How to Change Your PS4 or PS5 (PSN) Region in 2023

PlayStation may have the best exclusives out of any gaming platform, but you still have many restrictions as a player. For one, you can’t just download a game when it releases–you have to wait for it to release in your country. Some games don’t even get released in every region. If you like to watch movies on your PlayStation too, then you know the frustration of being locked out of great shows on Netflix, Hulu, and other apps.

Tired of missing out? Change your PSN region and access all the games and shows you want. You can finally play Yakuza Ishin (Ryu ga Gotoku: Ishin!) with your Japanese friends–well, right after you learn some Japanese. Luckily, using a VPN to change your region on your PlayStation is much easier!

How to Change Your Region on PS4 and PS5?

While you can’t just change the region on your current PlayStation account, you can create a new user account to change your PS4/PS5 region. Keep in mind you likely won’t be able to access your current games or trophies on the new account. You also won’t be able to access the new games you buy on this account with your old one.

Follow these steps to create a new account and change your region on PS4 and PS5:

1. Turn on your console and select New User instead of signing into your account.
2. Accept the User Agreement then scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. Select New to PlayStation Network? Create an Account.
3. Choose a region in the dropdown menu. Ensure it’s the same country you want to get games and other content from.
4. Choose your preferred language and enter your personal details.
5. Type in a location in your chosen region. You’ll have to enter a real address. Any address like a McDonald’s or hotel in the region will do.
6. Enter your email address and choose a password. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use the same email address as your old account. If you don’t have another one, you can quickly create a new email using Gmail.
7. Create your profile. Select your ID tag, new avatar, and other settings.
8. Accept the User Agreement and Terms of Service.

You’re almost done! Before you can start playing games or enjoying shows on your new PlayStation account, you have to create a new payment system first. This is important because your PlayStation won’t let you buy games using your local credit/debit card. Let’s get to know how that works.

Change Your PSN Region

How to Buy PS4/PS5 Games On Another Country’s PlayStation Store

Creating a new PlayStation account in the region you want isn’t enough to start playing. Sony only lets you buy games with a credit card or Paypal account from the same region as your account. You can create a new Paypal account with the same region details you just chose, but it’s a complicated (and risky) option.

It’s much easier to just buy some gift cards on the PlayStation website and use those instead. Amazon is the most straightforward option, but you can also try Walmart or GameStop. Here’s how you do it:

1. Create an account with a VPN like CyberGhost. You’ll need to download the app for the device you’re using to buy the gift cards. Luckily, CyberGhost VPN has apps for every major operating system, including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
2. Turn on the VPN and select a server in your chosen region. CyberGhost VPN has 7400+ servers across 91 countries. You should easily find one in the area of your choice.
3. Open the PlayStation Gift Cards website and click Buy Now below the gift card you want. You need to choose a digital code gift card – not a physical one – or you won’t be able to redeem it.
   
4. Choose a retailer. A new tab will open up on the store’s website. Ensure it’s a digital code gift card and not a physical one. Then click Add to cart and Proceed to Checkout. You may need to create a new account with the store for this to work.
5. Check your email for the gift card and keep it close.
6. Log in to the new Playstation account you just created on your PS4 or PS5 and open the PlayStation Store.
7. Scroll down and select the Redeem Codes button, then enter the 12-digit code from your email.
8. Buy some awesome new games!

Why Use a VPN to Change Countries on Your PlayStation Account?

A VPN doesn’t give you an IP address from a different country only. It offers a whole bunch of benefits for your next gaming session, including:

Access to Unavailable Games

PSN doesn’t let you buy games on another country’s PlayStation Store. Some games are only available in certain countries. It doesn’t seem fair to keep you from exploring new games just because you live somewhere else.

Get CyberGhost VPN and divert your traffic through a secure server in whatever country you choose. This hides your real IP address and gives you a new IP address from that country. You can make it look like you’re from the country of your choice and buy any game you want.

Get Better Deals

Geo-locked games aren’t a problem anymore with PS5, but you can still change your region with PS5 to access games earlier and get better deals. You might find your desired applications much cheaper in other regions, and sometimes for free! The PlayStation terms of service (ToS) don’t mention buying games in other regions, but creating an account to buy games in a cheaper currency is still a risky move. I couldn’t find examples of people being banned for this, but Sony may still suspend or ban your account for any suspicious activity.

When you visit the PlayStation Store with a VPN enabled, you’ll see games and prices from that region. The same goes for the Playstation gift cards page. Pick the best deals and enjoy playing!

Access Worldwide Content

Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu have separate libraries for different countries. If you live in the UK, you can’t stream the same shows and movies people in Australia can stream.

Just like how you can access new games on your PlayStation with a VPN, you can also access streaming libraries from other countries. All you have to do is change your IP address to make these streaming apps think you’re somewhere else. This way you can enjoy any show you want.

Protection from DDoS Attacks and Stalking

Many online multiplayer games use peer-to-peer matchmaking, which is very risky because it exposes your IP address. Other players can use this to track you down and malicious cybercriminals can use the information to target you with DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks.

In DDoS attacks, a connection is overwhelmed with requests, which commonly makes your game crash. Some hardcore gamers do it to their opponents to more easily win matches and climb the leaderboards faster.

CyberGhost VPN protects your connection with military-grade encryption. This keeps outsiders from seeing what you do online, making it impossible for malicious parties to DDoS you and find out your home address or real identity.

Better Online Gameplay with Faster Speeds

Ever felt your game has high ping or latency for no reason? Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) could be the main villain in disguise. ISPs sometimes throttle your connection or route it badly, which causes lag and high ping. Nothing to worry about if you’re a Ghostie!

Use CyberGhost VPN to encrypt your traffic, so your ISP can’t throttle you based on what you’re doing online. ISPs sometimes throttle high-bandwidth activities like online gaming and streaming. CyberGhost also reroutes your traffic, so your connection makes fewer stops along a shorter distance, which solves the bad ISP routing too.

Play In Any Region

Can You Get in Trouble for Changing Regions on PS4 or PS5?

The chances of your account getting banned if you use an account with a different region from where you live are unlikely. Sony’s ToS doesn’t forbid it, and they’re probably too busy ensuring Kratos’s bald head is shiny enough to search for ways to out players. As long as you keep turning on your VPN before you open the PSN store, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Just remember you’ll need to keep your accounts and games separate. You can’t download a DLC for a game on one account while logged into the other one. You also can’t get in-game items or deals from one country if the account is set to another country.

How to Set Up CyberGhost VPN on Your PlayStation?

VPN apps for either PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 don’t exist, but CyberGhost VPN provides an easy way to activate our Smart DNS in your console settings. You can also install the VPN on your router or download one of our apps for your computer’s operating system and then connect it to your PlayStation via an Ethernet cable. Here’s how you set up CyberGhost VPN for your PlayStation:

Via Smart DNS

The Smart DNS method is the easiest and fastest of the bunch, but it’s not as secure as the other options:

1. Join the Ghostie Squad.
2. Open your Account settings.
3. Click on My DNS Settings.
4. Activate your IP address. You’ll get a Smart DNS code.
5. Go to your PlayStation settings and open Network settings.
6. Select the Set Up Internet Connection tab.
7. Click on Wi-Fi and select Advanced Settings.
8. Set the IP address to automatic.
9. Set the DHCP Hostname to Do not Specify.
10. Go to DNS settings and choose manual.
11. Enter our Smart DNS in your console settings.
12. Restart your console and you’re set to go!

Get CyberGhost DNS

Via Computer Through Wi-Fi

On Windows

1. Become a Ghostie.
2. Install the CyberGhost VPN app for Windows
3. Follow this detailed guide to enable network sharing on your computer.
4. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot and enable it. Ensure you select the Wi-Fi option and a password is set.
5. Turn on your PlayStation and select the Wi-Fi connection, fill in your password, then click Connect.
6. Start gaming with your new CyberGhost VPN connection!

On Mac

1. Team Up with CyberGhost.
2. Install the CyberGhost VPN app for macOS.
3. Turn on the VPN and select a server.
4. Go to System Preferences > Sharing > Internet Sharing.
5. Select CyberGhost VPN under share your connection from and select Wi-Fi under To computers using.
6. Open Wi-Fi options and change your Wi-Fi name and password.
7. Click on the corresponding responses if any pop-ups appear now. Select Turn Wi-Fi On if the computer asks, and select Start if it asks “Are you sure you want to turn on Internet sharing?”
8. Turn on your PlayStation and select the Wi-Fi connection and fill in your password then click on Connect.

Via Computer Through Ethernet

On Windows

1. Get CyberGhost VPN.
2. Install the CyberGhost VPN app for Windows.
3. Connect your PlayStation to your computer with an Ethernet cable.
4. Go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Connection Sharing on your PC.
5. Click on Change Adapter Settings or More network adapter options depending on your Windows version.
6. Right-click on the CyberGhost VPN LAN option and select Properties.
7. Go to the Sharing tab and select Allow other network users to connect.
8. Select the Ethernet connection you used for your PlayStation under Home Networking Connection.
9. Turn on the CyberGhost VPN and select a server.
10. Turn on your PlayStation and go to Settings > Network > Connect to the internet.
11. Select Use a LAN cable and choose the Easy connection method.
12. Choose Do Not Use a Proxy Server and Accept all Settings if the related prompts pop up.
13. You’re ready to start playing with CyberGhost VPN!

Get CyberGhost On Windows

On Mac

1. Join the Ghostie Squad.
2. Install the CyberGhost VPN app for macOS.
3. Connect your PlayStation to your computer with an Ethernet cable.
4. Go to System Preferences > Sharing > Internet Sharing.
5. Select CyberGhost VPN under Share your connection from and select Ethernet under To computers using.
6. Click on the corresponding responses if any pop-ups appear now. Select Turn Wi-Fi On if the computer asks, and select Start if it asks “Are you sure you want to turn on Internet sharing?”
7. Turn on the VPN and select a server.
8. Turn on your PlayStation and go to Settings > Network > Connect to the internet.
9. Select Use a LAN cable and choose the Easy connection method.
10. Choose Do Not Use a Proxy Server and Accept all Settings if the related prompts pop up.
11. You’re ready to start playing with CyberGhost VPN!

Via Your Router

If you activate CyberGhost VPN on your router, it’ll cover all your devices, including your PlayStation. Every router has a different setup process depending on your router’s firmware. Some routers won’t let you install a VPN, in which case you’ll have to try a different option.

1. Become a Ghostie.
2. Follow this complete guide if you have a DD-WRT Router. Otherwise, skip this step.
3. Follow this alternative guide if you have a router with Tomato firmware or this full guide if you have a router with TomatoUSB Merlin Build firmware. Otherwise, skip this step.
4. Try one of the other methods if your router doesn’t support a VPN installation.
5. Turn on your PlayStation and start playing!

Connecting to the internet on your PlayStation through CyberGhost VPN gives you more control over where you purchase games and how you play. CyberGhost VPN also helps improve your network lag and ping in online games, thanks to our incredibly fast speeds. You’ll stay safe from DDoS attacks and salty players discovering your real identity with CyberGhost VPN’s iron-clad encryption too–now that’s an XP boost!

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