Change your iPad's language in Settings
Open Settings on your home screen, then tap General. Scroll down and tap Language & Region. At the top, tap iPad Language, then select the language you want from the list. Your iPad will restart and display everything in that language.
The whole process takes about two minutes. Your apps, menus, and system messages will all switch to the new language when ready. If you change your mind, you can switch back the same way. Make sure you save any open work before you start, since your iPad will restart during the switch.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPad Language to see all available languages on your device.
- Your iPad will restart after you select a new language, so save any open work first to avoid losing unsaved changes.
- Changing the system language does not change the language of apps you downloaded — those follow their own language settings or the system language depending on how the developer built them.
- You can set a different keyboard language without changing your whole system language by staying in Language & Region and tapping Keyboards instead.
- If you get stuck in a language you cannot read, you can navigate by icon position or restore your iPad through a computer to reset the language to English.
What happens to your apps when you change the language
Most built-in Apple apps like Mail, Calendar, Maps, and Notes will switch to your new language automatically. Third-party apps you downloaded from the App Store may or may not follow the system language — it depends on how the developer built the app and whether they translated it into that language.
If an app does not switch, you can sometimes change its language inside the app itself. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences, and search for a language option. Some apps let you pick a language independent of your system language, while others are locked to whatever language your iPad is set to. If the app has no language option, the developer may not have translated it yet.
Adding a second keyboard language without changing everything
If you want to type in a different language but keep your menus and settings in English, you do not have to change your system language. Instead, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard and choose the language you want to type in.
Once you add it, a globe icon will appear on your keyboard. Tap it to switch between languages while you type. This is useful if you speak two languages but prefer your system menus in one of them. You can add as many keyboard languages as you need, and switch between them when ready.
Changing the region without changing the language
Your iPad's region setting controls things like date format, time format, and which currency symbol appears in apps. You can change your region separately from your language. In Settings > General > Language & Region, tap Region and pick a different one.
For example, you could keep your language set to English but change your region from United States to Canada or Australia. This changes how dates and times display without affecting the language of your menus or apps. Some apps also use region to determine which version of content they show you.
What to do if your language is not in the list
iPad supports dozens of languages, but not every language in the world. If you do not see your language listed, check whether a regional variant exists — for example, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese are separate options, as are different versions of Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic.
If your language truly is not available, your best option is to add a keyboard for that language and keep your system language in English or another language you read. You can then type in your preferred language even though the menus stay in English. You can also contact Apple Support to request that they add your language in a future update.
Reverting to English or your original language
If you accidentally changed your language and now cannot read the menus, the process is the same — you just have to navigate by position and icons. Open Settings (the gear icon), tap the second item in the list (General), scroll down, and tap the item that looks like a globe with lines (Language & Region). Tap the first option (iPad Language) and look for English or your original language in the list.
If you get stuck and cannot navigate by icons, you can also restore your iPad to its original settings through a computer using Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows), which will reset the language to English. This erases your iPad, so use it only as a last resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the language affect my data or files?
No. Changing the language only changes how the system displays text. All your photos, documents, messages, and other data stay exactly as they are. You can switch languages back and forth without losing anything.
Can I set different languages for different user accounts on the same iPad?
If your iPad has multiple user accounts set up through Family Sharing, each account can have its own language setting. Each person logs in and sets their own language in their own Settings. The system language switches when you switch users.
What if an app is in the wrong language after I change my system language?
Open the app and look for a Settings or Preferences option inside it. Some apps have their own language menu that overrides the system setting. If the app has no language option, the developer may not have translated it into your language yet.
Does changing the language slow down my iPad?
No. Language is just text — changing it does not affect your iPad's speed or performance. Your iPad will restart briefly when you switch languages, but that is normal and takes only a few seconds.
Can I use multiple languages at the same time?
You can add multiple keyboard languages and switch between them while typing. For the system menus and apps, you can only display one language at a time, but you can switch back and forth as often as you want.