Change your Steam interface language in three steps

Open Steam and go to Steam (top left menu) > Settings. Click Interface in the left sidebar. Under "Language", select your language from the dropdown menu, then click OK. Steam will restart and display in your chosen language.

The language you pick here controls the menus, buttons, and text throughout the Steam client itself — the storefront, your library, your account settings, everything. It does not change the language of individual games you own, which have their own language settings inside each game.

Steam supports over 30 languages. If you switch languages and the client does not restart automatically, close Steam completely and open it again.

Key Takeaways

  • The Steam client language is set in Settings > Interface > Language, and takes effect after Steam restarts.
  • Changing the Steam client language does not change the language of the games you own — each game has its own language menu.
  • Steam supports more than 30 languages, and you can switch between them at any time.
  • If Steam does not restart after you change the language, close the client completely and reopen it.

Where to find the language menu

Click the Steam menu in the top left corner of the client window. This is the menu bar, not a button in the middle of the screen. From the dropdown, select Settings.

In the Settings window, look for Interface in the left sidebar. Click it. The right side of the window will show interface options, including a section labeled "Language" with a dropdown menu showing your current language.

On Mac, the menu bar is at the very top of your screen. Click Steam there, then Preferences instead of Settings. The rest of the path is the same: Interface in the sidebar, then the Language dropdown.

Selecting a new language and confirming the change

Click the Language dropdown to see all available options. Scroll through the list and click the language you want. The list includes languages like English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Italian, Polish, and many others.

After you select a language, click the OK button at the bottom right of the Settings window. Steam will close the Settings window and restart itself to explore the change. This usually takes 10 to 30 seconds.

If the client does not restart on its own, close Steam completely (right-click the Steam icon in your system tray or taskbar and select Exit, or use the X button on the window). Then open Steam again. It will load in your new language.

Game language is separate from the Steam client language

Changing the Steam client language does not change the language of the games you play. Each game has its own language settings, usually found in the game's own settings menu or launcher.

To change a game's language, launch the game and look for a Settings or Options menu inside the game itself. Some games let you set the language before you start playing. Others require you to change it in-game. A few games use the language of your operating system by default and do not offer a language menu at all.

If you are not sure where a game's language settings are, check the game's store page on Steam or its official website. Many games list language options in the "About This Game" section or in the community forums.

Switching back to your original language

You can change the Steam client language as many times as you want. Go back to Steam > Settings > Interface, click the Language dropdown, and select a different language. Click OK and Steam will restart again.

There is no limit to how often you can switch. Some people change the language to learn a new language, then switch back when they are done. Others keep Steam in a language that matches their region or preference.

What happens to your library and account when you change languages

Changing the Steam client language does not affect your library, your games, your friends list, or your account in any way. Your games stay installed, your saves stay where they are, and your account information stays the same. Only the text and menus you see in the Steam client change.

If you share your computer with someone else and want to use different languages, each person can log into their own Steam account. When they log in, the client will display in whatever language they set for their account. The language preference is tied to the account, not the computer.

Troubleshooting language changes that do not work

If you change the language but Steam still displays in the old language, the client may not have restarted properly. Close Steam completely. On Windows, right-click the Steam icon in the system tray (bottom right of the taskbar) and click Exit. On Mac, click Steam in the menu bar and select Quit Steam. Wait a few seconds, then open Steam again.

If Steam still shows the wrong language after a full restart, go back to Settings > Interface and check that your language choice was saved. Sometimes the dropdown reverts if the change did not explore correctly. Select your language again, click OK, and wait for the restart.

If you are using a shared computer or a work computer, your administrator may have locked the language setting. In that case, you will not be able to change it. Contact your system administrator or the person who manages the computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the Steam language change the language of my games?

No. The Steam client language and game language are separate. Changing the Steam interface language only changes the menus and text in the Steam client itself. Each game has its own language setting that you control inside the game.

Can I use Steam in multiple languages on the same computer?

Yes, if you have multiple Steam accounts. Each account stores its own language preference. When you log into a different account, Steam will display in that account's language. If you are the only account on the computer, you can only use one language at a time.

What if my language is not in the dropdown menu?

Steam supports over 30 languages, but not every language in the world. If your language is not listed, the closest option is usually a related language or English. You can also check the Steam community forums to see if other users have found workarounds.

Does changing the language affect my game saves or achievements?

No. Your saves, achievements, playtime, and all account data stay exactly the same. Changing the language only changes what you see on your screen, not any data stored on Steam's servers or on your computer.

How do I change the language back if I accidentally chose the wrong one?

Go back to Settings > Interface and select a different language from the dropdown. You can change it as many times as you want. Click OK and Steam will restart in the new language.