The easiest way to change your Steam location is to use a top-tier VPN. It’s a simple app that makes it seem like you’re in a different location by replacing your actual IP address with one from another country. This way, you won’t have to worry about not having access to the games you own at home, or buying games at higher prices. My team and I tried over 100 VPNs, and my favorite one for Steam is ExpressVPN. It has thousands of servers worldwide to let you change your Steam location from anywhere. You can even test all of ExpressVPN’s features risk-free since it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it’s not for you, then you can request a refund. Change Your Steam Region Today! Important! Using a VPN to access geo-restricted content or to purchase content in a currency that doesn’t match your geographical location goes against Steam’s Subscriber Agreement. While a VPN can help you change your Steam region, please be advised that Valve reserves the right to terminate your account for breaking these terms.
Why You Need a VPN to Change Your Steam Region
Using a VPN to change your Steam region will let you access geo-restricted content. Certain games on Steam are exclusive to different regions, which can be identified by tags. You’ll get this message whenever you try to access your home country’s content abroad.
An additional problem occurs when using a network that has banned Steam, such as a library, workplace, or school. A VPN bypasses restrictions by redirecting your internet connection through a different server. For example, if you connect to a US server, it will seem as if you’re using Steam from the US, which will give you access to content specific to that region. Just be aware that if you want to make any purchases after you change your Steam location, your payment method must match the Steam region you have chosen. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Today!
How to Change Your Steam Region and Not Get Banned
To change your Steam region, you’ll need to make a purchase using a payment method from the country you want to change to. This can no longer be done directly from your settings without making a purchase.
Best VPNs to Change Your Steam Region in 2023
1. ExpressVPN — Easily Change Your Steam Region and Game Lag-Free
Changing your Steam region with ExpressVPN is very easy and can be done in just a couple of clicks. All you need to do is connect to one of its servers in the country of your choice and then go to your Steam account to change your region. ExpressVPN’s impressive speeds will let you play Steam games without Lag. I got the fastest connections using its proprietary Lightway protocol, which uses less code. During my tests, I recorded an average download speed above 100 Mbps on its US servers, far away from my location. Multiplayer gaming requires around 50 Mbps, so this was more than enough. Additionally, the VPN can increase your speed by hiding your online activity from your ISP and preventing throttling. You’ll be well protected from online dangers with its security features while gaming on Steam. ExpressVPN’s AES 256-bit encryption makes it impossible for malicious parties to intercept your connection and target you with DDoS attacks. Meanwhile, its kill switch called Network Lock cuts off your internet connection should it unexpectedly drop. This stops your data from leaking accidentally. It also adheres to a strict no-logs policy and hides your real IP address so that you can game privately on Steam. The benefit is that ExpressVPN makes it impossible for your ISP or government to collect data about you, which means they can’t sell it to advertisers. And with the added privacy, it makes it more difficult for third parties to know what you do on Steam. The only downside to ExpressVPN is that its pricing plans are pretty expensive, starting at $6.67/month. However, you can get it with a 49% discount when you sign up for its yearly plan which also includes 3 months of free access. If you’re not happy with it, you can always request a refund within 30 days. When I tested this claim, all I had to do was get in contact with its support team through the 24/7 live chat available on the website. The agent asked me a few user satisfaction questions, but he approved my request after a 10 minutes chat. I had my money back within 3 days. Change Your Steam Region Today
2. CyberGhost — Huge Server Network That Lets You Easily Change Steam Region
With 9,074 servers in 90 countries, CyberGhost gives you plenty of options to change your Steam region. During my tests, I successfully changed mine to the US by connecting to a US server. I could access US packages for Age of Empires 2, and my currency changed to the US dollar. Gaming on its servers was smooth, as I didn’t experience any lag. Even though it’s slower than ExpressVPN, its fast speeds allow you to play your favorite Steam games on long-distance servers. My connection was stable even when using servers thousands of miles away. Each server also displays its load (the percentage of people using the server at any given time), making it easy for you to pick the fastest one — fever users means less chance of congestion. My ping remained low (less than 100ms) as I played Age of Empires 2 on a US server. Your connection and data will be protected when gaming on Steam, as CyberGhost has top-notch privacy and security features. Its AES 256-bit encryption is the strongest available and is used by leading security agencies to protect sensitive data. Also, it lets you choose from several advanced protocols, which provide different balances of speed and security. Plus, it won’t share your data with anyone, as none gets collected in the first place, thanks to its strict no-logs policy. Where CyberGhost falls short is its short-term plans, which are quite expensive. A much better idea is to subscribe to its 2-year plan, which is the cheapest at $2.11/month. In addition to having all of CyberGhost’s features, it comes with an extended money-back guarantee (14 days vs 45). The 45-day money-back guarantee lets you test it out for free. I went on its website and contacted a customer support rep through its live chat. The conversation was friendly, and the agent only wanted to know why I didn’t need the VPN anymore. After 10 minutes of chatting, he approved my claim and sent me the refund. I had all my money back in 4 business days. Change Your Steam Region Today
3. Private Internet Access — Customizable Security Features That Enhance Safety on Steam
Private Internet Access (PIA) has customizable security features that keep you more secure on Steam. You can choose between AES 128 and AES 256-bit encryption and from several advanced protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. This lets you find the right balance of speed and security for your online gaming needs. Its massive server network of 29,650 servers in 84 countries provides plenty of choice for changing your Steam region. When I tested one of its UK servers, I could easily move my Steam region to the UK and purchase games only available there. With PIA’s thousands of servers, you also won’t have to deal with an overcrowded network, so you can expect decent speeds for gaming. Servers are organized by latency, making it easy to find one best suited for gaming. I didn’t experience any slowdown or lag while gaming on PIA’s short-distance servers in Australia. My download speed averaged 117.3 Mbps, which is only 2.1 Mbps slower than CyberGhosts’s average speeds. However, its long-distance servers in the US and UK proved unreliable as I couldn’t game on them, probably due to the distance. What initially concerned me with PIA was its US home base, part of the 14-Eyes Alliance. This alliance collects and shares user data with each other. However, its no-logs policy eased my concerns around this since none of your data is stored, so PIA could never share it anyway. The cheapest plan is the 3-year plan at $2.03/month, which has no restriction on features. Its 1-year plan is more affordable than the monthly plan, which means that the long-term subscriptions offer the best value. What’s different with PIA is that it offers an antivirus or a dedicated IP with each subscription plan with just a small addition to the regular prices. This is non-compulsory, but it’s always good to have more options to further strengthen your online security. It’s also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, which lets you test all of PIA’s features for free. On day 30, I asked the live chat team to cancel my subscription. All I had to do was provide my reason, and after 4 business days, I got my money back. Change Your Steam Region Today
4. NordVPN — User-Friendly Interface That’s Perfectly Suited for VPN Beginners
NordVPN is easy to use and compatible with most devices — ideal for beginners and advanced users. It even works on routers — this is great if you want to play Steam games on consoles like Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch. Setting up NordVPN on your router means any WiFi-connected device can use the VPN to change your Steam region. It took me only 10 minutes to install it on my TP-Link router during my tests. There are several security protocols, but its proprietary NordLynx protocol maintains fast speed while keeping you safe when gaming on Steam. I didn’t experience any noticeable delays when using NordLynx to play Apex Legends after changing my Steam region. Additionally, its automatic kill switch cuts off your internet connection if your VPN malfunctions. It also follows a strict no-logs policy that hides all your online activity from your ISP. You can also enjoy secure virtual LAN parties with NordVPN’s Meshnet feature, which lets you link multiple devices remotely and access them over an encrypted network. To test this feature, I played Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory on Steam with 8 friends, and it felt like we were playing in the same room. All 8 devices connected seamlessly despite being in different locations. My only issue with the VPN is that it took a while to connect to a server. Luckily, this is quickly resolved when restarting the app, so this shouldn’t be a problem. There are three different subscriptions, with the lowest starting at $3.29/month. However, the pricier Complete plan comes with 1TB of free cloud storage, a password manager, and a data breach scanner. A 30-day money-back guarantee is also supported on all plans. So, if you’re not impressed, you can claim a full refund via 24/7 live chat. When I did this, I had to answer a few simple questions, after which the support agent processed my claim. I received a full reimbursement in my PayPal account after 5 days. Change Your Steam Region Today
5. Surfshark — Many Simultaneous Device Connections for Gaming on Steam
Surfshark allows unlimited device connections, so you can connect it to all your gaming (and non-gaming) devices. I connected 7 devices simultaneously during my tests and changed my Steam region on my Mac. Right after that, I started playing Age of Empires 2. I then signed into my Steam account on my Windows laptop and played the same game. None of my devices slowed down at all, and gaming felt no different from having 1 device connected. Its Camouflage mode is handy when you want to play Steam games on restrictive networks, like at school or work. This feature uses obfuscation technology to mask your VPN traffic as normal internet traffic, making it even harder for networks (and Steam) to detect that you’re using a VPN. Surfshark’s NoBorders further helps by providing a list of servers that work best under network restrictions. While it’s not as fast as ExpressVPN or CyberGhost, Surfshark’s speeds are good enough for gaming without delays, especially when you use the “Fastest Location” feature. My gameplay was remarkably smooth when I tested Surfshark while connected to the fastest location. The ping was notably higher, but it didn’t cause any lag, even when playing Counter-Strike. I was concerned that Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands, a 14 Eyes Alliance country — a group of countries that share data on its citizens. However, its strict no logs policy and RAM-only servers (wipes all data with every reboot) mean your personal information remains private. Surfshark’s long-term plans start at $2.30/month and include a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, you can get a full refund if you’re not 100% happy with it. Change Your Steam Region Today
Quick Comparison Table: Steam VPN Features
Tips on Choosing the Best VPN for Steam
When choosing a Steam VPN, you need one that lets you change your Steam region to your desired country and supports high-speed gaming. All the VPNs on this list provide servers worldwide and low ping. However, if you want to test VPNs yourself, here are the key factors I looked at:
Global server locations. A VPN with a worldwide network allows you to easily connect to a server in your home country to access your Steam account abroad. Fast speeds and low ping. The wrong VPN can significantly increase lag and affect your gameplay. So, choose a VPN that won’t compromise your speed — a ping of less than 100ms is ideal for fast-paced gaming. Strong security features. Look for a VPN that has AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and follows a no-logs policy to protect you from DDoS attacks and keep your online activity private. Easy to use PC apps. For the best gaming experience, ensure your VPN has user-friendly PC apps and can be installed on your router, so you can play Steam games on gaming consoles like Xbox and PlayStation. Trustworthy money-back guarantee. I made sure all my recommended VPNs have a reliable refund policy. You can try them out and get your money back if you’re unhappy with their performance.
Why can’t I change my Steam country or region?
Steam doesn’t allow you to change your location unless it detects a new IP address from a different country. In general, this happens due to licensing agreements and business deals – some game developers launch region-specific games and deals, for example. So, if you want to change your steam location, you’ll need to use a reliable VPN with servers in the country you want to access. Check whether your IP address has leaked if you still can’t change the Steam region. Make sure your VPN is active to prevent any accidental data exposure. You might also be unable to change your Steam country if you did it within the last 3 months. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait for the cooldown period to lapse before changing Steam download regions again.
Can Steam ban me for using a VPN?
VPNs go against Steam’s Subscriber Agreement, so you may get banned if you try to take advantage of the system. However, you can use a VPN to play games you own that are not available in your current location. The Agreement doesn’t allow you to change your location using a proxy or another method (which includes VPNs) to bypass Steam’s geoblocks. This includes getting access to exclusive content and prices that do not apply to your real location. However, if you want to change your region to access games you own but are not available in your current location, you shouldn’t have any problems. Keep in mind that, even though Steam might not ban you for using a VPN, each game you’re playing has specific rules and regulations. This means that if you’re using the VPN to cheat and gain advantage over your competitors, the game developer can ban you from that network.
Can I play Steam PC games on an Xbox or Mac?
Yes, you can, but it can be tricky. You can run PC games through Nvidia GeForce Now, which works well with Mac and Xbox. However, not all the games are compatible with it, and you need a very fast internet connection. On Mac, you can also stream your games from a Windows machine connected to the same account. Whichever method you use, I’d recommend that you connect to a VPN to keep your device safe from DDoS attacks while gaming.
Can I use a VPN to buy Steam games from another country?
You can, but you will need a billing address and payment method from that country. The first thing you’ll need to do is connect your VPN to a server in your chosen country. This way, you’ll be able to access games that are not normally available where you are. However, you need to keep in mind that your account may get banned if you only use the VPN to bypass Steam’s regional restrictions.
Should I change my Steam region if I’m traveling a lot?
You don’t have to. Steam recommends you keep your country settings based on the country you spend the most time in, or your home country. However, the system may change it automatically if you spend more time in one location. To change it back, you can use a VPN. This way, Steam will see an IP address from your home country and give you access to that storefront.
Is it safe to change my Steam region to another country?
Yes, if you’re traveling, you can change your Steam region to match the country you’re visiting. However, changing Steam regions to get games for cheaper goes against Steam’s user agreement and is not allowed, and can get you into trouble. To avoid getting banned from Steam, become familiar with its terms of service before changing your location.
Can I change my Steam region without a VPN?
You can change your Steam region when using a payment method from another country. Meaning you need a credit card or payment app for that specific region. You also need to make sure your billing information matches your new location. If you don’t have a credit card or other payment method for that specific country, a VPN remains the most reliable and safe way to change your Steam region.
Can I use a free VPN to change my Steam region?
Free VPNs limit server locations, so you’re unlikely to find a server in the Steam region you’re interested in. A premium VPN with a money-back guarantee is a more reliable way to change your Steam region since they have thousands of servers worldwide. Free services also have few servers and limited bandwidth, making online gaming nearly impossible due to its slow speeds. Additionally, free VPNs have poor security, so it’s easy for malicious Steam users to get your real IP and target you with DDoS attacks. Try ExpressVPN Risk-FREE Now!
Change Your Steam Region Safely Now!
Using a VPN will let you change your Steam region from anywhere so you can access everything you need from back home. It enables you to purchase in-game items that are region-specific. Additionally, it keeps you private when gaming and secures your data with military-grade encryption. This protects you from the likes of DDoS attacks while gaming. My team and I tested 100+ VPNs, and the one I’d recommend for Steam is ExpressVPN. You can use its huge server network and robust security features to change your Steam region and game safely at all times. You can even test ExpressVPN with Steam risk-free since it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it’s not for you, then you can claim a refund.
To summarize, the best VPNs for Steam are…
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we've tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it's currently offering 49% off.
Visit ExpressVPN
