Change your Facebook language in three steps
Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Scroll down to the Language section, click Edit next to your current language, choose a new language from the list, and click Save changes. Facebook will reload in your new language within seconds.
The process is the same whether you use Facebook on a computer or phone. On mobile, the menu button (three horizontal lines) replaces the arrow, but the path through Settings remains identical. Your language choice applies to everything you see on Facebook — menus, buttons, notifications, and posts from pages — though individual people's posts stay in whatever language they wrote them.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook language settings are in the main menu under Settings and privacy, then Settings, in the Language section.
- Changing your language takes effect when ready across your entire account and all devices where you are logged in.
- Your language choice affects only what you see on Facebook itself, not the content other people post.
- You can switch languages as often as you want with no restrictions or waiting period.
- If your preferred language is not in the main list, Facebook offers regional variations and less common languages in a scrollable menu.
Where to find the language setting on different devices
On a computer, log into Facebook and look for the downward arrow or your profile picture in the top right corner of the page. Click it to open a dropdown menu. Select Settings and privacy, then Settings from the options that appear. The Settings page will load, and you will see a left sidebar with different categories. Scroll down this sidebar until you reach Language.
On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Scroll down the page until you see Language. The steps are identical to the computer version, just with different navigation buttons because of how mobile apps are laid out.
If you use Facebook in a web browser on your phone instead of the app, follow the computer instructions above — the mobile website works the same way as the desktop version.
How to select a new language from the list
Once you reach the Language section, you will see your current language listed with an Edit button next to it. Click or tap Edit. A window will pop up showing a list of available languages, usually starting with the most common ones like English, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese. If you do not see your language in the first few options, scroll down to find it.
Facebook offers more than 100 languages, including regional variations. For example, you can choose English (US), English (UK), or English (Australia). Spanish speakers can select Spanish (Spain) or Spanish (Latin America). If you speak a less widely used language, keep scrolling — the list is long and organized alphabetically once you move past the most common choices.
Click or tap the language you want. Facebook will ask you to confirm the change. Click Save changes or Confirm depending on your device. The page will refresh, and everything on Facebook will now appear in your chosen language.
What changes when you switch languages
When you change your Facebook language, the interface switches — that means all the buttons, menus, labels, and system messages appear in your new language. The word for "Like" changes, the notification text changes, and the names of all the sections change. Your News Feed, your profile, and your messages all display in the new language.
However, posts that other people wrote stay in whatever language they posted them in. If someone writes a post in Spanish and you switch Facebook to English, that post still appears in Spanish. Facebook does offer a See Translation button on posts in languages different from your setting, which you can click to see a translation, but the original post itself does not change.
Your language choice does not affect your friends' accounts or what they see. Each person's language setting is separate. If you and a friend both use Facebook but have different language settings, you each see the interface in your own language, but you see the same posts and messages.
Switching back or changing languages again
You can change your language as many times as you want. There is no limit, no waiting period, and no penalty for switching frequently. If you change your mind after selecting a new language, go back to Settings and Language, click Edit, choose a different language, and save. The change takes effect when ready.
Some people switch languages to practice learning a new one. Others switch back and forth depending on what they are doing. Facebook does not restrict this behavior, so feel free to experiment. If you accidentally select a language you do not understand and cannot navigate back to Settings, look for the gear icon or settings symbol — it usually appears in the same location regardless of language — and follow the same path through the menus.
Troubleshooting if your language does not appear
If you do not see your language in the list, first check that you scrolled all the way to the bottom. Facebook lists over 100 languages, and the full list requires scrolling. Some languages appear under regional names — for example, if you speak Simplified Chinese, look for "Chinese (Simplified)" rather than just "Chinese."
If you have scrolled through the entire list and still cannot find your language, it may not be available on Facebook yet. Facebook adds new languages over time, but not all languages are supported. In this case, choose the closest related language or use English as a fallback. You can check back periodically to see if your language has been added.
If the Language section does not appear in your Settings at all, make sure you are looking in the right place. Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, and scroll down the left sidebar. If Language still does not show up, try logging out and logging back in, or try accessing Facebook from a different browser or device. Sometimes a temporary glitch prevents the section from loading.
What happens to your messages and notifications
When you change your language, notification emails and in-app notifications switch to your new language. If Facebook sends you an email saying someone liked your post, that email will be in your chosen language. Push notifications on your phone will also appear in your new language.
Messages between you and your friends do not change — those stay in whatever language the person who sent them used. If a friend sends you a message in French, it will still be in French even if your Facebook language is set to English. However, the message box itself, the send button, and all the controls around the message will be in your chosen language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my language affect what my friends see?
No. Your language setting is personal to your account only. When your friends visit your profile or see your posts, they see everything in their own language settings, not yours. You can change your language without affecting anyone else's experience on Facebook.
Can I set different languages for different devices?
No. Your language setting is tied to your account, not to individual devices. If you change the language on your phone, it changes on your computer too, and on any other device where you log in. Facebook syncs this setting across all your devices.
What if I accidentally choose a language I cannot read?
Go back to Settings and Language, click Edit, and look for the flag or name of your correct language. If you cannot read the language names, look for the gear icon (settings symbol) — it looks the same in every language — and follow the same menu path. You can also try using your browser's translation feature to help you navigate back.
Will changing my language affect my privacy settings or account security?
No. Language is purely a display setting. It does not change your privacy settings, security settings, or any of your account information. Your passwords, two-factor authentication, and all other security features remain exactly the same.
Can I use Facebook in multiple languages at the same time?
No. You can only set one language per account. However, you can switch languages whenever you want, so if you need to use Facebook in two languages, you can change your setting back and forth as needed.