Where to find the language setting on Facebook

The language setting on Facebook is in your account settings, not in a separate menu. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of any Facebook page, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, you will see a menu — scroll down until you find Language and region. Click it.

On a phone or tablet, the process is similar but the menu looks different. Tap the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Scroll down to Language and region and tap it.

Once you are in the Language and region section, you will see a field that says Language with your current language listed next to it. Click or tap on that field to open a dropdown menu of available languages.

Choosing and saving your new language

When you click the Language field, Facebook shows you a list of languages in alphabetical order. The list includes major languages like Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, and Arabic, as well as many regional and less common languages. Scroll through the list until you find the language you want, then click or tap on it.

Facebook saves your choice when ready — you do not need to click a separate Save button. The entire Facebook interface will switch to your new language within seconds. Your News Feed, menus, buttons, and all text on the site will appear in the language you selected.

If you change your mind, you can switch back to your previous language or pick a different one at any time by returning to the same Language and region section and selecting a new option.

Key Takeaways

  • On a computer, go to the downward arrow in the top right, select Settings and privacy, then Settings, then scroll to Language and region.
  • On a phone or tablet, tap the three-line menu at the bottom right, then Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Language and region.
  • Click or tap the Language field to see a list of available languages in alphabetical order.
  • Facebook saves your language choice when ready, and the entire interface switches to your new language within seconds.
  • You can change your language back or pick a different one whenever you want by returning to the same setting.

What happens when you change your language

When you switch languages, Facebook changes the display language for your account only — it does not affect what language your friends see when they visit your profile. Your posts, comments, and messages stay in whatever language you originally wrote them. If you wrote a post in English, it will still appear in English to everyone else, even if your interface is now in Spanish or Japanese.

The language setting also does not change the language of content in your News Feed. If your friends post in English, you will still see English posts. Facebook does not automatically translate posts for you based on your interface language — that is a separate feature you can turn on if you want.

Changing the language for specific regions

In the same Language and region section where you change your main language, you will also see a field for Region. This setting tells Facebook which country or area you are in, which affects things like which ads you see and which local businesses appear in your recommendations. You can change your region separately from your language if you need to.

For example, you could set your language to English but your region to Mexico, or your language to Spanish but your region to the United States. These two settings work independently of each other.

If your language is not showing up correctly

Sometimes after you change your language, certain parts of Facebook still appear in your old language. This usually happens because your browser is set to a different language, or because Facebook is trying to match your browser settings. If this happens, check your web browser's language settings and make sure they match the language you chose on Facebook.

On most browsers, you can find language settings in the main menu or preferences. On Chrome, go to Settings, then Language. On Safari, go to Preferences, then Language. On Firefox, go to Preferences, then Language. If your browser language and Facebook language match, the display should correct itself within a few minutes.

If the problem continues, try logging out of Facebook completely, clearing your browser cache (the temporary files your browser stores), and then logging back in. This forces Facebook to reload everything in your chosen language.

Using Facebook in multiple languages

If you speak multiple languages and want to use Facebook in different languages at different times, you can switch back and forth as often as you want. There is no limit to how many times you can change your language setting. Some people switch languages depending on which friends they are talking to or which content they are reading.

Keep in mind that if you share your device with other people, changing the language will change it for anyone using that device while logged into your account. If you want different people to see different languages, each person should have their own Facebook account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my language affect what my friends see on my profile?

No. Your language setting only changes what you see. Your friends will see your posts, comments, and profile in whatever language they have their own Facebook set to. If you write a post in English, it appears in English to everyone, regardless of what language their interface is in.

Can I set different languages for Facebook on my phone and computer?

Yes. Each device has its own language setting. You can set your phone to Spanish and your computer to English, and Facebook will display in the language you chose on each device. The settings do not sync across devices.

Will Facebook translate my posts into other languages automatically?

Not by default. Your posts stay in the language you wrote them. However, Facebook offers a separate translation feature — when you see a post in a language you do not speak, you can click "See Translation" to have Facebook translate it for you. This is different from changing your interface language.

What if I cannot find my language in the list?

Facebook supports over 100 languages, but not every language in the world. If your language is not available, you can choose the closest related language or use English as a default. You can also contact Facebook through their Help Center to request support for additional languages.