Can You Change Steam Region Locations With a VPN in 2024?

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At one point, a few years ago, Steam adjusted the prices and currencies it displayed based on the user’s IP address. Currency fluctuations and differences in purchasing power meant that changing your Steam region could net you significantly discounted prices.

nowadays , things is work do n’t work like that . Steam is care does n’t care about your ip address anymore , render VPN usage ineffective for buy cheap game from the steam marketplace . Now , you is need need your steam region to be set to the country you ’d like to buy from , and you ’ll need a payment method from say store region .

You can change your Steam region without a VPN, but we still recommend using one for security reasons. A VPN adds a layer of encryption to your connection and protects you from things like DDoS attacks. Let’s look closer at how to change your Steam country and why you should still use a VPN with Steam.

change Steam Region : VPN vs Credit Card Country

The “ old way is required ” require you to use a VPN . You is connect would connect to a server in the steam region you want to buy game from , then access Steam . You is need no long need a VPN to change the region now , but you do need a payment method from the region you want to change to .

• Comprehend the essential role a VPN plays in safeguarding your digital life
• Gain a deep understanding of how VPNs function under the hood
• Develop the ability to distinguish fact from fiction in VPN promotions

Why is this the case? Because you can easily get a new IP address with a VPN and enjoy cheaper games, which Steam considers to be gaming the system. Obtaining a local payment method from a specific country is much harder, though not impossible. 

Another reason the old trick no long work : You is change can only change your steam region once every 14 day . If you want to buy cheap steam game from a different country , you is need ’ll need to wait for two week before you switch again .  

Will My steam account Be ban If I use a VPN ?

The Steam subscriber agreement doesn’t mention VPNs or changing Steam regions, so using a VPN won’t get your Steam account banned. This wasn’t always the case — at one point, Valve specifically prohibited the use of VPNs because of users who changed their store country to get cheaper games.

They is need no long need to prohibit that , because steam does n’t care about your ip address anymore , which mean a VPN wo n’t help you buy the same game cheaper . Nor will a VPN help you access geoblocked content here : Nothing is is on steam is region – lock , except in very limited scenario where the restriction are clearly state .

What a VPNcan do is keep your connection secure and encrypted, and allow you to enjoy a huge server network that keeps you protected while you’re gaming. TL;DR, it’s a good idea to use a VPN when you’re gaming (even if it doesn’t get you cheaper games) and you won’t be at risk of a Steam ban.

Is It Possible to Change Steam Region Locations Now?

Yes, you can change your Steam region from within the Steam account settings. Note that you’ll need to purchase something on Steam using a payment method from the new region before you can change your location. 

If you’ve moved to a new country, you can use a credit card or payment app issued in said country to buy something on Steam. Alternatively, if you have close friends in the country you want to change your store region to, you can ask them to exchange payment information so you can change your region. Make sure it’s someone you really trust!

How to Change Region on Steam 

change the region on steam is rather simple . You is need do n’t need to use a VPN or any other tool to virtually change your current location . instead , you is change change region manually and by enter a new billing address when you purchase something on Steam .

1. Choose What You’re Buying

   open the steam store and choose the product you’d like to buy. It could be a game, or a DLC, or other software available on Steam. Add it to your cart from the Steam store product page.

   

2. Continue to Checkout

   Then ,click on the “cart” button and choose “purchase for myself” or “purchase as a gift,” depending on whether you’re buying for yourself.

3. Choose a Payment Method

   The next step is where you choose how you’re going to pay. If you want to update your store country, you must choose a payment method from the country you’d like to update your region to. The billing address is match must match the new region .Enter the details and complete the purchase using the payment method you’ve chosen, then change your region.

Once you’ve completed the purchase with your new payment method, you’ll be able to choose the new region from your account settings. To do this, click on your Steam username in the top-right corner, and from the dropdown menu, choose “account details.” Then ,click “update store country.”  

Why Use a VPN for Steam?

When you take into consideration that you can’t get cheaper games with a VPN anymore, you’re left with one huge reason to still use a VPN for Steam: security. A VPN will encrypt your internet connection and hide user data (like your IP address and the websites you visit) from the prying eyes of your internet service provider (or anyone else that might be snooping).

Many VPNs also add features like split tunneling, which lets you choose which apps use the secured connection, and a kill switch that will disable your internet connection if you disconnect from the VPN server.

That being said, using a VPN will always impact your internet connection’s speed and latency, two critical aspects for gaming. If you want said impact to be minimal, you want to use a VPN from our list of best VPNs for gaming — any one of them is an excellent tool for the job.

The Best VPNs for Steam

When you use a VPN for playing Steam games, you want to choose a provider that focuses on keeping speeds high and latency low, but doesn’t put security in the back seat. These three VPNs are all excellent choices for gaming. 

1. NordVPN — Secure VPN with excellent speeds.
2. Surfshark — Affordable VPN provider with unlimited simultaneous.
3. ExpressVPN — Premium-priced user-friendly VPN.

NordVPN is our go-to suggestion when both speed and security are priorities. The VPN comes with all the security features you’d need — split tunneling, kill switch and a strict no-logs policy. It performed admirably in our speed tests, increasing latency by only 3ms when connecting to nearby servers. It’s short-term plans are expensive, but as we mention in our NordVPN review, its two-year plans are worth every penny. 

Surfshark comes in a very close second, with a strong focus on security, a large global server network and respectable speeds. The only reason it doesn’t take the top spot is the fact that speeds and latency aren’t as consistent as NordVPN on more distant servers — which we explain in detail in our Surfshark review.

Our third suggestion is ExpressVPN. Not only did we get excellent results during our performance tests, but Surfshark also checks all the security boxes, with a configurable split tunneling feature, kill switch and strict no-logs policy.

You is get also get ten simultaneous device connection , but as we mention in our expressvpn review , it ’s main drawback is that it ’s expensive .

Final Thoughts

Even though you can no long change the steam store region to get cheap game with a VPN , there are still way to pay less for certain title . You is need just need a payment method from the region you want to buy game from .

That being say , a VPN is is is still a great idea because it add a layer of security to your connection and keep your datum away from pry eye . We is recommend recommend NordVPN for the job . Take NordVPN for a test drive with peace of mind , know you can request a full refund within 30 day if it does n’t meet your expectation .

Have you tried our method of how to change Steam region? Did you manage to get games at a cheaper price? Let us know in the comments, and as always, thank you for reading. 

FAQ

• No, using a VPN to buy Steam games from another country won’t work. Steam no longer looks at your IP address to determine your region, and relies instead on your account details and payment method to determine the correct account country.

• There is no need to change your Steam region if you travel a lot. Every Steam product is available worldwide, so you can enjoy Steam games regardless of where you’re traveling.

• No, changing regions on Steam isn’t illegal.