You’ve probably been there: your favorite online friend who lives across the world finally convinces you to join their Genshin Impact co-op runs, or you’re moving abroad and don’t want to deal with 300ms ping every time you try to clear Spiral Abyss. The first question that pops into your head is can i change servers in genshin impact, and what happens to all the progress you’ve spent months grinding for? We’re breaking down everything you need to know about switching regions, from step-by-step instructions to the fine print most players don’t find out until it’s too late. We’ve tested the process across PC, mobile, and console platforms to make sure all advice is accurate and up to date for current game versions.
Can I Change Servers in Genshin Impact Without Losing Progress?
The short answer is yes, you can switch servers any time you want, but your existing progress will not carry over to the new server. HoYoverse keeps all user data completely separate between regions to comply with local data privacy laws and reduce cross-region server load. That means every server has its own independent account profile, with no shared resources or progress between them. I learned this the hard way when I moved from the U.S. to Tokyo a few years ago, and assumed my NA server account would transfer over to the Asia server automatically. I ended up losing access to all my 5-star characters and 100+ hours of quest progress until I switched back to the NA server.
There are only a few things that stay the same across all servers linked to your HoYoverse account. Your login credentials work for every available region, so you don’t have to make a new account to try a different server. Your HoYoverse friend list and private messages also carry over, but you won’t be able to play co-op with friends on a different server even if they’re on your list. You might have seen online rumors that some servers have higher banner pull rates, but that’s completely untrue. Drop rates for characters and weapons are identical across every Genshin Impact server, so don’t switch regions for that reason alone.
There is no official way to transfer progress, purchases, or characters between servers, even if you contact HoYoverse customer support. Thousands of players have requested this feature over the years, but the company has stated repeatedly that cross-server progress transfers are not possible under current data regulations. If you have spent hundreds of dollars on your main server account, switching to a new region means you will lose access to all those purchases unless you switch back.
Step-by-Step Process to Switch Genshin Impact Servers
Switching servers only takes a minute, and the process is almost identical across PC, iOS, and Android devices. PlayStation users have a few extra steps because PSN accounts are region-locked by default, but we’ll cover those differences below. Before you switch, make sure you have enough storage space on your device if you’re switching to a region that uses a different default language, as you may need to download a small language pack to play.
- Open Genshin Impact on your device and wait for the main launch screen to load, before you click the “Start Game” button
- Tap or click the Server button located right under the "Start Game" prompt, which shows your current active server
- Select the server you want to switch to from the dropdown list of available regions, which includes NA, EU, Asia, and SAR servers
- Click “Confirm” and wait for the game to reload your selected server, which takes less than 10 seconds in most cases
- Hit "Start Game" to create a new account profile on your chosen server, or log into your existing profile for that region
For PlayStation users, you will need a separate PSN account for each region you want to access. For example, if you have a U.S. PSN account linked to your HoYoverse profile, you can only access the NA server on that PSN account. To play on the EU server, you’ll need to make a new EU region PSN account and link it to your HoYoverse profile separately. This is a PlayStation platform restriction, not a Genshin Impact rule, so it applies to all online games on PS4 and PS5.
You can have up to 6 separate server profiles linked to a single HoYoverse account, one for each available region. That means you can have active accounts on every server if you want, without needing to make multiple HoYoverse logins. To switch back to your original server, just follow the same steps and select your original region from the server list. All your progress will still be there exactly as you left it.
Common Reasons Players Switch Genshin Impact Servers
The most popular reason players switch servers is to play co-op with friends who live in different regions. Cross-server co-op is not supported, so if your best friend plays on the EU server and you’re on the NA server, the only way to play together is for one of you to switch servers. A lot of players make small casual accounts on their friends’ servers for co-op runs, while keeping their main account active on their original region. That way you don’t have to abandon your main progress just to play with people overseas.
Another common reason is to reduce ping after moving to a new country. When I was traveling in Southeast Asia last year, my NA server ping was consistently over 300ms, which made it impossible to dodge enemy attacks or clear timed events. Switching to the Asia server cut my ping down to 40ms instantly, and the game ran completely smoothly with no lag. If you’re dealing with constant lag or disconnections, switching to a server closer to your physical location is one of the fastest fixes available.
Some players switch servers to start a fresh playthrough without deleting their main account. Many players like to test new character builds or team compositions on a fresh server before spending primogems on their main account. It’s also a great way to re-experience the main story from the beginning, without losing all the progress you’ve made on your main profile. A lot of content creators also run separate accounts on different servers to make content for different regional audiences, since event times and community trends vary slightly between regions.
You might also want to switch servers to align with your local time zone. All servers run on their own local reset time for daily commissions, weekly bosses, and event deadlines. If you work night shifts and regularly miss the NA server reset at 5AM UTC, switching to the Asia server which resets at 20PM UTC might make it easier for you to claim all your daily rewards without adjusting your schedule. Just remember that you’ll have to start over on the new server, so only make that switch if the time difference is causing you consistent issues.
Important Rules and Restrictions to Know Before Switching Servers
First and foremost, all purchases are tied to the server you bought them on. If you purchase a Welkin Moon, Genesis Crystals, or a battle pass on the NA server, those purchases will not show up on any other server linked to your account. You’ll have to repurchase any paid items if you want to use them on a different region. Make sure you use up all your existing Welkin Moon days and battle pass rewards before switching servers if you don’t want to waste your money.
You also won’t be able to claim any event rewards from one server on another. If you participate in a limited-time event on the EU server, you can’t transfer those rewards to your NA account, even if you use the same HoYoverse login. Event rewards are always tied to the specific server profile you earned them on, so make sure you claim all your rewards before switching to a different region if you don’t want to lose them.
Cross-server co-op is still not supported, even if you have accounts on the same server as your friend. If you’re logged into your NA account, you can only play with other NA server players, even if you have an EU account linked to the same HoYoverse profile. You have to be actively logged into the same server as the people you want to play with to join their co-op worlds. That’s why most players who play with cross-region friends keep a separate casual account on that region’s server, instead of switching their main account permanently.
Finally, be aware that some regional servers have different content restrictions based on local laws. For example, the Chinese server has slightly modified character designs and story content to comply with local media regulations. If you switch to a server in a different region, you might notice small differences in character outfits, dialogue, or available content. Most of these changes are minor, but they’re worth keeping in mind if you’re particular about having the original unmodified game experience.
At the end of the day, the answer to can i change servers in genshin impact is a clear yes, as long as you go into the process with realistic expectations. If you’re looking to play with friends overseas, fix constant lag issues after a move, or just start a fresh playthrough, switching servers is a quick, easy process that takes less than a minute. Just don’t expect to bring your 5-star characters, primogem stash, or quest progress along for the ride. If you’re attached to your main account, consider keeping it active and using a separate server profile for casual play instead of abandoning your hard-earned progress entirely.