How to Install a Regionally Restricted App from the Microsoft Store on Windows 10

If an app is missing from Microsoft Store because it is not offered in your current country or region, Windows 10 lets you change the Store region through Settings. This is useful when your PC is set to the wrong region or when you have moved to a country where the app is officially available. You do not need to turn off automatic date, time, or time-zone settings just to change the Microsoft Store region.

There is an important limitation: changing the Windows region changes which Store catalog you see, but it does not override a publisher's licensing, account, billing, device, or service restrictions. Microsoft also recommends changing your country or region only when you are moving to a new region for an extended period. See Microsoft's country and region guidance.

Windows 10 support note: Microsoft ended free Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 still works, but Microsoft recommends moving to Windows 11 or using an eligible Extended Security Updates option if you must remain on Windows 10. Details are available on the Windows 10 end-of-support page.

Before you change the Microsoft Store region

• Confirm which country or region the app publisher officially supports.
• Sign in to Microsoft Store with the Microsoft account you normally use for apps and purchases.
• If the app is paid, be prepared for region-specific billing requirements. Microsoft notes that payment methods are not supported equally in every region, and changing account country may require new billing information.
• Remember that Microsoft account funds do not transfer between regions.

How to install a regionally restricted Microsoft Store app on Windows 10

1. Open the Windows 10 region settings. Select Start > Settings > Time & Language. You do not need to modify the clock or disable automatic time settings.

   

2. Choose the correct country or region. Select Region, then open Country or region and choose the country where the app is officially offered. This is the Windows 10 path documented by Microsoft.

   

3. Reopen Microsoft Store and install the app. Close Microsoft Store if it was already running, open it again, and make sure you are signed in. Search for the app or reopen its official Microsoft Store listing. If the app is available for your account and device, select Get or Install.

   

4. Keep your region accurate after installation. If you changed the setting because you permanently moved, leave it set to your actual new region. If you were correcting a temporary misconfiguration, you can switch back later. Be aware that apps, games, subscriptions, movies, and account balance can behave differently across regions.

If Microsoft Store still shows the old region

First close and reopen Microsoft Store. If the catalog still does not refresh, Microsoft recommends resetting the Store cache with wsreset.exe:

1. Press Windows key + R.
2. Type wsreset.exe and select OK.
3. A blank Command Prompt window may appear briefly. Microsoft Store should then reopen automatically.

This cache-reset procedure is documented on Microsoft Support.

Why the app may still be unavailable

A region setting is only one reason an app may be missing. According to Microsoft's Store installation guidance, an app may also be hidden or blocked because it has been removed, is incompatible with your device, is restricted by Microsoft Family settings, or your PC is not authorized for Store content.

Paid apps can add another hurdle. When you make a first purchase in a new locale, Microsoft may ask you to update billing information. A payment method from one country may not be valid in another, so changing the Windows region does not guarantee that a purchase will complete.

Will changing the region make the app work after installation?

Not necessarily. The Windows setting controls the Store catalog and regional experience; the app itself can still enforce its own availability rules. A streaming, banking, media, or subscription app may check your account country, service area, licensing rights, or other eligibility requirements after installation.

For that reason, treat a region change as a way to correct the Microsoft Store region when it does not match your legitimate location, not as a guarantee that every geographically limited app will work. If an app remains unavailable after the region is correct, check the publisher's official availability requirements rather than changing the system clock or relying on unsupported workarounds.