Chrome can display its menus and buttons in dozens of languages, and you can switch between them in about two minutes

Google Chrome lets you change the language of its interface — the menus, buttons, and settings screens — without reinstalling anything. You do this through Chrome's settings, and the change takes effect the next time you restart the browser. This is different from translating web pages you visit; this is about the language Chrome itself speaks to you.

The process is the same whether you use Chrome on Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook. You can also set Chrome to use one language while your computer uses another, so if you share a device with someone else, each person can see Chrome in their preferred language.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Chrome settings, go to Languages, and click the three dots next to any language to set it as your display language.
  • Chrome will ask you to restart the browser for the change to take effect — your open tabs and windows will reopen automatically.
  • You can add multiple languages to your Chrome profile and switch between them without changing your computer's system language.
  • If you want Chrome to automatically translate web pages written in other languages, that is a separate setting in the Languages section.
  • Changing Chrome's language does not affect other programs on your computer or the language of websites you visit.

Open Chrome Settings and Find the Languages Section

Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome. This opens a menu. Select Settings from the list.

On the left side of the Settings page, you will see several options. Click Languages and input. This section controls both the language Chrome displays and how it handles text input and translation.

Add a New Language or Switch to an Existing One

In the Languages section, you will see a list of languages already added to your Chrome profile. If the language you want is already there, skip to the next section. If not, click Add languages at the bottom of the list.

A window will open showing available languages. Scroll to find the language you want, click it, and then click Add. Chrome will add it to your languages list.

Set Your Display Language

Once your language is in the list, find it and look to the right of its name. You will see three vertical dots. Click those dots and select Display Chrome in this language.

Chrome will show a message asking you to restart the browser. Click Relaunch. Your browser will close and reopen, and all your open tabs will come back automatically. The Chrome menus, buttons, and settings will now appear in the language you chose.

What Happens to Your Bookmarks and Settings

Changing Chrome's display language does not affect your bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, or any other data stored in your Chrome profile. Everything stays exactly where it was. Only the words you see on the screen change.

If you sign into Chrome with a Google account, your language choice syncs across all your devices. If you use Chrome on your phone, your laptop, and a work computer, they will all show Chrome in the same language unless you change it on a specific device.

Automatic Translation of Web Pages

Changing Chrome's display language is separate from translating the websites you visit. If you want Chrome to offer to translate web pages written in languages you do not read, that is a different setting in the same Languages section.

Look for Offer to translate pages that aren't in a language you read and toggle it on. When you visit a page in a language Chrome does not recognize as one you use, it will show a popup asking if you want to translate it. You can translate that page without changing Chrome's display language.

Switching Back or Using Multiple Languages

You can change Chrome's display language as many times as you want. Just go back to Settings, Languages and input, find the language you want, click the three dots, and select Display Chrome in this language. Restart Chrome, and you are done.

If you share your computer with someone else and you both use the same Chrome profile, you will both see the same display language. If each person has their own Chrome profile or their own user account on the computer, each can set Chrome to a different language independently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing Chrome's language affect other programs on my computer?

No. Chrome's display language is separate from your computer's system language. You can have Windows or Mac set to English while Chrome displays in Spanish, or any other combination. Other programs like Word or Firefox are not affected.

What if I cannot find my language in the list?

Chrome supports over 100 languages, but not every language variant may be listed. If you are looking for a specific regional version — like Portuguese (Brazil) versus Portuguese (Portugal) — scroll carefully through the list, as Chrome groups them together. If your language truly is not there, you may need to use your computer's system language settings instead.

Will my bookmarks and passwords still work after I change the language?

Yes. Changing the display language does not touch any of your data. Your bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history, and synced information all stay the same. Only the text on the screen changes.

Can I set Chrome to one language and my computer to another?

Yes. Chrome's language setting is independent of your operating system. You can have your Windows or Mac menus in English while Chrome displays in French, or any other combination you prefer.

Do I need to restart my computer for the language change to take effect?

No, you only need to restart Chrome itself. Click the Relaunch button that appears after you select a new display language, and Chrome will close and reopen with the new language active. Your computer does not need to restart.