Changing your Amazon account region should be a straightforward process—especially when moving countries or seeking better access to localized content. Unfortunately, for many users, this process often comes to a grinding halt with a frustratingly vague message: “We cannot process your request at this time.” If you’ve encountered this error, you’re not alone. The good news is that with the right steps and understanding, this seemingly insurmountable roadblock can be conquered.
TL;DR
Amazon’s “We cannot process your request” error when changing account regions is often caused by account anomalies, payment method issues, or linked services incompatibility. Most commonly, resolving stuck subscriptions, mismatched billing details, or lingering Gift Card balances will resolve the problem. A thorough cleanup of your account settings followed by accessing Amazon through a different browser or device can make all the difference. Scroll on for a detailed, step-by-step solution list that actually works.
Why the Error Occurs
This cryptic message is Amazon’s default response to several potential internal issues, making it difficult to decipher exactly what needs fixing. Below are the most common reasons Amazon may block your attempt to change regions:
- Active subscriptions such as Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited tied to a specific country.
- Conflicting payment methods entered under another country’s billing format.
- Remaining Amazon Gift Card or promotional balance that must be spent or removed.
- Linked services (like Alexa, Audible, or Kindle devices) still associated with the old region.
- Recent account activity triggers security flags preventing a region switch.
This error also pops up if you’ve already attempted the change multiple times without success, locking Amazon’s internal processes in a loop of failed region reassignments.
Step-by-Step Fixes That Actually Work
Let’s break down the process into manageable steps. Completing these systematically will increase your chance of success.
1. Clear Up Digital Subscriptions
Start by visiting your Amazon subscriptions page. Disable or cancel the following if visible:
- Amazon Prime membership
- Kindle Unlimited
- Amazon Music Unlimited
- Any magazine or app subscriptions tied to your current country
Do note that some subscriptions need to run out their full term before you’re allowed to unlink them entirely. If possible, time your region switch with the expiration of these services.
2. Remove Incompatible Payment Methods
Visit Your Payments and verify that all attached cards have billing addresses matching the region you’re moving to. Remove cards that do not correspond with the intended country. Attempting to switch with a U.S. card while moving to the U.K., for example, often triggers a mismatch and blocks the region update.
3. Zero Out Any Gift Card or Promotional Balance
If you have even $0.01 left in your Amazon balance, the system will refuse to update your country. You can check your balance here.
- If you can’t spend the balance: contact Amazon support and ask for the balance to be removed.
- Promotional credits (like “$5 off Kindle eBooks”) usually expire – wait them out or ask for a manual removal via chat.
This is one of the most overlooked causes of failure during a region switch.
4. Sign Out, Clear Cache, Use a Different Browser
Once your account is cleaned up, sign out. Clear your cache and cookies, or better yet, use a different browser or incognito mode. Open a fresh session on Amazon’s version of the site corresponding to your desired country (like amazon.co.uk for the UK).
Sign in again, navigate to Your Content and Devices, and attempt the region switch from the “Preferences” tab.
5. Update Country in “Your Content and Devices” Page
Now try the actual region switch again. Go to:
Your Content and Devices > Preferences > Country/Region Settings
Click the “Change” button next to your current country, enter a valid address in the new region, and apply the change.
If all other issues have been resolved, the change should process without error. Wait a few seconds, and refresh the page. If you’re successful, you’ll see your new region listed.
6. Disconnect Linked Devices and Services
If the region switch still fails, turn your attention to linked devices:
- Deregister your Kindle devices and re-register them after the change.
- Log out of Alexa and Audible accounts tied to your old region.
- Cancel automatic renewals associated with Amazon Skills or in-app purchases.
Visit Manage Your Devices to clean up any lingering hardware or digital associations before trying again.
7. Contact Amazon Support – The Secret Phrase
If nothing works, go to Amazon Support—but don’t just file a general ticket. Instead, drop this specific phrasing during a live chat:
“I am trying to change my Amazon region to [Country], but I keep getting ‘We cannot process your request’ despite removing all conflicting balances and services. I believe my account environment may be stuck. Could you please do a manual override or escalate this to account engineering?”
Surprisingly, this language often prompts the customer service rep to check account blocks and manually reset services on their end. Be polite and persistent—they do have the tools to fix it.
Bonus: Enable Local Stores and Benefits
After successfully switching your region, you will need to update a few settings:
- Update your shipping addresses and billing profile to match local norms.
- Add region-specific payment options, like European credit cards or local bank accounts.
- Subscribe or re-activate Prime or other services now localized to your new region.
Thoroughly navigate through settings like Language and Communications to tweak all region-specific defaults.
When Not to Change Your Region
There are cases where it’s not worth switching your region:
- You use a VPN just to access media—Amazon may still detect and block inconsistent usage.
- You are temporarily visiting another country (e.g., traveling for a month).
- You want to keep access to U.S.-only services like certain skills, Kindle eBooks, or Prime Videos.
In such cases, it’s better to keep your original region and use manual address changes for shipping when needed.
Conclusion
That annoying “We cannot process your request” message on Amazon isn’t the end of the road—it’s a signal that something in your account doesn’t line up with their regional policies or systems. By cleaning up subscriptions, adjusting payment details, wiping out gift card balances, and potentially contacting Amazon with the right escalation language, you stand a very good chance of succeeding.
Always remember that region-switching is designed to serve the long-term resident, not the occasional traveler. But when done right, it unlocks the full spectrum of content, services, and localized shipping options exclusive to your new home base.
