Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and router apps. Additional features include split tunneling, MediaStreamer DNS, and TrustedServer technology.

FAST AND SECURE:ExpressVPN offers blazing-fast speeds and robust security, which are ideal for changing your Steam region. It operates servers in 100+ countries, providing extensive global coverage. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN here.

5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a user-friendly VPN service with an extensive network of over 9,000 servers in 100+ countries, making it ideal for changing your Steam region. It secures your connection with AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch.

It maintains a strict no-logs policy, ensuring your online activities remain private. It reliably bypasses VPN detection, allowing smooth region changes on Steam. You can also change regions on Netflix and effortlessly stream on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.

CyberGhost offers dedicated gaming-optimized servers for improved performance and lower latency. Customer support is responsive and available 24/7 via live chat.

It offers an industry-leading 45-day money-back guarantee on longer plans. Additional features include built-in ad-blocking, malware protection, and intuitive apps for all major platforms.

BEGINNER-FRIENDLY VPN:CyberGhost operates over 8,000 servers in 100+ countries, making it easy to CyberGhost operatessecurely change your Steam region. It secures your connection with AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

6. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is a user-friendly VPN service ideal for Steam users, offering servers in 63 countries. It secures your connection with AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. PrivateVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy, ensuring your privacy remains intact.

It reliably bypasses VPN detection, making it suitable for safely changing your Steam region – it also works with Steam Deck. Customer support is excellent, featuring live chat and remote setup assistance. PrivateVPN provides easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. Additional features include port forwarding, stealth VPN mode, and intuitive apps for beginners. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

BIG ON PRIVACY:PrivateVPN offers steady speeds and robust security with servers in 63 countries, ideal for changing your Steam region. It uses AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy, and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our full PrivateVPN review.

7. Private Internet Access (PIA)

Private Internet Access (PIA) operates an extensive network of over 30,000 servers in 91 countries, making it ideal for securely changing your Steam region. It secures your connection with AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch.

PIA maintains a strict no-logs policy, proven in court multiple times. It reliably bypasses VPN detection, allowing smooth Steam region changes. Customer support is responsive and available 24/7 via live chat. PIA provides intuitive Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux apps, allowing unlimited simultaneous connections.

Additional features include split tunneling, built-in ad-blocking (MACE), and advanced customization options. All subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

HIGHLY CUSTOMIZABLE VPN:Private Internet Access boasts 30,000+ servers in 90+ countries with reliable Steam region-changing capabilities. It offers unlimited connections, advanced security options, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PIA review.

VPNs for changing Steam region: Our testing methodology

Hundreds of VPNs are available, but not all are suitable for safely changing your Steam region. We’ve developed a comprehensive testing methodology tailored specifically for Steam users to ensure you select a VPN that reliably works with Steam and protects your account.

Here are the key criteria we evaluate:

1. Reliable region switching: We test each VPN extensively to confirm it consistently bypasses Steam’s region detection systems. Providers must reliably allow users to update their Steam region without triggering account restrictions or bans.
2. Global server network: We prioritize VPNs with extensive server networks covering numerous countries, especially regions popular among Steam users. A large server network lets you easily connect to your desired region and access region-specific content.
3. Fast and stable connections: Gaming and downloading games from Steam require fast, stable connections. We conduct multiple speed tests across various server locations to ensure each VPN provides reliable performance with minimal latency and no noticeable lag or interruptions.
4. Robust security and privacy: We only recommend VPNs that offer strong security features, including AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. Additionally, we verify that each VPN has a strict no-logs policy, ideally independently audited or proven in real-world scenarios.
5. Ease of use and compatibility: We test VPN apps across multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux, to ensure they are user-friendly and intuitive. VPNs should allow quick and easy server switching, making the process of changing your Steam region straightforward.
6. Responsive customer support: Reliable customer support is essential if you encounter issues while changing your Steam region. We test each VPN’s customer support responsiveness and knowledge, ensuring they can quickly assist with troubleshooting and resolving region-specific issues.
7. Value for money: Finally, we evaluate each VPN’s pricing structure and subscription options to ensure they offer excellent value without compromising essential features needed for Steam region changes. We also confirm that each provider offers a reliable money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the service risk-free.

For more info, check out our full methodology post.

Why would you want to change your region on Steam?

There are several legitimate reasons why someone might want to change their region on Steam:

• Permanent relocation: If you’ve moved to a different country, you’ll want your Steam account to reflect your new location for payment methods and regional pricing.
• Accessing region-specific content: Some games or DLCs are only available in certain regions due to licensing agreements or censorship laws.
• Regional pricing: Games on Steam often have different prices depending on the region. Due to economic factors, games might be significantly cheaper in some countries.
• Language preferences: Changing your region can affect the default language and available language options for games.

Steam has strict policies regarding regional changes to prevent abuse, particularly when exploiting regional pricing differences.

Temporary travel vs. permanent relocation

If you’re just traveling

If you’re temporarily traveling to another country:

• Steam recommends not changing your store region for short trips
• You can still play your games while abroad (with some region-locked exceptions)
• Consider purchasing any new games after returning home
• For longer stays but not permanent moves, contact Steam support for guidance

For permanent relocation

When permanently moving to a new country:

• Update your billing information as soon as you have a local payment method
• Be prepared to provide documentation of your move if requested
• Understand that some content may no longer be available in your new region

How region changes affect your game library

When you change your region on Steam, your existing game library may be affected in several ways:

• Region-locked games: Some games may become unavailable if they’re not licensed for sale in your new region
• Language options: Default languages and available language packs may change
• DLC compatibility: In rare cases, DLC purchased in one region might not work with the base game in another region
• Update differences: Some games have different content or update schedules in different regions due to localization or censorship

According to data from SteamDB, approximately 13% of games on the platform have some form of regional restriction.

Understanding Steam’s region policies

Before attempting to change your region, it’s crucial to understand how Steam handles regional restrictions:

• IP-based detection: Steam uses your IP address as the primary method to determine your location.
• Region-locked purchases: Games purchased in one region may be locked to that region, meaning they might not be playable if you change your location.
• Payment method verification: Steam requires you to use a payment method from your current region to verify you’re actually there.
• Cooldown periods: Steam limits on how frequently you can change your region to prevent abuse.

According to Steam’s official regional pricing policy, these measures are implemented to ensure fair pricing across different economies. Users attempting to circumvent these restrictions may face consequences ranging from purchase restrictions to account suspension.

Legal and ethical considerations

When changing your Steam region, consider these essential factors:

• Terms of service: Changing your region for legitimate reasons is allowed, but exploiting regional pricing differences violates Steam’s terms.
• Tax implications: Different regions have different tax structures for digital purchases.
• Consumer rights: Consumer protection laws vary by country and may affect your rights regarding refunds and disputes.