Where to find language settings on your phone
The language setting on your phone lives in the same place on both Android and iPhone, but the exact path differs slightly. On an iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then Language & Region. On Android, open Settings, scroll to System or About phone (depending on your manufacturer), then tap Languages or Language and input.
Once you are in the language menu, you will see a list of languages your phone supports. The language currently active appears at the top or is marked with a checkmark. Tap the language you want to switch to, and your phone will ask you to confirm. The change takes effect when ready — your menus, notifications, and built-in apps will all shift to the new language within seconds.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and select your preferred language from the list.
- On Android, go to Settings > System > Languages (or Language and input) and tap the language you want to use.
- Changing your phone's language affects system menus and built-in apps when ready, but third-party apps may stay in their original language unless you change their individual settings.
- Your phone must support the language you want to switch to; if you do not see your language in the list, your device may not have that language pack installed.
- You can switch back to your original language at any time using the same menu, even if you cannot read the current language.
What happens to your apps when you change the language
Built-in apps like Messages, Mail, Calendar, and the phone dialer will switch to your new language right away. However, apps you downloaded from the App Store or Google Play may not follow the system language change. Instead, they often stay in whatever language they were set to when you first opened them, or they use the language of the country where you created your account.
To change the language in individual apps, open each app, look for Settings within that app (not your phone's settings), and find the language or localization option. Not every app offers this choice — some apps only work in one language. If an app does not have its own language setting, it will stay in its original language no matter what you do at the phone level.
Switching languages on iPhone step by step
Open your iPhone's Settings app (the gray gear icon). Tap General, which is usually near the top of the list. Scroll down and tap Language & Region. You will see a button labeled iPhone Language at the top — tap it to see all available languages.
Scroll through the list and tap the language you want. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the change. Tap Change to [Language Name]. Your iPhone will restart its interface, and everything will now display in your chosen language. If you change your mind, you can return to the same menu and pick a different language.
Switching languages on Android step by step
Open your Android phone's Settings app (usually a gear icon). Scroll down and tap System, or if you do not see System, look for About phone and tap the back arrow to return to the main settings menu. Tap Languages and input or Languages — the exact name varies by manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and others use slightly different labels).
Tap Languages to see the full list. The language currently in use appears at the top. Tap the language you want to switch to, and your phone will explore the change when ready. The system menus and notifications will now appear in your new language. You can return to this same menu anytime to switch to a different language.
When your language is not in the list
If you do not see your language in the available options, your phone does not have that language pack installed. Older phones or phones sold in certain regions may not include every language. Check your phone's manufacturer website or support page to see whether a language update is available for your specific model.
Some phones allow you to read additional language packs through Settings. On newer Android phones, you may be able to tap Add a language or read more languages at the bottom of the language list. On iPhone, language packs are included with system updates, so updating to the latest iOS version may add new languages. If your language still does not appear after checking for updates, your device may not support it.
Changing the keyboard language separately from the system language
Your phone's system language and your keyboard language are two separate settings. You can have your menus in English but type in Spanish, or vice versa. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and tap Add New Keyboard to add a second language keyboard. You can then switch between keyboards by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard when you are typing.
On Android, open Settings > System > Languages and input > Virtual keyboard (or On-screen keyboard), select your keyboard app (usually Google Keyboard or Gboard), and look for the language settings within that app. You can add multiple keyboard languages and switch between them while typing. This is useful if you regularly type in more than one language but want your phone's menus to stay in one language.
Troubleshooting when the language change does not work
If you changed the language but some apps or menus are still showing the old language, restart your phone. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This forces all apps to reload with the new language setting. If you are still seeing mixed languages, check whether individual apps have their own language settings that override the system setting.
If your phone is frozen or unresponsive after changing the language, you can switch back even if you cannot read the current language. On iPhone, open Settings (the gear icon is usually in the same place), tap the second option from the top (General), tap the third option (Language & Region), and tap the top button to select a language you recognize. On Android, the Settings app icon and layout remain the same regardless of language, so you can navigate by icon and position to get back to the language menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my phone language affect my data or accounts?
No. Changing your phone's language only changes how menus and text appear on your screen. Your photos, messages, contacts, passwords, and accounts remain exactly the same. You can switch languages back and forth as many times as you want without losing anything.
Can I use two languages on my phone at the same time?
Your system menus can only display in one language at a time, but you can add multiple keyboard languages so you can type in different languages. You can also set individual apps to use different languages if they offer that option in their own settings. Some phones also let you add a second system language that you can quickly switch to, though this is less common.
What if I accidentally changed my language and cannot read anything?
You can still navigate back to the language menu by remembering the icon positions and order. On both iPhone and Android, Settings is usually the gear icon. Once inside, the language menu is always in the same relative position. If you are stuck, you can also connect your phone to a computer and use your phone manufacturer's support website to find visual guides showing which icons to tap in your current language.
Do I need to restart my phone after changing the language?
Usually not — the change takes effect when ready. However, if you notice some apps or menus are still in the old language after a few seconds, restarting your phone will force everything to reload. A restart is also helpful if your phone feels sluggish after the change.
Will changing my language change the language of my text messages or emails?
No. The language of your messages and emails depends on what language the person who sent them used. Changing your phone's language only changes how your phone's menus and notifications appear. The content of your messages stays exactly as it was written.