Change your phone's language in Settings
Your phone's language setting controls the text you see on buttons, menus, notifications, and system messages. To change it, open Settings, look for Language or Language and Region (the exact name depends on your phone type), and select the language you want. The change takes effect when ready — you'll see the entire interface switch over within seconds.
The process is nearly identical whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, though the menu names differ slightly. Both let you set a primary language and, on some phones, add a secondary language that appears when an app doesn't support your first choice. You don't need to restart your phone after changing the language.
If you're changing the language because someone else uses your phone, or because you're selling it, changing the language alone won't prevent them from seeing your data. Language is a display setting only — it doesn't hide messages, photos, or accounts. If privacy is your concern, you'll want to look at account sign-out and data removal separately.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, find Language or Language and Region, and tap the language you want — the change happens when ready without restarting.
- Your phone can support a secondary language that apps use when they don't have your primary language available.
- Changing the language affects only what you see on screen, not which accounts are signed in or what data is stored on the phone.
- If you're preparing to hand off your phone, change the language as one step, but also sign out of accounts and consider a factory reset for full privacy.
How to change language on an iPhone
On an iPhone, go to Settings and scroll down to find General. Tap General, then tap Language & Region. At the top, you'll see iPhone Language — tap it to see a list of all available languages. Select the one you want and confirm. The entire interface will switch to that language within a few seconds.
If you want to add a secondary language for apps that don't support your primary choice, stay in Language & Region and look for Add Language at the bottom of the screen. Tap it, choose a language, and set its position in the list. Apps will use languages in the order you've listed them.
How to change language on an Android phone
On Android, open Settings and scroll to find System or About Phone (this varies by manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands organize menus differently). Once you're in System, look for Languages and input or Language. Tap it, then tap Languages or Add language. Select your preferred language from the list. If you've added multiple languages, drag your preferred one to the top of the list.
Some Android phones let you set language per app rather than system-wide. If you see an option for App language, you can use that to run individual apps in a different language while keeping your system menus in another. This is useful if you want your phone's interface in English but a specific app in Spanish, for example.
What happens to your apps and accounts when you change language
When you change your phone's language, most apps will switch to that language automatically if they support it. Some older or less common apps may stay in English or another language if the developer hasn't translated them. You can usually override this by going into the app's own settings and changing its language separately — the app's language setting takes priority over your phone's system language.
Your accounts — email, social media, banking apps, and others — remain signed in and unchanged. Changing the language doesn't log you out or hide your data. If you're handing the phone to someone else and want to prevent them from accessing your accounts, you'll need to sign out of each one individually before you hand it over.
Changing language for a specific app instead of the whole phone
If you only want to change the language for one app, not your entire phone, open that app and look for Settings within it (usually a gear icon or three horizontal lines). Scroll to find Language, Preferences, or Display Language. Select your preferred language and save. This change affects only that app — your phone's system menus stay in their original language.
This approach is helpful if you're learning a new language and want to practice with one app while keeping your phone's core functions in a language you're fluent in. It's also useful if you share a phone with someone who prefers a different language for a particular app.
Restoring your phone's original language if you change it by mistake
If you accidentally changed your phone to a language you don't understand, you can still change it back even if you can't read the menu labels. On an iPhone, open Settings (the gear icon), tap the second item in the list (which is always General), then tap the third item (which is always Language & Region), and select the language you want from the list at the top.
On Android, open Settings, tap the icon that looks like a person or gear (usually near the bottom), scroll down to find the item with a globe or "A" icon (this is Languages and input or Language), and select your language. If you're still stuck, you can also perform a factory reset, which returns your phone to its original language and all default settings — though this erases all your data, so only do this as a last resort.
Why your phone might show text in multiple languages
If you see some menus in one language and other menus in another, your phone likely has multiple languages enabled and they're in the wrong order. Go back to Language & Region (iPhone) or Languages and input (Android) and check which language is listed first — that's the one your phone will use. Move your preferred language to the top of the list by dragging it or using the reorder option.
Another reason for mixed languages is that some apps have their own language settings that override your phone's system language. If a banking app or social media app is showing in a different language than the rest of your phone, open that app's settings and change its language there. System language and app language are separate controls, so changing one doesn't automatically change the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my phone's language affect my passwords or sign-in information?
No. Your passwords, PIN, and biometric sign-in (fingerprint or face recognition) work the same regardless of what language your phone displays. Changing the language is purely a display change — it doesn't alter how your phone stores or uses your security information.
Can I set different languages for different users on the same phone?
On iPhone, no — language is a system-wide setting that applies to everyone using that phone. On Android, some phones with multiple user profiles allow each user to set their own language, but this depends on your specific device and manufacturer. Check your phone's user or profile settings to see if this option is available.
What if an app doesn't have my language available?
The app will display in its default language, usually English. You can sometimes change the app's language in its own settings menu, but if the developer hasn't translated it, you're limited to whatever languages they've included. Contacting the app's developer to request your language is the only way to push for a translation.
Does changing my phone's language affect my contacts or text messages?
No. Your contacts, messages, photos, and all personal data remain exactly as they are. Language is a display setting only — it changes how menus and buttons look, not what information your phone stores or how it organizes it.
Can I have my phone display in two languages at the same time?
Not on the system menus themselves — your phone will display in one primary language. However, you can add a secondary language that apps use as a fallback if they don't support your primary choice. You can also set individual apps to display in different languages by changing each app's internal language settings.