How to download Pokémon Go on Android and iOS

Niantic/The Pokémon Company

Pokémon Go has finally launched in the UK on Android and iOS. It first appeared for download on app stores in Australia and New Zealand and has slowly been going live across the globe.

On July 13 the game launched in Germany having earlier gone live in the US. Its UK launch finally came on July 14 and there its now available in more than 30 regions.

For people who downloaded the game either by side-loading the APK or changing their iOS region, uninstalling the app, reinstalling the official version and signing back in should guarantee any progress you've made has not been lost.
Android
Download from the Play store

Any Android users still unable to get Pokémon Go can download the game from APK Mirror.
You need to configure your phone to allow apps to be installed from third-party sites, rather than the official Play store. Go to Settings, Security and allow 'Unknown sources' by switching the option on. Go to the Pokémon Go APK site, select 'Download APK', press OK on the warning message pop-up and the app will download.
We advise caution though. Firstly, apps from third parties and unknown sources don't go through the rigorous anti-virus checks and can't be guaranteed compared to those hosted on the official Play store. Secondly, there are rumours developer Niantic may be banning users who use this APK mirror. Approach with caution, and make sure you have anti-virus software installed.
iOS
Download from the Apple app store

Apple users who still can't download the app in their country will need to change the region linked to their App Store account to one where Pokémon Go is available. Go to Settings on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, select iTunes & App Store and tap your Apple ID. You will need to sign out if you are already signed in otherwise Apple will not successfully switch the region.

Once signed in, press Country/Region and select which region you wish to change it to. This may also require you to select, or update, a payment method. Return to the App Store, search for Pokemon Go and select 'Get'. You will then need to create a new Apple ID to log in.

The app is currently available in more than 30 countries including Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, Italy and the UK, so selecting any of these will work.
How to change your region to get Pokémon Go in more countries
Further instructions, as well as how to change your country on a Mac, can be found on Apple's official support pages here.

This involves opening iTunes, signing in with your Apple ID and going to View My Account. In a similar way to how it works on a phone, click "Change Country or Region." On the welcome to the iTunes Store page, click Continue, agree to the terms and conditions and enter your billing information.

Newly created Apple IDs update the country updates for all of your Apple services on all of your Apple products.

Getting started with Pokémon Go

The augmented reality game lets players collect, train and battle Pokémon characters in the real world. Pokémon Go is free to play, with in-app purchases ranging from £0.79 for 100 PokéCoins to £79.99 for 14,5000. The in-game currency lets players purchase upgrades and power-ups.
Coins are spent on items, including extra Pokéballs that you'll need to actually catch Pokémon you encounter, support items such as incense to attract rarer creatures, 'Lucky Eggs' that hatch into new Pokémon, and upgrades for both your item backpack and Pokémon storage. Although you get proportionally more coins the more real-world money you spend, just shy of £80 is a lot to ask for the highest tier package.

The game, developed by Niantic Labs in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, uses the real-world environment to hide Pokémon, with water-types most often found by lakes and oceans, for example. Players battle for control of local gyms.

Which software will work with Pokémon Go?
Pokémon Go is compatible with Android 4.4 and above and iOS 8 or later.

Once installed, you will need to sign in with either your Google account or login through the app. Professor Willow will take you through a brief tutorial and you can customise your avatar including its gender, hair, face shape, and clothing. You can't make changes after this avatar is saved, however. Three Pokémon will then appear, select one and you can starting hunting for more.

Countries where Pokémon Go is available