Digital Relocation

“Don’t we live in a seamless, globalized digital world? Why does this even matter?” you might ask. In reality, the digital ecosystem is far less connected across borders than expected. It matters because major accounts like Google, Apple, and Amazon are strictly tied to your country of origin. Switching them to Germany affects everything from app availability and payment methods to subscriptions, cloud storage, and access to financial services.

One of our founders learned the hard way how complex account conversions can be when you don’t follow the correct order. She got stuck in a seemingly endless loop of conversion issues, lost account access, payment glitches, and family subscription lockouts.

So learn from her mistakes and note that when you relocate, your digital life needs to relocate too, but the process is not always straightforward.

This guide explains what changes, when you convert your accounts, how to do it safely step-by-step, and why keeping your home‑country phone number active and maintaining multiple email addresses is one of the smartest relocation decisions your family can make.

1. Why account conversion matters when you move to Germany

Digital platforms treat each country as a separate ecosystem:

• Google: Play Store apps, payment methods, YouTube content, Google Pay availability

• Apple: App Store region, Apple Wallet, Apple Music, iCloud storage billing

• Amazon: Prime membership, delivery options, digital content, payment cards
  
  

Common challenges for individuals and families are:

• Apps available in your home country are not available in Germany

• Payment cards from your home country stop working

• Subscriptions (news, family apps, streaming, educational tools) cannot be renewed

• Two‑factor authentication (2FA) fails because your old phone number is gone

• Banking apps from your home country lock you out due to missing verification

• Amazon Prime benefits do not transfer between countries

• Family sharing groups and parental controls break due to country mismatch

This is why planning your family's digital transition is just as important as planning your Anmeldung.

2. Chronological Action Plan for a Smooth Move

• 30 Days Before Moving: 

• Inventory all active accounts and region-locked services, 

• cancel non-transferable subscriptions, 

• Verify identity and security settings: Ensure two‑factor authentication still works and update recovery options to avoid losing access,

• and convert home phone numbers to low-cost or eSIM plans.

• First Week in Germany: Complete your Anmeldung, set up your German bank account, and secure a German phone number.

• After Setup Complete: Create secondary German digital identities or update payment profiles, keeping your home country numbers active for 2FA.

3. Why you will need multiple email addresses when relocating internationally
One of the most overlooked aspects of digital relocation is the fact that Google, Apple, and Amazon do not allow one email address to be used for multiple country accounts.
This means:

• You cannot use the same Gmail address for a US Google account and a German Google account.
• You cannot use the same Apple ID email for two different country stores.
• You cannot use one email for Amazon.com and Amazon.de if you want separate accounts.

When relocating, many newcomers want local accounts for local apps, banking, mobility services, deliveries, and payments. But they also want to keep their home‑country accounts active for access to digital purchases, home‑country banking apps, streaming subscriptions, cloud storage, travel back home, etc.

Because platforms treat each country as a separate digital ecosystem, you must use different email addresses to maintain both accounts.

Best practice for newcomers to prevent account conflicts, login issues, and accidental region locks:
✔ Keep your original email address for your home‑country digital identity
✔ Create a new email address exclusively for your German digital identity.

4. The golden rule: Keep your home‑country phone number active

This is the single most important recommendation we give to international newcomers.

Why? Because your home‑country phone number is the backbone of your digital identity.

Banks, credit cards, investment accounts, tax portals, and even your Apple/Google login rely on your phone number for: SMS verification, 2FA codes, Identity confirmation, Fraud alerts, and Password resets.

Best practice:

✔ Keep your home‑country SIM card active for all family members

✔ Switch it to a low‑cost prepaid plan

✔ Store it in your phone as eSIM or secondary SIM

✔ Use your German number for daily life, but keep the old one for verification

This small step prevents major headaches later.

5. How account conversion works (Google, Apple, Amazon)

If you are not planning on separating your digital identities and are looking to convert your existing accounts to German accounts, these steps apply broadly across Google, Apple, and Amazon, with platform‑specific variations.

5.1 What changes when you switch your Google account to Germany?

Google’s ecosystem includes:

• Play Store apps

• Google Pay

• YouTube content

• Google One storage

• Maps services

• Payment profiles

When switching to Germany:

• Create a new Google Payments profile for Germany

• Some apps disappear from your library

• Google Pay may require a German bank

• YouTube content availability changes

• Add a German address

• Add a German payment card

• Switch Play Store country

• Some apps may disappear or require re‑purchase

5.2 What changes when you switch your Apple ID to Germany?

Apple ties almost everything to your country setting:

• App Store availability

• Apple Music & TV

• iCloud storage billing

• Apple Wallet

• Payment cards

• Subscriptions

Changing your Apple ID region:

• Cancel all active subscriptions before switching region

• Add a German payment method

• Update billing address

• Re‑download apps available in Germany

• Apple Wallet may require a German bank

5.3 What changes when you switch your Amazon account to Germany?

Amazon accounts are country‑specific, meaning:

• Your Prime membership does not transfer

• Your digital content library (Kindle, Audible, movies) may change

• Your saved payment methods may be removed as payment methods must match the country

• Your delivery addresses reset

• Some items available in your home country cannot be shipped to Germany
  
  

Most newcomers create a new Amazon.de account, but you can also switch your existing account’s region. A German Amazon Prime account currently runs at about 90 € per year.

6. imHome’s recommendation for a smooth digital transition

Based on our own mistakes and experience:

✔ Determine which is the best path for you: dual digital identities or account conversion to Germany
✔ Create a German digital identity 
✔ Convert your accounts as needed after you have:

• Anmeldung

• German bank account

• German phone number

• Stable internet

• Your home‑country number still active

✔ Keep both numbers (home + Germany) for at least 12 months

Final thoughts:
Digital relocation is part of your real‑world relocation and is one of those hidden relocation tasks that becomes stressful only when something breaks. imHome recommends a proactive approach, so your arrival in Germany is smooth, structured, and stress‑free.