Where to find the language setting on your tablet
The language setting lives in your tablet's system settings, not in individual apps. On most tablets, you open Settings from your home screen, then look for a section called Language, Language and Input, or System. The exact name depends on whether you have an iPad or an Android tablet, and which version of the operating system you're running.
Once you're in the language section, you'll see a list of available languages. Select the one you want, and your tablet will switch when ready — menus, buttons, keyboard, and system messages all change to that language within seconds.
Key Takeaways
- On iPad, go to Settings, then General, then Language & Region, and tap Preferred Language to choose from the list.
- On Android tablets, go to Settings, then System or About Phone, then Language and Input, and select your language from the menu.
- Changing the system language affects all menus and built-in apps when ready, but does not change the language of apps you downloaded from the app store unless you change those apps individually.
- If you accidentally choose a language you cannot read, you can still navigate back to Settings by tapping the gear icon and following the visual path to the language menu.
- Some tablets let you set a second language as a backup, so your keyboard can switch between two languages without reopening settings.
Steps to change language on an iPad
Open the Settings app — it looks like a gray gear icon and is usually on your home screen or in the app library. Tap General, which is normally the first option in the list. Scroll down and tap Language & Region.
Tap Preferred Language at the top. A list of languages appears. Scroll through and select the language you want. Your iPad will ask you to confirm; tap Change Language. The system will restart briefly, and when it comes back, everything will be in your new language.
If you want to change the region separately — which affects date format, time format, and currency — stay in Language & Region and tap Region instead. This does not change the language itself, only how dates and numbers display.
Steps to change language on an Android tablet
Open Settings. On most Android tablets, Settings is a gear icon on your home screen or app drawer. Scroll down and look for System or About Tablet — the exact label varies by manufacturer. Tap it.
Inside System, look for Languages and Input or Language. Tap it. You'll see a list of languages. Tap the language you want to use. Android applies the change when ready without restarting.
Some Android tablets, particularly Samsung models, put the language setting under Settings > General Management > Language and Input instead. If you cannot find it in System, try General Management. The process is the same once you locate the menu.
What changes and what does not when you switch languages
When you change your tablet's system language, the operating system itself switches — Settings, notifications, system messages, the keyboard, and all built-in apps like Mail, Calendar, and Notes will display in your new language. This happens across your entire tablet.
Apps you downloaded from the App Store or Google Play do not automatically change unless the developer built multiple languages into that app. For example, if you read a game that only exists in English, changing your tablet's language to Spanish will not translate that game. You would need to change the language inside that app's own settings, if the option exists.
Your contacts, calendar entries, and documents stay exactly as they are — changing the language does not translate your personal data, only the interface you use to interact with it.
How to set a second language for your keyboard
If you use two languages regularly, you can add a second language to your keyboard so you can switch between them without reopening Settings. On iPad, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Tap Add New Keyboard, then select the second language you want. Now when you type, you can switch between languages by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard.
On Android, go to Settings > System > Languages and Input > Virtual Keyboard (or On-Screen Keyboard). Select your keyboard app — usually Gboard or the default Android keyboard — and tap Languages. Add your second language. When you type, a language switcher will appear on your keyboard, usually as a globe icon or a language abbreviation.
This method is faster than changing your system language if you only need to type in a second language occasionally. Your tablet's menus stay in your primary language while your keyboard handles both.
Troubleshooting if you chose the wrong language
If you accidentally switched to a language you cannot read, you can still navigate back to Settings using the visual path. Look for the gear icon (Settings), tap it, then look for the icon or visual element that resembles a globe or language symbol. The position of these icons is usually consistent even when the text is unreadable.
On iPad, the Settings icon is always a gray gear. Once inside, General is typically the first option. Language & Region is usually near the bottom of the General menu. Tap Preferred Language and select English or your preferred language from the list.
On Android, the Settings gear is usually in the same location. System or General Management is typically in the middle of the settings list. Languages and Input follows a similar visual pattern across most Android tablets. If you get stuck, restarting your tablet will not undo the language change, so do not worry about making it worse by exploring.
Why your tablet might not have the language you want
Tablets sold in certain regions sometimes come with a limited set of languages pre-installed. If you cannot find your language in the list, your tablet may not support it. Check your tablet's manual or the manufacturer's website to see which languages are available for your model.
Some languages are available as downloads rather than built-in. If you see an option to read additional languages, select it and your tablet will fetch them from the internet. This requires a Wi-Fi or cellular connection and takes a few minutes.
If your language genuinely is not available, you can change the keyboard language separately from the system language — your menus will stay in English or another available language, but you can type in your preferred language using a downloaded keyboard app from the app store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the language affect my apps or files?
Your files, photos, contacts, and documents will not change. Built-in apps like Mail and Calendar will switch to your new language, but downloaded apps will only change if the developer included that language in the app itself. You can change individual app languages in each app's own settings if the option exists.
Can I use two languages at the same time?
Your system language can only be one at a time, but you can add multiple languages to your keyboard and switch between them while typing. You can also change your system language back and forth whenever you want — there is no limit to how many times you can switch.
What if I cannot find the language I want in the list?
Check whether your tablet supports that language by looking at the manufacturer's specifications. Some languages are available as downloads rather than pre-installed. If your language is not available at all, you can use a third-party keyboard app from the app store that supports your language, even if your system language stays in English.
Does changing the language use up storage space?
Switching between languages that are already installed uses no additional space. Downloading a new language for the first time takes a small amount of storage, usually less than 50 megabytes, but most tablets have enough room that this will not be noticeable.
Can I change the language for just one app?
Yes, if the app supports multiple languages. Open the app, go to its settings or preferences, and look for a language option. Not all apps have this feature — it depends on what the developer included. If an app does not have its own language setting, it will use whatever language your tablet's system is set to.