If you want cheaper games, better streaming, and sooner releases on PS4 and PS5, you have to change your PSN region. It’s not even that hard. You only need a VPN and a few minutes to set everything up. Here’s what you’ll have to do:
- Get a VPN. NordVPN is the best option for changing your PSN location.
- Install the VPN app. You can either install the VPN on your router, or turn your computer into a virtual router.
- Connect to a VPN server in the country you want to change regions.
- (Optional) Go to the regional version of Amazon and get a gift card. You’ll need this if you want to buy any games from the PSN in your new account.
- Turn your PlayStation on.
- Create a new account in your desired region. Unfortunately, you can’t change regions on your existing account.
- Enjoy your PS4 or PS5 as if you were in a different region.
A lot of VPNs can technically work for this, but we’ve tested NordVPN extensively, and always had success using it with a PS4 or PS5. Plus, if you subscribe now, you can get a discount.
NordVPN
For more details, read our full article below.
Your PlayStation Network (PSN) account region has a huge impact on what you can play. Game offers, discounts, sales, and even multimedia content vary across regions.
For example, when we wrote this article, “Plants vs. Zombies: Battle For Neighborville” was heavily discounted in some regions, like Eastern Europe. However, if you live in places like Germany, the US, or the UK, you can’t take advantage of that discount — unless you change your PlayStation region.
If you want to know how to change your PSN country, you’re in the right spot. Read this article, and you’ll be able to unlock newly released games sooner, buy games cheaper, and access more content on your PlayStation!
How to Change Your PlayStation Region With a VPN
Your PSN region is locked when you create an account. You can’t just open account settings on the PlayStation website and change it.
Luckily, you can create a new account in a different region. Here’s how to change your PSN location.
- Get a VPN service. We recommend NordVPN. You can create a new account without a VPN, but you’ll need one to pay for games or access exclusive content in a different region.
- Install the VPN app. Here’s a detailed guide on how to install the VPN on your router. We’ll also offer more details below.
- Connect to a server in the country where you can get good PS deals. Places like Turkey or Argentina are a good start.
- Turn on your PlayStation console.
- Create a new PSN account. Make sure to choose the same PlayStation network region in the account creation process.
- Enjoy PSN deals as if you were in that country!
Warning:
Make sure you’re connected to a VPN server in your country of choice when logging into your new PSN account. Otherwise, you might not be able to make use of your account.
When changing your PlayStation region, you want a VPN that has fast, reliable servers across the world, so you can use any country’s IP address! Our VPN of choice, NordVPN, has 6441 servers in over 111 countries. What’s more, it’s the fastest VPN on the market today! Use our link below to get it for 72% off!
However, there are a few caveats to changing your PlayStation region. First, know that you won’t be able to make purchases with your normal credit card for games on this new PSN account. When you change PSN region, you’ll need a payment method from the country you signed up from. You can buy gift cards from that specific region on Amazon or other similar platforms.
Second, installing a VPN on your router is pretty difficult. But if you want to play any online games, we highly recommend you do it. It’ll give you the best VPN connection speeds and allow for lag-free gaming. We provide a detailed guide in the section below.
How to Install a VPN on Your Console
You can’t install VPN apps directly on PS4 and PS5 consoles. However, you can install them on your router for maximum connection speed. Alternatively, you can connect your Windows/macOS device to the internet with an ethernet cable and turn it into a virtual router. I’ll show you how to do all of these.
Installing a PS4 VPN on your router
Installing a VPN on your router can be complicated. But if you’re a bit tech-inclined, here’s what you’ll have to do:
- Download the DD-WRT version for your router. This is the firmware required to install OpenVPN-compatible apps on your router.
- Install DD-WRT on your writer via the Web-GUI.
- Restart your router.
- Open your router’s settings.
- Click on “Services,” then open the “VPN” category.
- Fill in the details from your VPN of choice.
- Click on “Apply Settings.”
This is a simplified version of the installation process. If you need more details, read our comprehensive guide on how to install a VPN on your router.
Turning your Windows PC into a virtual router with an ethernet cable
A much easier way to use a PlayStation VPN is to install the app on your Windows PC. You will need an ethernet port and cable, though! If you have both, here’s what you need to do:
- Get a reputable VPN app like NordVPN.
- Connect to the internet via your ethernet cable.
- Install the VPN app on your Windows PC.
- Open the search bar and type “cmd” to open Command Prompt.
- Copy this: netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=XXXXX key=YYYY
- Instead of XXXXX and YYYY, write your desired network name and password.
- Paste the line into Command Prompt, then hit Enter.
- Activate the connection by typing “netsh wlan start hostednetwork” and pressing Enter. This turns your Windows PC into a virtual router.
- Open your PS4 or PS5.
- Connect to the newly created network.
We also have a detailed guide on how to install a VPN on Windows to create a virtual router.
Turning your macOS device into a virtual router with an ethernet cable
You will need an ethernet cable to turn your macOS device into a virtual router. If your device doesn’t have an ethernet port, make sure you get an adapter beforehand. That’s usually the case for MacBook Air devices. If you have everything you need, here’s how to turn your macOS device into a virtual router:
- Subscribe to a VPN provider. NordVPN works great for PlayStation consoles.
- Download and install the VPN app. If you’re not sure how, read our quick guide to installing a VPN on Mac.
- Connect to the internet with the LAN cable.
- Open the VPN app.
- Connect to a server in the country you want to get PSN deals or content. Turkey or Argentina are good starting points.
- Open “System Preferences,” and click on “Sharing.”
- Open the dropdown button next to “Share your connection from.” Choose ethernet if you plugged the cable straight in. Choose USB if you used an adapter.
- Under the “To computers using” menu option, click on “Choose Wi-Fi.”
- You will be prompted to set-up a connection. Pick any name and password you want. This will create a virtual router.
- Open your PS4 or PS5 console.
- Connect to the virtual router you just created.
For a complete guide, check out our article on how to set up a virtual router on macOS.
You can technically use an Android device or an iPhone to create a virtual router. But we don’t recommend you do that. You risk incurring data fees, depending on the deal you have with your ISP. Plus, mobile connections are usually pretty slow. You’ll have a hard time downloading games or playing anything online.
Using a VPN router to change PlayStation region
If you don’t want to bother setting up a VPN on your router or other devices, you can buy a VPN router. These devices come with a VPN already installed on them, so they’re very easy to use with PlayStation consoles, smart TVs, and other devices that don’t support VPN apps natively.
We reviewed all the best VPN routers on the market right now, and we recommend you get the ASUS RT-AX86U. It’s one of the fastest VPN routers and has Wi-Fi 6 support, plus extra features for gaming.
How to Buy Games from Another Country’s PlayStation Store
Sony only lets you pay with cards or PayPal accounts registered in your official PSN region. So even if you change your account’s region, you can’t use your card in a different PSN region.
Don’t worry, you can still buy games on your new account. You’ll just have to use PlayStation gift cards to circumvent this restriction. Here’s how:
- Download a VPN on your PC, macOS device, or mobile phone. NordVPN is a great choice because it has servers in over 111 countries.
- Connect to a server in the country you want to pay from.
- Go to Amazon’s site from that country. For example, if you want to take advantage of German PSN deals, go to amazon.de. If you don’t want to use Amazon, you can try other gift card resellers.
- Search for PSN gift cards from the same region.
- Buy a gift card with any payment method. Make sure its value covers the cost of the game.
- The gift card will come with a code. You’ll have to redeem it.
- Open your PS4 or PS5 console. Don’t forget to be connected to the right server!
- Browse the PSN store and add the games you want to your cart.
- At checkout, you will be prompted for a payment method.
- Choose “Gift Card.”
- Fill in the code you got when purchasing a gift card.
You will now be able to download the game!
Why Do You Need a VPN for PlayStation?
You need a VPN with your PlayStation to change PSN region on PS4 or PS5 and unlock great deals!
Each PSN region is in charge of offering discounts and promoting their PlayStation Store however they see fit. As such, deals and exclusives are often region-locked. Your favorite PlayStation games might be at a 90% discount in the US, but it won’t matter if you don’t live there.
For example, here’s a massive discount for Plants vs. Zombies in Eastern Europe, and no mention of it in the US:
A virtual private network will change your IP address, making it look like you’re browsing the web from a different country. With this, you can then create a new PSN account in any region you want. Plus, you can use the PSN streaming feature from anywhere.
However, a VPN has more benefits than just that. It can help you access games faster if an upcoming title has different release dates across the globe. Not to mention, a VPN boosts your online protection, keeping you safe from DDoS attacks, doxxing, and other cyber threats.
Furthermore, it can help you unblock geo-restricted content from streaming platforms like Netflix.
Top 3 Best VPNs to Change Your PS4 or PS5 Region
VPNs may look similar to the untrained eye, but there are a lot of important differences between the major providers. Some apps are much easier to install on routers and can change your PS4 or PS5 region more easily. Others are faster or have better network coverage.
You don’t have to research all VPN providers because we did the work for you. We regularly test 80+ VPN providers to see which one is best for PlayStation consoles. These are our top 3 picks:
1. NordVPN: The best VPN for PS4 and PS5
Features:
- Fastest VPN connection speeds according to our comprehensive tests
- 6441 servers in 111 countries
- Unlimited bandwidth for stress-free gaming
- SmartDNS for easier streaming on your console
NordVPN tops our list of the best PlayStation VPNs thanks to its speed. When we tested this VPN, we only lost about 5-10 Mbps of speed on nearby servers. With a base speed of 100 Mbps, we still had more than enough to play competitive online shooters. It performed well even on faraway servers, so you can use it to get bot lobbies on games like Overwatch or Call of Duty.
This amazing performance would be enough on its own to skyrocket NordVPN to the top of our list. But this provider has way more to offer. NordVPN has military-grade encryption to protect you from DDoS attacks or doxxing. If you’re streaming from your PS4 or PS5, that’s crucial protection against online threats.
Last but not least, NordVPN can help unblock geo-restricted games and shows. If you want to change your PS4 or PS5 region with relative ease, we wholeheartedly recommend this VPN. They even offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and an exclusive 72% discount.
If you need more information, read our in-depth NordVPN review.
2. ExpressVPN: Excellent PS4 VPN with easy router set-up
Features:
- Unique, easy set-up process on routers
- Over thousands of servers in 105 countries
- Protects from DDoS attacks, doxxing, and more
- Unlimited bandwidth to play without lag
If you’re sure you want to install your PlayStation VPN on your router, ExpressVPN is a great option. It comes with special firmware that makes it easy to install on routers, making the process much easier.
ExpressVPN is also fast. In our tests, we connected to different ExpressVPN servers in nearby countries and only got 5-11 ms of ping. Even on faraway servers, the performance was decent.
ExpressVPN is also a good choice if you want top-tier protection from DNS leaks, DDoS attacks, or doxxing. Just be ready to pay up. ExpressVPN is a bit more expensive than your average VPN provider. Luckily, you can use our link to get an exclusive 49% discount and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Not sure if it’s worth the asking price? Check out our detailed ExpressVPN review.
3. CyberGhost: PS VPN with dedicated gaming servers
Features:
- Dedicated gaming servers to boost your performance
- Over 11700+ servers in 100 countries
- Protects against online threats, which is crucial for streamers
- Decent connection speeds
If you have a good base connection speed (over 100 Mbps), you won’t have any problems playing games on your PlayStation while you’re connected to CyberGhost’s standard servers.
And if you ever need a boost in performance, you can connect to CyberGhost’s dedicated gaming servers. These are optimized for playing games online, so you shouldn’t experience any lag. Switching PS4 or PS5 regions with CyberGhost is also incredibly easy.
On top of these features, CyberGhost is also a smart pick thanks to its security infrastructure. It offers complete protection against various online threats, including DDoS attacks or doxxing. If you’re a streamer and you’re worried about these threats, CyberGhost can keep you safe. Best of all, CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee and a massive discount.
Read our CyberGhost review to get in-depth information about testing and performance.
How We Picked the Best VPN for PS4 and PS5
A good VPN can augment your PS4 or PS5 experience. But not all of them will be fast enough, or warrant the high asking price. So here’s what we considered when researching and testing the VPNs for this list:
- Speed: A good PS4 or PS5 VPN needs to be fast enough for lag-free online gaming.
- Ease of installation: Since PlayStation consoles don’t support native VPN apps, we took into account a VPN’s ease of installation on routers.
- Server network: If you want access to the best PSN deals, you need a VPN with a large server network.
- Unblocking history: We prioritized VPNs that have historically circumvented any regional restrictions.
Can You Use a Free VPN for PS4 and PS5?
It’s hard to use a free VPN with PS4 and PS5 because most free VPNs can’t be installed on routers. And even if you use a service that can be installed on a router, we don’t recommend it. Free VPNs have slow connection speeds due to crowded servers.
While free VPNs can help if you want to hide your identity when browsing, their bandwidth limits mean you can’t play games with them, especially on multiplayer.
Moreover, free VPNs usually log your data, exposing you to a lot of privacy and security risks. If money’s tight, we recommend a cheap VPN instead. For example, CyberGhost is only $ 2.19 per month, and it comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee. That means you can try it for a month and a half before committing to a long-term plan. Get it today:
Conclusion: Changing Your PSN Region
Getting cheap and awesome games has never been easier on your PS4 or PS5. If you have a VPN and some time to spare, you can change your PSN region and unlock amazing deals from across the globe. Just don’t forget to buy games with gift cards and check for different deals before making a decision.
And if you don’t have a VPN, we recommend you pick NordVPN. It’s the fastest VPN on the market right now, it’s affordable, and it’s very easy to use. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a massive discount:
If you want the scoop on smart and private gaming, also read our articles on:
- The Best Antivirus for Gaming: Our Top 3 Picks
- The Best Gaming VPN: Our 5 Top-Level Picks
- How to Remove a Fortnite IP Ban: Five Easy Fixes
Changing regions on PlayStation can be difficult, especially if you want to buy games from a completely different PlayStation Network. If you need some help check out the FAQ section below, or leave us a comment!
Yes, you can change the region on your PS4 or PS5. You’ll need to create a new PSN account, and select the region you want the PSN account to be in. To make sure everything goes smoothly, you might also want to invest in a good VPN.
You can’t install a VPN directly on your PS4 or PS5. However, you can install the VPN on your router. This way, when you connect your PlayStation to your Wi-Fi network, it’ll look as if you’re browsing from a different country.
You can’t use a VPN on your PlayStation. That’s because free VPNs can’t usually be installed on your router, so you won’t be able to connect your PS4 or PS5 to the free VPN. Even if you somehow set up a connection, free VPNs are slow, which isn’t ideal for gaming.
No, a PS4 or PS5 console isn’t locked to a specific region. You can connect dozens of accounts, all from different regions, on the same console. However, your new PSN account’s region is locked the moment you sign up.
Region-locked games aren’t as common today as they used to be a decade ago. But yes, you can access games that are region-locked on PS4 or PS5. You’ll just need to get a PS VPN, change your IP address, and create a new PSN account.
