What exactly happens with iCloud Storage when changing regions?

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Level 1

32 points

What exactly happens with iCloud Storage when changing regions?

Hello!

I've done my best to Google this, and I'm mostly clear on what happens regarding apps and other content when I switch the region and payment method for my AppleID, but I'm not entirely clear on what will happen with my upgraded iCloud storage and the photos stored there.

Backstory: lived in Thailand for 10 years, set up my AppleID there, payment method is there, and so my AppleID region is currently Thailand. Have returned to the USA, have set up my bank account here, and so have a US based payment method. Basically ready to switch my AppleID's region to the USA. I have the upgraded 50GB iCloud storage (35thb or $1us / month) on which about 20GB of photos are currently synced.

Just to be safe, I'll be waiting until the day before my iCloud Storage will auto-renew to do the region switch (sometime next week), but I am unclear about what exactly will happen when I make the switch...

Will my 50GB storage continue uninterrupted with the next charge happening on my new USA-based payment method as I switch to the USA region? If so, great.
Or, will the upgraded storage feature automatically stop when I switch regions and so I'll have to reactivate it after I've set the new payment method in the USA?
If so, what happens to my synced data? Will it automatically detect that it hasn't changed, or am I looking at it deciding it needs to re-sync 20GB of photos to each of my devices and so eat up bandwidth until ~60GB (20GB x 3 devices) gets synced?

The knowledge base articles I looked at didn't really have any clarity on this, so any information that anyone can provide would be most appreciated. Thanks. :)

iPhone 7, iOS 13

Posted on Mar 13, 2020 8:52 AM

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Answer 1

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BioAlex Author

Level 1

32 points

Mar 18, 2020 9:37 AM in response to Teddy_B

Well, I just did it, and it seems to have worked. I'll know for sure tomorrow when it automatically renews.

Are you sure it was necessary to unsubscribe and then resubscribe?

The process went something like this:

1.) In my iCloud Settings -> Manage -> Change Storage Plan -> Downgrade Options, I clicked on Downgrade to 5GB (Free). Then clicked done. This said that the change would take effect when the subscription period ended (which was tomorrow, 19 March). So, even with that change in place, it showed me as still subscribed for 35THB/Month.

2.) Because it's the way I was most comfortable with and was certain it worked correctly, I went into Music.app -> Account menu, and then I removed my previous Thailand-based payment method, changed my region to United States, agreed to the agreement, and then put in my US-based payment method. No problem.

3.) Then I went back to iCloud Settings -> Manage -> Upgrade Storage (as opposed to "Change Storage" so setting the downgrade before did have that effect), and it still showed my current not yet expired storage plan as the currently selected plan, but now with the price as $0.99, so the region change worked.

4.) Went into Downgrade Options and changed it from 5GB back to the 50GB plan in there (as it still showed I'd chosen to downgrade)

Anyway, it all worked fine, it seems. I just wonder if the setting to downgrade and then changing it back after the region change was really necessary. Because the way the information was presented makes me think it might have just worked with changing region and payment (unless there would have been an issue with canceling my previous payment method while the subscription was still active?)

Anyway, that's all besides the point. Thanks for your help. The solution worked. :)

One small heads up for anyone who else who needs to do a region change and you have multiple devices: I had to sign out and then sign back in to my account on the AppStore app on my iPad and iPhone in order of those to recognize the change. Perhaps something to keep in mind. :)

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Answer 2

Teddy_B

Community Specialist

Mar 14, 2020 7:19 AM in response to BioAlex

Hi BioAlex,

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities! I see you have a question about changing country or region and your iCloud storage, and I'd like to help out.

Since iCloud storage is a subscription, it would need to be canceled (downgraded) along with any other subscriptions before being able to change country or region. Change your Apple ID country or region

As long as you use the same Apple ID, you'll be able to keep the same information which is stored in iCloud. When you downgrade iCloud storage, your Information is not deleted. However, new items may not be uploaded to iCloud.

Downgrade your iCloud storage

After you change your region or country, then resubscribe to the iCloud storage plan you'd like, after changing your payment method.

Take care!

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What exactly happens with iCloud Storage when changing regions?

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