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riverevir
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Apple ID App Store region change to China requires +86 phone number

I’m trying to change my existing Apple Account’s App Store region to mainland China. Previously, I could switch without verifying a mainland Chinese phone number. Today, the process requires +86 phone-number verification and I cannot proceed.

I live overseas and do not have a mainland Chinese phone number. This concerns changing the region of an existing account, rather than creating a new account.

Could someone clarify:

  • Is this an intended requirement or a fault in the region-change process?
  • If enforcement has changed, when did this happen?
  • Is there an alternative verification method for overseas users without a +86 number?

The current process leaves me unable to complete the change, and I would appreciate an officially supported solution. :)

Posted on Nov 8, 2026 10:55 AM

4 replies

riverevir Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Nov 9, 2026 2:32 PM in response to riverevir

replying to this to answer the question as I have gathered the feedbacks from the official support team:


I contacted Apple Support and spoke with a human advisor. They said the +86 phone-number verification requirement when switching an existing Apple Account to mainland China is intentional, rather than a technical fault. No alternative verification method was offered for overseas users without a mainland Chinese number.

However, they could not confirm when enforcement changed. When I suggested early October, the advisor replied that this was “very probably” the case, but provided no supporting evidence. That date therefore remains unconfirmed.

I explained that I had previously switched from the UK to China without this verification and requested clearer advance notice within the region-change process. Having information in a support article does not give users the same opportunity to prepare as a warning before they proceed.

I asked for this feedback to be passed to the team responsible for App Store region changes, but have not yet received confirmation that it was escalated.

riverevir Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Nov 9, 2026 2:46 PM in response to Chattanoogan

thanks, the better route is actually contacting apple support directly and talk to a human agent: https://getsupport.apple.com/products under the apple store, this is now resolved

Chattanoogan
User level: Level 8 (43,489 points)

Nov 8, 2026 12:32 PM in response to riverevir

FYI, you’re only addressing fellow Apple users in this community, not “Official” Apple Support; so AFAIK, no one here will be able to give you an “official” answer or reference.


Presumably, if you’re being asked, it IS required. As to “who” might be requiring it; I personally could only offer conjecture.


Perhaps another member might have more substantive information or experiences to share ???


All I can offer is to refer you to Official Apple Support. Sorry.


https://support.apple.com/





Limnos
User level: Level 10 (462,771 points)

Nov 8, 2026 2:32 PM in response to riverevir

I live overseas


That could be the problem. You're only supposed to use a store's country if you actually reside there.

https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/us/terms.html

- A. ”Our Services are available for your use in your country of residence (“Home Country”). By creating an account [or seeing your account to a country] for use of the Services in a particular country or territory you are specifying it as your Home Country.


Apple does not outline the criteria for setting an account to a country other than those in: https://support.apple.com/118283 However, if you are being asked to provide a telephone number in China that that may be one of them, presumably to authenticate your setting China as your Home Country.




Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256390927