Change Your iPhone's System Language in Settings
To change the language your iPhone displays, open Settings and tap General. Then tap Language & Region. At the top, you'll see iPhone Language — tap it to see a list of available languages. Select the language you want, and your iPhone will ask you to confirm. Tap Change to [Language], and the system language switches when ready. This affects menus, buttons, notifications, and system text throughout your phone.
The change takes effect right away. You don't need to restart your iPhone. If you change your mind, you can return to Settings > General > Language & Region and pick a different language at any time.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings > General > Language & Region and tap iPhone Language to see all available options.
- Select your preferred language and confirm the change — your iPhone switches when ready without restarting.
- You can change the regional format separately from the language, so your iPhone can display English text with a different date and time format.
- Some apps use their own language settings and won't change when you change your system language.
- If you forget which language you selected, you can still navigate Settings by looking for the gear icon and tapping the second item in the list.
Changing the Regional Format Without Changing the Language
Your iPhone has two separate settings: the language it displays, and the region format that controls how dates, times, and numbers appear. You can keep English as your language but change the region to see dates in a different format, for example.
In Settings > General > Language & Region, tap Region (below iPhone Language) to choose a different country or region. This changes how your calendar shows dates, how your clock displays time, and how currency appears — but the text on your screen stays in the language you selected earlier.
What Happens to Apps When You Change Your Language
Built-in Apple apps like Mail, Messages, Calendar, and Weather switch to your new language when ready. However, apps you downloaded from the App Store may not change. Many third-party apps have their own language settings that override your system language.
If an app is still showing in English after you changed your iPhone's language, open that app and look in its settings for a language option. Some apps detect your region and language automatically, while others let you choose manually. If an app doesn't offer a language setting, it may only be available in the languages the developer chose to support.
Switching Back to English or Another Language
Return to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language and select English or any other language from the list. The change happens when ready. You don't lose any data or settings when you switch languages — your photos, messages, contacts, and apps all stay exactly as they were.
If you're switching to a language that uses a different alphabet or writing system, your keyboard will change too. When you tap a text field, your iPhone will show you a keyboard for that language. You can add multiple keyboards in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards so you can switch between languages while typing.
Adding Multiple Keyboards for Different Languages
If you use more than one language regularly, you can add multiple keyboards to your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and tap Add New Keyboard. Select the language you want to add. You can add as many keyboards as you need.
When you're typing in any app, a globe icon appears at the bottom left of your keyboard. Tap it to switch between your keyboards. This lets you keep your system language in one language while typing in another — useful if you live in a bilingual household or work in multiple languages.
Troubleshooting Language Changes That Don't Stick
If you changed your language but some parts of your iPhone are still showing in the old language, restart your phone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears. Drag it to turn off your iPhone, wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.
If restarting doesn't fix it, check whether you're looking at an app with its own language setting. Open the app's settings and look for a language option there. Some apps also need to be updated in the App Store before they fully support a language you've switched to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my iPhone's language delete my data?
No. Changing the language affects only how text appears on your screen. All your photos, messages, contacts, apps, and settings remain unchanged. You can switch languages as many times as you want without losing anything.
Can I use my iPhone in two languages at the same time?
Your system language can only be one at a time, but you can add multiple keyboards so you can type in different languages. You can also set individual apps to use their own language settings if they offer that option.
What if I can't find my language in the list?
iPhone supports dozens of languages, but not every language is available in every region. If you don't see your language, check whether your iPhone model and iOS version support it. You can also try searching for a related language — for example, if you're looking for a regional dialect, the main language may appear in the list.
Does changing my language affect Siri?
Yes. Siri switches to the language you selected in Settings > General > Language & Region. If you want Siri to understand a different language, you'll need to change your system language or add a language to Siri in Settings > Siri & Search > Language.
Can I change the language just for one app?
Some apps have their own language settings, but most follow your iPhone's system language. Open the app and look in its settings menu for a language option. If the app doesn't have one, it will display in whatever language your iPhone is set to.