Do you want to download apps that are not yet released in the Netherlands, but for example in the United States? In this article we explain how to do that.
Download US apps
Overall, the App Store is pretty well handled in terms of global releases, but sometimes apps are released first in a few countries. This can be for various reasons, for example because the app has not yet been localized or because it concerns a service that has not yet been rolled out here. It can also be a soft launch as a test, which will only be rolled out in other countries at a later date.
However, you can install these kinds of apps on your phone, only with a foreign Apple ID. We explain how to do this below.
Download foreign apps for free
If you only want to download free apps, you don’t need a foreign credit card. In the step-by-step plan below we explain how to create an American account, but it also works with other countries. In most cases, however, an American and Dutch account is enough to download almost all apps.
This is how you create a foreign Apple ID
- Go to Apple’s Apple ID page (link) and click on ‘Create your Apple ID’
- Enter your details on the next screen and choose United States as the country
- Now it is important to enter an e-mail address and password, these must not be linked to an Apple ID. Then you answer the security questions and enter a date of birth;
- At the next screen, choose ‘None’ under Payment Type;
- Then enter name and address, with a foreign account you have to search for an address in the country concerned, for example a restaurant or head office;
- Once you have entered everything, go ahead and confirm the account via the link in your mailbox.
Now you have created a new account. You can use this to log in to your iOS device via ‘Settings> iTunes & App Store> Apple ID’. Tap ‘Log out’ and log in with your other account. Then you go to the App Store to download free apps from abroad. They will continue to work even if you go back to your regular account.
Download paid apps
If you want to buy an app that costs money, you can also do so via the foreign App Store. Normally you do this with a foreign credit card, because a Dutch one is not accepted. If you don’t have one, you will have to make do with foreign iTunes credit.
You can find gift cards from iTunes (for your country of choice) on various websites. If you want to buy an American app, you do need American credit. You can get this from an American Apple Store or from merchants on the internet. For example, credit cards can be found on eBay. Be careful not to get ripped off.
You can enter credit via iTunes. You then choose ‘Redeem’ at the bottom of the app (under Manage). Then you enter the code and you can make purchases.