How to Install & Use Foreign Apps

Posted On 6 August 2020

Last updated on April 9th, 2024

There are people who cross the border and would like to be able to install the other country’s apps on their phone. The problem is that companies can geo-lock their apps. While this is a great way to reduce confusion with people installing the wrong county app on their phone, it can be very frustrating for travelers.

I have found two ways to install foreign apps on your android phone when you are traveling to another country. I also must give you a warning.

Warning!

It is possible to add a second payment profile to your Google account. This will change your account to the other country, and cannot be changed back for 1 year!! Only use this if you are moving to the new country and do not plan on visiting the old country for a year.

Method #1 (Easy)

So, I tried this after I messed up my Google account with a second payment profile. This is an easy fix and it works for me.

Use a second Google account. Set the second account up for the other country. You can sign in to the second account in the Play Store and you will still have your primary Google account still logged in as well. Once you have done that you can simply switch back and forth between your accounts in the Play Store.

If this method is too easy (or if it doesn’t work for some reason), here is the more complicated method that I have used.

Method #2 (Advanced)

*This method worked for me to install foreign apps on my Samsung Note 8. Follow these directions at your own risk! It is possible to install malicious software using this method.*

Every time I go to McDonald’s the first thing that I do is check the app for deals. A few days before we were going to be travelling to the US for Thanksgiving, I checked the app store for the US version of the McDonald’s app. It wasn’t there! I thought that maybe I need to be in the US in order to get the app.

After we crossed the boarder we stopped for lunch at Wendy’s. While we were eating lunch, I tried to get the McDonald’s app, although I was disappointed that it was still not available in the app store. I turned to my good buddy Google for an answer. After going down a few wrong paths, I learned that some apps are locked to a country’s app store. Ok! I’ll just change the country in the store… It turns out that the Android app store will only let you change your app store one time per year!! Disheartened, we hit the road again.

It was frustrating trying to get the app! I knew there must be a way, I just needed to learn the rules of the game. This just kept rattling around in my head.

After having a nice Thanksgiving dinner, I got the thought, “Maybe I can install the foreign APK (the app file; for more info, click here)!” I went searching for the McDonald’s APK and I found one that didn’t work. Then, I found another version of the app that didn’t work. I then had to learn how to install an APK. To make a long story short, I did manage to get the McDonald’s app on my phone! As a reward there was a coupon for free McNuggets if OSU won the game, which they did, so the effort was worth it!

For those of you that are crossing the border and would like to use the other country’s version of the app while you are visiting that country (without switching app stores), here are the steps to make it happen. In this example, I am using the McDonald’s US app.

Enable “Unknown Apps”

1. First, open your phone’s settings, and then scroll down to Biometrics and Security. [Tap to open]

2. Scroll down to “Install unknown apps”. [Tap to open]

3. Scroll down to your browser (Firefox in this example). Under the name if it will says Allowed, you can close out of the settings. If it says Not Allowed, you need to tap on the app and flip the switch to enable it. Close out of the phone settings.

Get the APK for the App

4. Open up your browser and type: “mcdonalds us apk download”, then search. Pick a link that shows promise. The page that opens should be similar to the screenshot I took of apkpure’s page. Make sure that the apk has a recent date (this one is 2020-01-25). Tap Download. It may take you to another page with a download APK button. (Only install the app you are wanting, not something else!)

5. If it all goes well, you will get the option to download the file. Download it, then open it.

6. You will get an installing screen. Click on “Open”.

Enjoy using the app!

7. That is all that it takes to install foreign apps on your phone. Just make sure that you keep the apps strait. The McDonald’s Canada logo has a maple leaf in it, the US logo dose not.

So, after doing this with McDonald’s, I also got the Burger King app and the Taco Bell app.

I have a note of caution with installing an app this way. When there is an update for the app, the app cannot just be updated. You must find the new version of the APK file and completely reinstall the app! Make a note of the app version so you can make sure that you are getting the updated version.

For those with iPhones who use the Apple App store, switching countries can be done, but you will have to deal with payment options in the other country. Another option can be to create a second app store account for the other country. When you travel to the other country, just switch apps!