Alternate phone and App Store country?

Privacy Questions
1

Not sure where to put this- mods feel free to move it.

I don’t care about TikTok and whether or not it’s banned. But it made me wonder (as an American iOS user) if I should have a backup device that is configured to be able to get apps from another country’s App Store, possible on Android so that apps not in a store can be side loaded. Just in case something don’t care about now gets banned and later I realize I need/want it.

I have no current use for TAILS but I keep the USB updated just in case. Wondering if I need a backup phone / App Store / OS for the same reason.

Which begs the question how does an American get a Canadian or UK or ___ App Store account without a local credit card?

1 Like
2

For iOS, you can create a new Apple Account to switch countries without a local payment method. Even so, you are still required to list a valid address in that country to access their app store.

If the app you need is exclusive to the Apple Store, you may use the address of a family member or friend residing abroad. I’m not sure if you can input a random address though!

1 Like
3

This!

Also, if this is OPs concern, then GrapheneOS on Android would be best. Install anything that can run on Android mobile is true freedom.

1 Like
4

Trust me. This is not possible. I have lived in the US, Canada, and one in Asia for a long time and you can’t have the set up you want like that.

Like @KevPham says, you need to have local credentials indeed!

5

You are having this problem because you cannot sideload Apps.

Over on Android land, we have APKs to install if available from a reputable source like official GitHub. And GitHub wont be reasonably be banned from a country because its like the equivalent of banning farming tools.

1 Like
6

If all you need is side-loading on iOS and you’re not in the EU, you’ll need a Windows or macOS computer whether you want to use something like Sideloadly or AltStore.

7

You can use random addresses, doesn’t matter made up or not.

2 Likes
8

Thanks for confirming!

9

Yep and not to mention that the official foss apps are more private than proprietary ones at a larger scale