Couch to 5k app 'not available in my country'

[Aladina14]

Why can I not get the app?

When I go to the app store I get a message on the screen under the Couch to 5k logo that says ' this item is not available in your country'.

I live in the UK, I have a UK bought and registered phone. It is a Samsung less than two years old that has a UK bought and registered SIM card in it.

I was hoping to start getting fit and thought Couch to 5k would be great.

This is so frustrating and annoying as all my friends have it on their phones. but I can't join them.

Can anyone explain this.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

If you live in the UK as you say you certainly should be able to get the C25K app on your phone, I am sure one of the administrators on this forum will be able to give you technical advice and explain the reason you can't get it and help you how to get the C25K app, to me it does seem strange that you can't get it living in the UK.

[Cmoi Graduate]

I understand your frustration    Aladina14 . However, it's not clear to me why Al is suggesting that the admins on this forum can sort out the unavailability of the app for you. The admins are all volunteers, with varying degrees of IT knowledge, and none of them is in any way connected to the development or availability of the C25K app.

If the app unavailability problem persists, an alternative would be to use the podcasts. You can find all the information and download links for both app and podcasts in the How to run 25K FAQ: healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[nowster Graduate]

Which mobile network? Are you able to connect to a Wi-Fi network to download it?

The correct app for Android phones is play.google.com/store/apps/...

EDIT: The greatest likelihood is that your mobile phone network has put on some new internet addresses and they're being misrecognised as being outwith the UK.

[Yesletsgo Administrator]

As an admin I'm afraid my only suggestion is to try switching your phone off and then on again. Seems to sort out most things 😁Good luck!

[wardae Graduate]

Are you using a VPN app? You may need to disconnect this in order to download the app. (I'd make sure you are downloading from a secure location at the time). Remember to switch back on once you've finished downloading! 😀

[nowster Graduate in reply to wardae]

VPN apps don't actually add security. In fact many might actually be reducing it, making you easier to track.

Almost all connections are secure nowadays and your browser will alert you if they're not! Certainly Google Play downloads only work over HTTPS and are protected by digital signatures.

Turning on DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) using a reputable service (eg. 1.1.1.1 Cloudflare) might be a better security move than using a VPN.

developers.cloudflare.com/1...

androidpolice.com/how-to-ch...

[GoogleMe Graduate]

There are also the podcasts in downloadable, non-app form, which have the advantage of being more technically robust. I am not sure where they are hiding these days (but there might be some information in our pinned posts here - there certainly used to be links)

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Please see my reply

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Cmoi has given you some links... and the issue would appear to be with your phone.

I do find Samsung helpful with some issues m it may be worth a try, also try the support links that nowster and CMoi have given you.

[drl212 Graduate]

Is your payment account for apps in your App Store set up with a UK address? Sometimes that will block you if it isn't it.

[Freecloud Graduate]

I had same problem but if you google "couch to 5k nhs mp3 download" you will see some pod sites where you can just stream the weeks as you are doing them without using an app.

[nowster Graduate in reply to Freecloud]

I maintain a page of links to the podcast files:

nowster.me.uk/c25k/podcasts...

One day I should add an RSS file there too for podcast players to subscribe to.

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Freecloud]

As per my earlier reply, the podcast archive kindly created by nowster is in the C25K FAQ.

[Fasterthanshizu Graduate]

I had a similar problem last year when I was in Australia (Android phone). There were a couple of apps I needed that Google wouldn't let me use because I was British.

Your home country is set in Google Play -> tap your profile icon top right -> Settings -> General ->Account and device preferences -> Country and Profile

If yours isn't set to United Kingdom, you can change it, but then it'll be locked for a year. If it is set to UK then I don't know what's wrong!

[kimla10]

As most posts mention Android i am assuming you are using Android smartphone. i go btw UK and Germany all the time. i had trouble getting German shopping apps but i found the solution of changing my location then i was able to get Germany apps. My Couch 2 5K worked fine because at Christmas i completed my last run!! i use iphone so i just went into settings and changed Language & Region ........