Before you use Firestore in Datastore mode, you must choose a *location* where
the project's data is stored. To reduce latency and increase availability, store
your data close to the users and services that need it.

> [!WARNING]
> **Warning:** Once you select a location for your project, you cannot change it. [Your project's location setting applies to more than one product.](https://docs.cloud.google.com/datastore/docs/locations#selecting_a_location)

## Types of locations

You can store your Datastore mode data in either a *multi-region*
location or a *regional* location.

Data in a multi-region location operates in a [multi-zone and multi-region
replicated configuration](https://docs.cloud.google.com/docs/geography-and-regions#multi-regional_resources). Select a multi-region location if you want
to maximize the availability and durability of your database. Multi-region
locations can withstand the loss of an entire region and maintain availability
without data loss. In the [Datastore Service Level Agreement](https://docs.cloud.google.com/datastore/sla),
multi-region locations define a higher monthly uptime percentage than regional
locations.

Data in a regional location operates in a [multi-zone replicated
configuration](https://docs.cloud.google.com/docs/geography-and-regions#regional_resources). Select a regional location if your application is
more sensitive to write latency or if you want [co-location with other
Google Cloud resources](https://docs.cloud.google.com/about/locations#products-available-by-region) that your application may use.

### Multi-region locations

A multi-region location consists of a defined set of
[regions](https://docs.cloud.google.com/docs/geography-and-regions#regions_and_zones) where multiple replicas of the database
are stored. Each replica is either a read-write replica which contains all of the
data in the database or a witness replica which does not maintain a full set of
data but participates in replication.

By replicating the data between multiple regions, data
can continue to be served even with the loss of an entire
region. Within a region, data is replicated across
[zones](https://docs.cloud.google.com/docs/geography-and-regions#regions_and_zones) so that data can continue to be served
within that region even with the loss of a zone.

The following multi-region locations are available:

| Multi-Region Name | Multi-Region Description | Read-Write Regions | Witness Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| `eur3` | Europe | `europe-west1` (Belgium), `europe-west4` (Netherlands) | `europe-north1` (Finland) |
| `nam5` | United States (Central) | `us-central1` (Iowa), `us-central2` (Oklahoma---private Google Cloud region) | `us-east1` (South Carolina) |
| `nam7` | United States (Central and East) | `us-central1` (Iowa), `us-east4` (Northern Virginia) | `us-central2` (Oklahoma---private Google Cloud region) |

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** For Legacy Cloud Datastore databases not yet upgraded to Firestore in Datastore mode, see [Multi-region locations (Legacy Cloud Datastore)](https://docs.cloud.google.com/datastore/docs/pre-migration/multi-r).

### Regional location

A regional location is a specific geographic place, such as South Carolina. The
following regional locations are available:

|   | Region Name | Region Description |   |
|---|---|---|---|
| **North America** |   |   |   |
|   | `us-west1` | Oregon | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `us-west2` | Los Angeles |   |
|   | `us-west3` | Salt Lake City |   |
|   | `us-west4` | Las Vegas |   |
|   | `us-central1` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Iowa | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `northamerica-northeast1` | Montréal | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `northamerica-northeast2` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Toronto | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `northamerica-south1` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Queretaro |   |
|   | `us-east1` | South Carolina |   |
|   | `us-east4` | Northern Virginia |   |
|   | `us-east5` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Columbus |   |
|   | `us-south1` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Dallas | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
| **South America** |   |   |   |
|   | `southamerica-west1` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Santiago | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `southamerica-east1` | São Paulo | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
| **Europe** |   |   |   |
|   | `europe-west2` | London | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `europe-west1` | Belgium | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `europe-west4` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Netherlands | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `europe-west3` | Frankfurt |   |
|   | `europe-west8` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Milan | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `europe-southwest1` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Madrid | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `europe-west9` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Paris | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `europe-west12` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Turin | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `europe-west10` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Berlin |   |
|   | `europe-north1` | Finland | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `europe-north2` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Stockholm | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `europe-central2` | Warsaw | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
|   | `europe-west6` | Zürich | ![leaf icon](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon/gleaf.svg) [Low CO~2~](https://cloud.google.com/sustainability/region-carbon#region-picker) |
| **Middle East** |   |   |   |
|   | `me-central1` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Doha |   |
|   | `me-central2` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Dammam |   |
|   | `me-west1` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Tel Aviv |   |
| **Asia** |   |   |   |
|   | `asia-south1` | Mumbai |   |
|   | `asia-south2` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Delhi |   |
|   | `asia-southeast1` | Singapore |   |
|   | `asia-southeast2` | Jakarta |   |
|   | `asia-southeast3` | Bangkok |   |
|   | `asia-east2` | Hong Kong |   |
|   | `asia-east1` | Taiwan |   |
|   | `asia-northeast1` | Tokyo |   |
|   | `asia-northeast2` | Osaka |   |
|   | `asia-northeast3` | Seoul |   |
| **Australia** |   |   |   |
|   | `australia-southeast1` | Sydney |   |
|   | `australia-southeast2` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Melbourne |   |
| **Africa** |   |   |   |
|   | `africa-south1` This location does not support App Engine. If you plan to use App Engine, you should choose a different location. | Johannesburg |   |

## Selecting a location

The location setting for your Google Cloud project applies to both
Firestore in Datastore mode and App Engine. When you select a location in either
product, you set the location for your entire Google Cloud project.

> [!IMPORTANT]
> **Important:** After you select the location of your project, you cannot change it.

If you have not yet selected a location for your project, you will be asked to
select the location when you complete any of the following tasks:

- Creating a new App Engine application.
- [Creating your first Datastore mode entity using the
  Google Cloud console](https://docs.cloud.google.com/datastore/docs/store-query-data).

### Viewing the location of your project

Use one of the following methods to find out which location you selected for
your project:

- Run the `gcloud app describe` command.

- If you have at least one version of an App Engine app deployed, open the
  [App Engine Dashboard](https://console.cloud.google.com/appengine) in the
  Google Cloud console. The location information in the upper right-hand corner
  of the dashboard applies to both App Engine and Firestore in Datastore mode.

  ![Screenshot of the previously chosen location](https://docs.cloud.google.com/static/datastore/docs/images/gae_dashboard_location.png)

## Next steps

- For more information about building applications to meet your latency, availability and durability requirements, see [Geography and Regions](https://docs.cloud.google.com/docs/geography-and-regions#multi-regional_resources).
- For a map of locations, see [Cloud Data Center Locations](https://docs.cloud.google.com/about/datacenters).