I have a bank app from my homecountry which i cant update or download in a new phone in thailand as Google play says "the app is not available in your region" ,i tried with a vpn and still cant on Google play ,how to do,any ideas?

Change the region in the phone settings to the country. In iPhones it also has to be done in the App Store, so probably the same thing for android? So that would be changing the region in two different settings on the phone.

Edited June 17Jun 17 by novacova

You wait until the banking app suggests the update, which gives 2 choices ..... update or more information.

The 'more information' option takes you to the update page and you can update.

The 'update' option usually fails.

Change your phone setting to the correct region

Changing the region in Android can lead to a long lock out period before being able to change regions again...so be very careful.

I had the same issue...the alternative is to look for the APK related to the bank...do a google search for example Lloyds Bank UK apk...download and install....I dont know which device you are using so I further suggest searching for "how to install apk`s on your device"

I needed the apk on my Galaxy phone and went through the procedure and it installed.....you`re wasting your time trying to change region settings on Playstore it locks you into the region for 1 year before you can revert back

Set up a new google acct. with Thailand as the country. Switch account in the play store to the Thai account and do the install. Then switch it back to your normal account. I have 4 Google accounts each with a different home country for just this.

All wrong answers so far, you need to set up a google email account for play store with location being your home country, then you can download the app from that country. I toggle between UK and Thailand play stores depending on what i need

Edited June 17Jun 17 by scubascuba3

22 hours ago, johng said:

Changing the region in Android can lead to a long lock out period before being able to change regions again...so be very careful.

I recently changed mine. I think it said next change can only be done after 90 days. It also said you have to be in the region you want to change to, but that might be done with VPN

Some of the alternative app stores can sometimes have the app you want. F-Droid, apk-pure, Aurora store, aptoide etc. You can slso sideload it from places like apkmirror. Lots of different methods

22 hours ago, petermik said:

I had the same issue...the alternative is to look for the APK related to the bank...do a google search for example Lloyds Bank UK apk...download and install....I dont know which device you are using so I further suggest searching for "how to install apk`s on your device"

I needed the apk on my Galaxy phone and went through the procedure and it installed.....you`re wasting your time trying to change region settings on Playstore it locks you into the region for 1 year before you can revert back

If you have an android phone you can search "app" apk and Download then install it. You might have to change some setting to allow but as i recall ithe phone will tell you that and direct you to the settings.

On 6/17/2026 at 10:03 AM, johng said:

Changing the region in Android can lead to a long lock out period before being able to change regions again...so be very careful.

I had the same problem with two bank apps. I then looked for them on Aptoide, an Android app. Found them there, and can update from there when necessary.

I use an iPad (US region) for US banking and others in the U.S. and my phone for Thailand.

Keep it simple and easy to deal with.

1 hour ago, thjames007 said:

If you have an android phone you can search "app" apk and Download then install it. You might have to change some setting to allow but as i recall ithe phone will tell you that and direct you to the settings.

Apk's do have a certain risk of malware if downloaded from unknown sources. Much easier to do a second google account on the same device with different country settings.

8 minutes ago, msbkk said:

Apk's do have a certain risk of malware

Yes that is a problem... it would be good if the official app stores

published the cryptographic hash checksums of all apps on the platform so users could check against the copies hosted on the 'unofficial' stores...but they wont do that as they try to lock everyone into their ecosystem.

Just wondering can the banks send you a link to the update

Get in contact with your bank to sort out a solution, either they release the app for Thailand or they provide the apk file for you. Be careful downloading any versions coming from an untrusted source! Changing the region might lead to more issues.

PS. Not aware of android phones but is there no transfer procedure from an old to a new phone. I can’t imagine. This is the best way to get through a number of upcoming issues! Apple has at least a transfer procedure!

On 6/17/2026 at 11:20 AM, scubascuba3 said:

All wrong answers so far, you need to set up a google email account for play store with location being your home country, then you can download the app from that country. I toggle between UK and Thailand play stores depending on what i need

I gave the right answer

You gave the wrong answer

Playstore doesn't allow you to change regions anymore (not in a useful way anyway)

Creating a new Playstore account (with new email) doesn't work either, as Google just detects your region and sets it accordingly (sometimes they warn you first).

UK banks are likely to close your account if you inform them you are living outside the UK.

Edited June 18Jun 18 by BritManToo

On 6/17/2026 at 11:20 AM, scubascuba3 said:

All wrong answers so far, you need to set up a google email account for play store with location being your home country, then you can download the app from that country. I toggle between UK and Thailand play stores depending on what i need

The answer prior to your post was also correct, google account and google email being effectively the same thing.

The OP would be well advised to pay attention to both, certainly the easiest way.

I share a paid app with my wife and to get that to work I had to use a Thai email on my UK orientated phone and then install on my wife's Thai orientated phone using that same Thai email.

29 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I gave the right answer

You gave the wrong answer

Playstore doesn't allow you to change regions anymore (not in a useful way anyway)

Creating a new Playstore account (with new email) doesn't work either, as Google just detects your region and sets it accordingly (sometimes they warn you first).

UK banks are likely to close your account if you inform them you are living outside the UK.

My answer was 100% correct, i know because i install apps using both email/location accounts and others have posted about the same method

Edited June 18Jun 18 by scubascuba3

Just use an iPhone, much easier only needing to change the region in the settings and not having to fuss with anything else.

19 minutes ago, novacova said:

Just use an iPhone,

Is that meant to be helpful - considering he has an Android phone? 🤨

42 minutes ago, topt said:

Is that meant to be helpful - considering he has an Android phone? 🤨

Yes, just use an iPhone, much easier & the same to you and more of it.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I gave the right answer

You gave the wrong answer

Playstore doesn't allow you to change regions anymore (not in a useful way anyway)

Creating a new Playstore account (with new email) doesn't work either, as Google just detects your region and sets it accordingly (sometimes they warn you first).

UK banks are likely to close your account if you inform them you are living outside the UK.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I gave the right answer

You gave the wrong answer

Playstore doesn't allow you to change regions anymore (not in a useful way anyway)

Creating a new Playstore account (with new email) doesn't work either, as Google just detects your region and sets it accordingly (sometimes they warn you first).

UK banks are likely to close your account if you inform them you are living outside the UK.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I gave the right answer

You gave the wrong answer

Playstore doesn't allow you to change regions anymore (not in a useful way anyway)

Creating a new Playstore account (with new email) doesn't work either, as Google just detects your region and sets it accordingly (sometimes they warn you first).

UK banks are likely to close your account if you inform them you are living outside the UK.

No need to change your region. I set up a second Google account with another region without any issues. You will have to use a VPN for the setup and download of the foreign app. Once the apps are installed you can update them with your Thai account.

Edited June 18Jun 18 by msbkk

14 minutes ago, msbkk said:

No need to change your region. I set up a second Google account with another region without any issues. You will have to use a VPN for the setup and download of the foreign app. Once the apps are installed you can update them with your Thai account.

Actually with UK banking apps you can't update with your Thai playstore account.

49 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Actually with UK banking apps you can't update with your Thai playstore account.

Which is why you use your UK playstore

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Actually with UK banking apps you can't update with your Thai playstore account.

Halifax Online Banking is available to download on PlayStore here.......

6 hours ago, Pekaer said:

PS. Not aware of android phones but is there no transfer procedure from an old to a new phone. I can’t imagine. This is the best way to get through a number of upcoming issues! Apple has at least a transfer procedure!

Using Samsung Smart Switch enables you to transfer everything from one Samsung device to another...just done it and both UK Bank apps successfully transferred over....

24 minutes ago, petermik said:

Using Samsung Smart Switch enables you to transfer everything from one Samsung device to another...just done it and both UK Bank apps successfully transferred over....

24 minutes ago, petermik said:

Using Samsung Smart Switch enables you to transfer everything from one Samsung device to another...just done it and both UK Bank apps successfully transferred over....

Yes. I read that it is also possible to backup apps and install from that backup on another device.

Sideloading the app, ie install it from another source, is dangerous, as has been mentioned.

Edited June 18Jun 18 by Hish