When mobile carrier billing for App Store purchases was disabled in Russia, many of us risked losing access to familiar services and subscriptions. Kazakhstan, Armenia, Turkey — alternative Apple ID regions were discussed on every forum. Many people debate between the US and Turkey for a region switch, and I decided to give it a try too. I switched my Apple ID to Turkey — it seemed like the perfect option: prices in lira were laughably low, gift cards were sold everywhere, and the App Store seemed fully stocked. But a few months later, I realized the money saved wasn’t worth the problems I had to deal with.
Moved Apple ID to Turkey and regretted it
Which Apple Services Don’t Work in Turkey
The first thing that unpleasantly surprised me was the lack of an Apple TV+ subscription. Yes, the Apple TV app exists in the Turkish App Store. You can even buy and rent movies through the iTunes Store. But the Apple TV+ streaming service with its original shows, series, and movies is simply unavailable in Turkey.
Apple TV+ doesn’t work in Turkey
This is not some temporary glitch or error. Apple TV+ is officially not supported in the Turkish region, and Apple’s media services availability page says so directly. Turkish users have been complaining on Apple Community forums for years that the service is unavailable to them, but nothing has changed.
This was especially frustrating for me because I had just started watching several series on Apple TV+ through my Russian Apple ID, and after switching to Turkey, access to them simply disappeared.
Why Apple One Doesn’t Appear in the Turkish Region
The absence of Apple One was the final blow. Just compare the list of services with Azerbaijan, for example
And while you can survive without Apple TV+ using other video platforms, the next loss was impossible to replace. The Apple One subscription is unavailable in Turkey. For those who don’t know — Apple One bundles several services into one package: Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ in the basic tier. The family tier lets you share everything across multiple users.
So, since Apple TV+ doesn’t work in Turkey, Apple One isn’t offered either. This means you can’t get everything in one bundle and save money. You’ll have to subscribe to each service separately — Apple Music separately, iCloud+ separately, Apple Arcade separately. While each individual subscription in lira seems cheap, you completely lose the convenience of a unified package.
Apple One is convenient for those who want everything at once for the whole family
This is especially critical for family accounts. If you use Family Sharing and are used to sharing Apple One with your entire family — in Turkey, that trick won’t work. You’ll have to set up family subscriptions for each service separately, keep track of each one, and pay for them individually. You have to admit, that’s not exactly what you’d expect from Apple’s ecosystem.
Which Apple Watch Features Are Lost When Changing Region
No Fitness+ either, but that’s not as bad
Another service you lose is Apple Fitness+. The service is available in about 50 countries worldwide, including Russia, but Turkey is not on that list. If you work out with Apple Watch and are used to Fitness+ workouts, switching to the Turkish region means you’ll have to find a replacement.
You might think Fitness+ is not an essential service. But for those who actively use Apple Watch and enjoy studio workouts, the loss is noticeable. Especially since the service is included in the Apple One Premier tier, which is also, of course, unavailable in Turkey.
Why You Can’t Always Switch Your Apple ID Region
There’s another nuance I want to highlight from personal experience. Switching your Apple ID region isn’t always straightforward. First, you need to spend or refund your entire account balance. If you have Turkish lira on your balance — you won’t be able to switch until you zero it out. And Apple doesn’t allow refunds of the balance.
Additionally, you need to cancel all active subscriptions and wait for the paid period to end. If you have separate subscriptions to Apple Music and iCloud+, plus some apps — the process can take a month or even longer. During all that time, you’re stuck in the Turkish region with no way to switch.
Apple Music, iCloud, and Arcade in the Turkish Region
To be fair, let me list what does work with a Turkish Apple ID: App Store with Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Shazam, purchasing music on the iTunes Store, buying and renting movies through the Apple TV app, and most importantly, iCloud. The Apple Books store is also available, though it’s unlikely to interest many people.
So the basic set is in place. But if you’re used to the full Apple ecosystem — with a unified subscription bundle, movie streaming, and fitness workouts — Turkey will disappoint you.
Turkish Apple ID for iCloud and Apple Music: Pros and Limitations
In the end, I’d recommend looking at other countries. For example, the US. It’s more expensive, but everything is available there.
