If you’ve ever logged into Genshin Impact mid-trip abroad only to be stuck with 300ms latency that makes even slaying a slime feel like a chore, or wanted to join your friend’s co-op run only to realize they’re on a completely different region, you’ve probably wondered can i switch servers in Genshin Impact. It’s one of the most common questions new and long-time players ask, especially as more people travel or connect with gaming friends across the world. The short answer is yes, but there are a lot of hidden rules and tradeoffs that most players don’t find out about until it’s too late. I learned this the hard way back when I first started playing, when I packed up and moved from Tokyo to Los Angeles and lost access to my first 5-star character, Keqing, that I’d grinded for months to pull.
Can I Switch Servers in Genshin Impact Without Losing My Progress?
This is the first question almost every player asks before they hit that server switch button, and for good reason. No one wants to lose dozens, or even hundreds, of hours of quest progress, 5-star pulls, and limited-time event rewards just to play with a friend. No, your progress does not carry over between servers unless you create a new save on the new server. HoYoverse runs separate server instances for each major region to keep latency low for local players, and each server operates completely independently from the others.
That means all your primogems, characters, weapons, story progress, furnishing sets for your Serenitea Pot, and even your friend list are locked to the server you earned or added them on. You can use the same HoYoverse account to log into any server, but each server will have its own blank save file when you first log in. I learned this when I tried to log into my existing HoYoverse account on the NA server after moving, and was greeted with the opening cutscene instead of my level 45 account. I thought I’d lost my account forever until I realized I was just on the wrong server, and switching back to Asia brought all my progress right back.
What Are the Common Reasons to Switch Genshin Impact Servers?
Most players don’t switch servers on a whim, since it means starting completely from scratch. There are a few common scenarios that make the tradeoff worth it for most people:
- You’ve moved to a new country or region, and your original server has unplayable high latency that ruins co-op and open world exploration
- Most of your real-life friends or online co-op partners play on a different server, and you want to join their sessions regularly to run domains, fight bosses, or explore new regions together
- You want to participate in region-specific events or promotions that are only available on certain server regions, like exclusive redeem codes or collaboration events tied to local brands
- You want to start a fresh new account without deleting your existing progress on your main server, either to reroll for better starting characters or to experience the story again without losing your endgame build
Latency is by far the most common reason people make the switch. I’ve tried playing on my old Asia server from LA, and even with a wired internet connection, I was sitting at 220ms consistently. Anything over 150ms will make parrying, dodging, and co-op runs almost impossible, since your inputs take almost a full second to register. It’s not fun to get one-shot by a Hilichurl archer because your dodge didn’t go through in time, or to get kicked from a co-op domain because your lag is making the run harder for everyone else. For a lot of players, starting over is worth it just to have smooth gameplay again.
How to Switch Servers in Genshin Impact on Any Platform
Switching servers is actually really simple on most platforms, and takes less than a minute once you know where to look. The process varies a little depending on what device you play on, so let’s break it down for each major platform. For PC players, open the Genshin Impact launcher as you normally would, but don’t hit the “Play” button right away. Look at the bottom left corner of the launcher window, and you’ll see the name of your current server listed. Click on that name to open a dropdown menu of all available servers, select the one you want to join, then hit play. You’ll log into your HoYoverse account like normal, and the game will load the save file tied to that server.
For mobile players (iOS and Android), open the Genshin Impact app and wait for the login screen to load. At the top right corner of the screen, right below the “Tap to Start” button, you’ll see your current server name. Tap that name to open the server list, select the one you want, then tap to start and log in. If you only want to switch servers temporarily to test latency, you don’t have to make any permanent changes to your account.
For PlayStation players, the process is a little more complicated. PlayStation users have extra restrictions because of PSN region locking rules. Your Genshin Impact server on PlayStation is tied directly to the region of your PSN account. If you want to switch to a different server, you’ll need to create a new PSN account registered to that region, then link it to a HoYoverse account (you can use the same email as your main account, or a separate one). Keep in mind that you’ll have to switch PSN accounts every time you want to switch servers on PlayStation, which is a little more hassle than on PC or mobile, but it works just as well once you set it up.
Important Things to Consider Before You Switch Servers
Before you commit to switching servers full time, there are a few important things you should know to avoid unpleasant surprises later. First, any purchases you made on your original server will not carry over to the new one. That includes genesis crystals, battle passes, and limited-time paid skins. If you spent $100 on a battle pass on your NA server, you’ll have to buy it again if you want the rewards on your new EU server. You will not be able to claim any existing redeem codes on your new server if you already used them on your old one, even if the code is still valid for all regions. Each code can only be used once per HoYoverse account, across all servers.
Second, there is no way to transfer any items or progress between servers, even if you reach out to HoYoverse customer support. I’ve seen dozens of players beg support to move their 5-star characters to a new server after moving, and the answer is always no. HoYoverse does not offer any character or progress transfer services between servers, even if you contact customer support, so don’t waste your time submitting a ticket asking for it. If you switch servers permanently, make sure to use up any remaining primogems or genesis crystals on your old server first, since you won’t be able to use them on the new one.
Third, you won’t be able to play with friends on your old server unless you switch back. If most of your friend group is on your original server, but you have a few friends on a new one, you might be better off keeping both accounts instead of abandoning your old save entirely. I run two accounts now: one on NA for my local friends I play with every weekend, and one on Asia to play with my family who still lives in Tokyo. It takes a little extra time to keep up with both, but it’s worth it to not have to choose between groups.
At the end of the day, if you were asking can i switch servers in Genshin Impact, the answer is a clear yes, as long as you’re prepared to start fresh on the new server. It’s a great choice if you’re dealing with unplayable latency after moving, or if you want to play regularly with friends on a different region. Just make sure you understand all the tradeoffs before you spend any money or put dozens of hours into your new server save. If you’re not sure if the switch is worth it, try logging into the new server for a few hours first to test the latency and see if you enjoy the fresh start before you commit. And if you’ve already switched servers, drop a comment below to share what made you make the move.