- How to change your YouTube location on a computer or phone
- How to change your YouTube location on a TV or console
- What the location setting changes
- What it doesn't do
- Why YouTube shows the wrong country
- When changing location is useful
- Location, history and your feed
- Changing location on more than one device
- Can't find your country?
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To change your location on YouTube, click your profile picture, then Display (or Settings), then Location, and pick a country. YouTube says this changes the videos it surfaces in recommendations, charts and news. On a TV or console, open the YouTube app's Settings and choose Location there.
YouTube's location setting is one of the least understood options in the app. People change it hoping to open up videos from another country, then wonder why nothing seems different. The setting does something narrower: it tells YouTube which country's trending videos, charts and news to show you. Here's how to change it on every device, and what it won't do.
How to change your YouTube location on a computer or phone
- Click or tap your profile picture.
- Choose Display (on some versions, Settings).
- Select Location.
- Pick the country or region you want.
How to change your YouTube location on a TV or console
YouTube says the app on smart TVs, streaming devices and game consoles follows your device's language and location by default. To change it just for YouTube:
- Open the YouTube app on the TV or console.
- Select Settings.
- Select Location and choose a different country or region.
What the location setting changes
| Area | Affected by location? |
|---|---|
| Recommendations | Yes |
| Charts | Yes |
| News | Yes |
| Language of titles and descriptions | No, that's your language setting |
| Audio language of dubbed videos | No, that's your preferred languages setting |
YouTube is specific: the location you choose affects the videos that surface for recommendations, charts and news. If you've moved country, changing it makes trending and news feel local again, which is usually the main reason people go looking for this setting.
What it doesn't do
This is the insight worth knowing before you fiddle with it. Changing your location in settings doesn't change where YouTube thinks you physically are for videos that are blocked in your country. It changes what YouTube suggests, not what you're allowed to watch. So if a video says it isn't available in your country, the location setting won't fix that.
Your language settings are separate too. YouTube says language changes things like channel names, video titles where translations exist, and Voice Search language. And your preferred languages for dubbed audio are another separate setting, which YouTube says doesn't affect search results or recommendations.
Why YouTube shows the wrong country
- It couldn't detect your country. YouTube says the default location is the United States when it can't find your country or region.
- You cleared your cookies. YouTube says display language settings are saved in the browser and need resetting after you clear cache and cookies, and it's worth checking location at the same time.
- Your TV follows the device. On TVs and consoles, YouTube copies the device's settings unless you change it in the app.
- A VPN is on. A VPN can make YouTube detect a different country.
When changing location is useful
- You've moved abroad and want local trending videos and news.
- You create content for an audience in another country and want to see what's popular there.
- Your recommendations feel stuck on another country after travelling.
For creators, switching location for a few minutes to browse another country's trending and charts is a quick, free way to research what an overseas audience is watching. Just switch it back afterwards so your own feed doesn't drift towards another country's trends.
Location, history and your feed
Location is only one input into what YouTube shows you. Your watch history, searches and the channels you follow carry far more weight in most feeds. So if you change location and your Home page barely moves, that's normal: charts, trending and news shift, but videos picked from your history stay. To refresh recommendations more broadly, you'd also need to look at your watch history and search history settings.
Changing location on more than one device
Because display settings are saved in the browser, and TV apps follow their own device settings, you may need to change location separately on your laptop, phone and TV. If one device shows different trending videos from another, check each one's Location setting before assuming something's wrong with your account.
Can't find your country?
YouTube says it offers location preferences for all countries and regions where it's available, but if yours isn't listed, it suggests picking the option that best meets your needs and interests. A neighbouring country with the same language usually gives the most useful results, because the trending videos and news will be closest to what you'd expect at home.
If your feed still feels odd after changing location, my guide to why the YouTube feed looks short explains how history settings affect recommendations, and turning off Restricted Mode covers another setting that can hide videos.
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My verdict
Change your YouTube location from your profile picture, Display, Location, or in Settings on a TV. Use it to make trending, charts and news match where you live or where your audience is. Just don't expect it to unblock videos restricted in your country, because that's not what it controls.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change my location on YouTube?
Click your profile picture, then Display or Settings, then Location, and choose a country.
What does the YouTube location setting change?
YouTube says it affects the videos that surface in recommendations, charts and news.
Will changing my YouTube location make blocked videos play?
No. It changes what YouTube suggests, not videos restricted in your country.
Why is my YouTube location set to the United States?
YouTube defaults to the United States when it can't find your country or region.
How do I change YouTube location on my TV?
Open the YouTube app, select Settings, then Location. By default it follows your TV's settings.
Does my YouTube location sync across devices?
Not always. Browser settings are saved in the browser, and TV apps follow the device, so you may need to change it on each one.
Is YouTube location the same as language?
No. Language changes titles, channel names and Voice Search; location changes recommendations, charts and news.
