"Moving" to US with Apple ID

[Fabian90]

Hey there, I got a question:

I'm from Germany and I like my Apple ID, it has my name and it is my primary email - I want to keep it.
What I don't like is for example purchasing movies in the German iTunes Store: I watch my movies in its original language and last week I bought the Star Wars movies. I was extremely disappointed when I saw, that the running yellow intro text was German although I had the language set to English! I also miss lots of stuff on the German store, like the Star Trek shows for example. The 'masters' for the image seem to be German and often they don't have any second language and so on. Prices are cheaper aswell in the US...

My question now is:

Can I "move" with my exisiting Apple ID to the US if I change the billing address without too many problems?
I understand, that my former purchases (not too many which I need except Logic Pro X) won't show up as purchased (correct?). I would probably have to get US iTunes gift cards (not a big deal).

My devices, Siri etc is set to English anyway. If i downloaded my purchased movies and apps before, would they still work? Because they are registered to my Apple ID anyway?

Has anyone here done that before and could help me before this kinda big step?
Thanks!

 

[Rigby]

You won't be able to redownload items purchased from the German store if you change the region (see here). I'm not sure if already downloaded files would still play.

Another alternative is to simply create a second iTunes account just for downloading english-language movies, and keep using your existing one for everything else. Also keep in mind that some content available in the German store is not available in the US as well (not just movies, but also music and TV shows).

 

[Fabian90]

Thanks for your reply. I won't miss stuff from the German iTunes Store... I don't need old music to play, I use Apple Music anyway so I can just add the songs. But I do not need a VPN or so to rent movies or play my Apple Music stuff, correct?

 

[Rigby]

Thanks for your reply. I won't miss stuff from the German iTunes Store... I don't need old music to play, I use Apple Music anyway so I can just add the songs.

Careful, the available songs in Apple Music also differ between countries due to local licensing. You also cannot change the country while you have an active Apple Music subscription (see here).

But I do not need a VPN or so to rent movies or play my Apple Music stuff, correct?

Apple doesn't use geoblocking for movies. I'm not entirely sure about Apple Music (because I don't use it), but it's probably the same.

 

[Fabian90]

Most of my music is stored locally in Apple lossless format anyway.

You can't imagine how bad the iTunes Store's content here is for me

I wanna watch movies in the original language and there's always the language missing or it uses the German master, apps and games are not available and so on.

I already set my iCloud storage and Apple Music subscriptions to not extend automatically.

The catalogue for movies and music is much bigger in the US, excited how it is gonna be

 

[Rigby]

Most of my music is stored locally in Apple lossless format anyway.

You can't imagine how bad the iTunes Store's content here is for me

I wanna watch movies in the original language and there's always the language missing or it uses the German master, apps and games are not available and so on.

I know exactly what you mean. A few years ago I moved back from Germany to the US after having lived there for years. Still, I kept my German account and occasionally still use it to purchase stuff that isn't available in the US store (mostly German music and a Hoerspiel here and there). I also still use a number of apps that I purchased from the German store back then. It's really not a big deal to use two accounts in parallel.

 

[Tech198]

I prefer U.S.. That's how i do it... Two itunes accounts...

but the only problem with that is u have a situation when all your hardware devices are locked in for 90 days if u buy from different countries with the same computer/device.I think i'm down to about 1 device i can still transfer, but all other Mac's/iPhone and iPad are all locked.

Apple has you locked in. They really like to control you.

 

[Fabian90]

Tried it today, ran into a big problem. I couldn't add my visa. Will a visa gift card work (US issued) work? I heard there are some which you can register with an address. Anyone tried it?

 

[Erdbeertorte]

Tried it today, ran into a big problem. I couldn't add my visa. Will a visa gift card work (US issued) work? I heard there are some which you can register with an address. Anyone tried it?

If you want to create an new Apple-ID without choosing a payment method you have to "buy" a free app in the US Store before.

And you are not able to change the country of your German ID until your Apple Music subscription has expired.

 

[Isamilis]

I would suggest to setup call with Apple support. I have problem with my apple id few times, and they provide a good solution (most of them are the solution that I want).

Hey there, I got a question:

I'm from Germany and I like my Apple ID, it has my name and it is my primary email - I want to keep it.
What I don't like is for example purchasing movies in the German iTunes Store: I watch my movies in its original language and last week I bought the Star Wars movies. I was extremely disappointed when I saw, that the running yellow intro text was German although I had the language set to English! I also miss lots of stuff on the German store, like the Star Trek shows for example. The 'masters' for the image seem to be German and often they don't have any second language and so on. Prices are cheaper aswell in the US...

My question now is:

Can I "move" with my exisiting Apple ID to the US if I change the billing address without too many problems?
I understand, that my former purchases (not too many which I need except Logic Pro X) won't show up as purchased (correct?). I would probably have to get US iTunes gift cards (not a big deal).

My devices, Siri etc is set to English anyway. If i downloaded my purchased movies and apps before, would they still work? Because they are registered to my Apple ID anyway?

Has anyone here done that before and could help me before this kinda big step?
Thanks!

 

[Tech198]

Tried it today, ran into a big problem. I couldn't add my visa. Will a visa gift card work (US issued) work? I heard there are some which you can register with an address. Anyone tried it?

for 'free' apps only yes. I don't think you can use store credit for app purchases but u can with Apple music and iTues match in the U.S (requires CC on file first for Match) as that's how i've done it.

I don't have a U.S Credit card, but if u have a U.S prepaid visa (must be U.S issued like those from USUnlocked.com), then yes, it will work, but u may have to update address to a U.S one....

This is how i got round and purchased iTunes match in U.S


Correct on the geo-block too... Apple never used geo-blocking period.... as i use Apple music in U.S with Match and works just fine.