How to Change Region for Steam: What Actually Works
I’ll be direct. Yes, you can change region for Steam to access different pricing and games. No, it’s not technically allowed by Steam’s Terms of Service unless you’ve genuinely relocated. But people do it anyway, and I’m going to explain exactly how it works and what risks you’re taking.
Steam regional pricing varies dramatically. A $60 game in the US might cost the equivalent of $35 dollars in Brazil or $40 in Poland. These differences exist because Steam adjusts pricing based on local purchasing power and economic conditions.
The catch is that Steam locks your store region to your physical location. You can only officially change regions once every three months, and you need a payment method from that country.
Here’s what you need to know about changing your Steam region, the methods that actually work, and the very real consequences if Steam catches you.
Jump to:
Can You Actually Change Your Steam Region?
Yes, but with significant caveats.
Steam determines your region based on three factors: your IP address, your payment method’s registered country, and your billing address. To change regions, you need to manipulate these signals to make Steam think you’re physically located somewhere else.
- The official method requires genuine relocation. You move to a new country, get local internet access, obtain a payment method from that country, and Steam offers to update your region during checkout. This is completely legitimate and carries zero risk.
- The workaround method uses a VPN to fake your location, a billing address from the target country, and regional gift cards or payment methods to complete purchases. This violates Steam’s Terms of Service but is technically possible.
Steam has cracked down significantly on region manipulation. In November 2023, they switched Argentina and Turkey from local currencies to USD pricing after years of abuse. Price increases hit 2900% in some cases. They’re actively monitoring for suspicious region changes.
If caught, consequences range from temporary purchase restrictions to permanent account bans with total loss of your game library. Steam doesn’t mess around with this.
How to Change Region for Steam With a VPN
I’m explaining this so you understand the process and risks, not as an endorsement. You’re taking a calculated risk with your account.
What you need:
- A quality VPN with servers in your target region (I recommend NordVPN)
- A billing address from that country (hotels and public addresses work)
- Regional payment method or gift cards from that country
Step-by-step process:
- Get a VPN and connect to a server in your target region
- Verify your IP address shows the correct country
- Open Steam and add a game to your cart
- Go to checkout – Steam detects your new IP
- Select your target country when prompted to update region
- Enter a billing address from that country
- Use a regional gift card or payment method to complete purchase
- Your region updates immediately
Your Steam Wallet balance converts to the new currency automatically. Some region-locked games may disappear from your library. You can’t change regions again for three months.
New to VPNs? Our guide on how to set up a VPN covers the basics.
Why NordVPN Works Best for This
If you’re going to take this risk, use a reliable VPN. Free VPNs get detected immediately. Cheap services leak your real IP. NordVPN offers the best combination of speed, server coverage, and detection avoidance.
What makes NordVPN effective:
- Servers in 110+ countries, including major gaming regions
- NordLynx protocol maintains fast speeds during gaming
- Strong encryption prevents IP leaks
- Large server network reduces detection risk
- Works reliably with Steam’s checkout process
I’ve tested multiple VPNs with Steam. NordVPN consistently connects without triggering immediate red flags. The NordLynx protocol keeps gaming performance smooth even when routing through distant servers.
The server variety also matters. You’re not limited to obvious cheap regions. Poland, Brazil, and several Asian markets offer better pricing without the extreme scrutiny that Argentina and Turkey now face.
Even if you’re not changing regions, a VPN protects your Steam account. Public WiFi exposes your login credentials. DDoS attacks are common in competitive gaming. ISP throttling slows Steam downloads.
NordVPN encrypts your connection, hides your real IP from potential attackers, and prevents your internet provider from detecting and slowing Steam traffic.
Regional Gift Cards: The Key Component
You can’t use your regular credit card when changing regions. Steam needs payment methods matching your stated location.
Regional gift cards solve this problem. You buy digital Steam gift cards denominated in your target region’s currency from online retailers. These codes work regardless of your actual location.
Here’s how to get regional gift cards and use them:
- Purchase from retailers that sell international Steam codes: Connect your VPN to your target region when buying to avoid region mismatch errors. Codes arrive via email within minutes.
- Redeem the code on Steam after changing your region: The balance appears in local currency and stays locked to that region. When you switch regions again, you cannot access that currency.
- Load enough balance to cover the games you want immediately: Don’t leave significant amounts in regional wallets you might not use again.
Brazil maintains lower pricing on many titles. Poland typically runs 20-25% below US prices. Several Asian markets offer adjusted pricing. Eastern European stores often have competitive rates.
Argentina and Turkey no longer offer significant savings after Steam’s 2023 pricing overhaul. Those regions now use USD pricing that’s much closer to Western rates.
Want better gaming performance? Check our best VPN for gaming comparison.
Common Problems When Changing Steam Regions
Here are some of the most common problems you might face when changing Steam regions. I’ll also share some useful tips that could help you fix them.
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Steam won’t let me change regions | You haven’t physically relocated, don’t have a local payment method, or already changed regions within the last 3 months. Steam requires all three conditions. | Wait until all requirements are met. There’s no safe workaround. |
| Steam Wallet balance disappeared | The balance was automatically converted to the new region’s currency. | Nothing to do – conversion happens automatically at current exchange rates. |
| Some games aren’t showing in my new region | Regional licensing restrictions block certain titles in specific countries. Availability depends on the publisher. | Games you already own remain accessible. Unavailable titles simply won’t appear – no legitimate workaround. |
| Payment method keeps getting rejected | Your payment method doesn’t match the region you’re trying to use – Steam checks the issuing country. | Use a payment method issued in your new region or redeem regional Steam gift cards. |
Conclusion
Changing your Steam region opens up access to better pricing and region-exclusive content. The process is straightforward with the right tools.
You need a reliable VPN to change your IP address, regional gift cards for payment, and a billing address from your target country. The three-month cooldown means you’ll want to choose your region strategically.
NordVPN gives you access to 110+ countries with servers optimized for gaming performance. The NordLynx protocol keeps your connection fast while browsing different regional stores and downloading games.
Ready to explore regional Steam pricing? Grab NordVPN from our marketplace and start accessing better deals on your favorite games.
FAQs
Yes, you can change your Steam region to access different pricing by using a VPN, a billing address from your target country, and regional payment methods or gift cards. While this technically violates Steam’s Terms of Service, it’s a method people use to access regional pricing differences that can save up to 20-30% on games.
You can change your Steam region once every three months. Steam implemented this limitation to prevent users from rapidly switching between regions to exploit pricing differences. The restriction applies whether you’re legitimately relocating or attempting region changes. Plan your region updates carefully if you move frequently.
No, you will not lose your games if you change Steam regions. All purchased games remain in your library regardless of region changes. However, some games may become unavailable to download or play if they have strict regional licensing restrictions.
Yes, you need a VPN to change Steam region unless you’ve physically relocated to another country. A VPN changes your IP address to match your target region, which triggers Steam’s region update option during checkout. You’ll also need a billing address from that country and a payment method (regional gift cards work well).
Brazil, Poland, and some Asian markets offer prices typically 20-30% below US rates. Steam adjusted regional pricing significantly in 2023 when Argentina and Turkey switched to USD pricing, reducing the massive discounts those regions previously offered. Eastern European countries also maintain competitive pricing.
