Well, this is not the first time a publisher has restricted an app to just a few countries, but this time, it was personal. Nothing could keep me from waiting to try my hands on the love of my childhood, the show which was the reason I came running home after school. So if you aren’t in the mood to wait for the official release of Pokémon GO in your country, here’s how you can get it.
For Android Users
Things are pretty easy and straightforward for Android users as always.
Sideloading the App
As Pokémon GO does not have any server-side authentication to check the country from where you are playing, this is the easiest method to get the game on your Android. Since malware infection is a concern while sideloading, you can download the app APK file from APK Mirror and then install it on your Android. This way you will get instant access to Pokémon GO, however, you will have to manually check for updates of the game and then install the updated version manually. If you don’t want do that, you will have to install it from Play Store directly using the VPN trick we will discuss next.
Downloading from Play Store
Step 1: Download a VPN app on your phone. Since we only need a VPN connection to download Pokémon GO from the Play Store and not while playing the game, Tunnel Bear VPN with a free account will be safe and reliable option to go with. You will get 500 MB of free VPN usage which is more than enough for the task. After you have installed the app, launch and connect the VPN to a US server. Step 2: Having done that, turn off the GPS on your phone and look for Google Play Store in Settings –> Downloaded Apps. Step 3: Tap on it and then select the option Clear data and Clear cache. Repeat the same with Google Play Services. This will clear all the previous data on your phone’s Play Store locally and will not affect anything on the server. Step 4: Ensuring you are still connected to the VPN through Tunnel Bear, launch the Play Store, and this time it will connect from the US. You can now search for Pokémon GO and download the game.
Check out our Video on How to Get that Done.
For iPhone Users
iPhone users will have to simply change the location of their Apple Account that’s connected to App Store and download Pokémon GO from the App Store. The only thing to note here is that the country cannot be changed in case there’s any gift card balance in the App Store and you will have to use it completely to have zero store credit before changing the location. On your iPhone, open Settings and then, scroll down and tap on iTunes & App Store option. Here, tap on the Apple ID and then select View Apple ID.
Next, you will have the option to change the country region, just change the country to United States and agree to all the license agreements. Finally in the payment option, give a US address. Select the option None while selecting a credit card and save the settings. After that, reboot your phone and open the App Store to download Pokémon GO. Check out our video that will show you a step-by-step guide on how to get that done.
Get Started with Pokémon GO
By the way, If you’re just getting started with the Poke fever, here’s our video to guide you through the very basics.
Conclusion
So that was how you can download Pokémon GO and start playing it. I have already started my journey to become the best Pokémon Master and will share a few tips about the game shortly. So stay tuned for our next update on the phenomenon that is Pokémon GO. Also See: Top 5 Free VPN Apps for Android to Bypass Country Restrictions The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.