Adding a new course takes three taps on mobile or two clicks on desktop

To add another language course to your Duolingo account, open the app or website and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner (mobile) or top right (desktop). Select Settings, then scroll down and tap Learning language. At the bottom of that screen, you'll see Add another language. Tap it, choose your new language from the list, pick your starting level if the app offers that choice, and confirm. The new course appears in your home feed when ready alongside your existing course.

You can add as many courses as you want to a single account. Duolingo doesn't limit the number. Each course has its own progress bar and lesson streak, so you can work through them at different speeds without one affecting the other.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap your profile icon, go to Settings, select Learning language, and tap Add another language to start a second course.
  • Both new and existing courses appear on your home feed, and you can switch between them by tapping the course name at the top of the screen.
  • Each course tracks its own streak and progress separately, so falling behind in one doesn't affect the other.
  • You can remove a course later by going to Settings, Learning language, and tapping the trash icon next to the course name.

Where to find the Add another language button

The location of this button differs slightly between mobile and desktop, but the path is the same. On iPhone or Android, tap the profile icon (usually your avatar or initials) at the bottom right of the home screen. On a computer, click your profile icon at the top right. Both lead to your account menu.

From there, select Settings (sometimes labeled as a gear icon). Scroll down until you see Learning language or Learning languages. This section shows your current course. Below it, you'll see the button to add another one. The exact wording varies—it may say Add another language, Add a language, or Start a new course—but the function is identical.

Choosing your new language and starting level

After you tap the add button, Duolingo displays a list of available languages. Scroll through and tap the one you want to learn. The list includes major languages like Spanish, French, German, and Japanese, as well as less common ones like Irish, Swahili, and Klingon.

Some languages offer a placement test or level selection before you start. If you already speak the language at an intermediate or advanced level, you can take a short test to skip the beginner lessons and start closer to your actual level. If you're a complete beginner, you can skip this and start at Lesson 1. Either way, you can always adjust your starting point later by going back to Settings and resetting the course.

Managing multiple courses on your home feed

Once you've added a second course, both appear on your home screen. At the top of the feed, you'll see the name of whichever course you're currently viewing. Tap that name to open a dropdown menu showing all your active courses. Select the one you want to work on, and the feed switches to show lessons and practice for that language.

You can also swipe left or right on some versions of the app to move between courses. Each course maintains its own lesson queue, so you won't accidentally mix up which language you're studying. Your streaks, XP, and progress are tracked separately for each one.

Pausing or removing a course you no longer want

If you decide you don't want to continue with a course, you have two options: pause it or delete it. To pause, go to Settings, select the course you want to pause, and look for a Pause course button. This stops your streak counter but keeps your progress saved. You can resume whenever you're ready.

To remove a course entirely, go to Settings, find Learning language, and tap the trash or delete icon next to the course name. This removes it from your account and resets your progress in that language. You can always add it back later and start fresh.

Switching between courses during your daily practice

Duolingo doesn't require you to finish all lessons in one course before moving to another. You can complete a lesson in Spanish, then switch to French, then back to Spanish—all in the same session. The app tracks your daily goal separately for each course, so if your goal is 10 minutes per day, you could do 5 minutes of Spanish and 5 minutes of French and still meet your target.

Some users find it helpful to work on one course in the morning and another in the evening, or to alternate days. Others mix them throughout the day. There's no penalty for switching, and doing so can actually help keep both languages fresh in your mind.

What happens to your streak when you add a new course

Your existing course streak is not affected when you add a new one. If you've built a 50-day streak in Spanish, it stays at 50 days. The new course starts with a 0-day streak. To maintain both streaks, you need to complete at least one lesson in each course every day. Missing a day in either course breaks that course's streak, but the other one continues.

If you're worried about keeping up with multiple streaks, remember that you can pause a course without losing your progress. This stops the streak counter so you won't feel pressured to practice a language you're not focused on right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than two courses at the same time?

Yes. Duolingo allows you to add as many courses as you want to one account. Some users study five or six languages simultaneously. Each course has its own progress tracker and streak, so you can manage them independently.

Do I have to pay extra to add another course?

No. Adding courses is free on Duolingo. You can add as many as you want without paying anything. Duolingo+ (the paid subscription) removes ads and unlocks some features, but the ability to add multiple courses is available to all users.

What if I want to switch my main course?

You can change which course appears as your "primary" course by going to Settings and selecting Learning language. Choose the course you want to focus on, and it becomes your default. The other courses stay on your account and you can still practice them anytime.

Can I reset a course and start over without deleting it?

Yes. Go to Settings, select the course you want to reset, and look for a Reset course or Start over option. This clears your progress in that course and returns you to Lesson 1, but keeps the course on your account. Your streak in that course will also reset to zero.

Will learning multiple languages at once slow down my progress?

That depends on how much time you spend practicing. If you have 30 minutes a day to practice and split it between two languages, you'll progress more slowly in each one than if you spent all 30 minutes on one. But many people find that studying multiple languages keeps them engaged and helps them remember both better because they're switching between them.