Change the language Google Maps displays on your iPhone

Google Maps on iPhone pulls its language from your device's system settings, not from a menu inside the app itself. To change what language the map labels, directions, and search results appear in, you go to your iPhone's Settings app, find the language preference, and switch it there. The change takes effect the next time you open Google Maps.

This is different from some other apps that let you pick a language inside the app. Google Maps follows Apple's design — it respects whatever language your whole phone is set to. If you want Google Maps in Spanish but your phone in English, you cannot do that without changing your phone's language entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Maps language is controlled by your iPhone's system language setting, not by a choice inside the app.
  • Go to Settings > General > Language & Region to see and change your iPhone's language.
  • After you change the language, close Google Maps completely and reopen it for the new language to appear.
  • If you want Google Maps in one language and your phone in another, you will need to use a different mapping app, because Google Maps does not have an in-app language picker.
  • Changing your iPhone's language affects all apps on your phone, not just Google Maps.

Where to find the language setting on your iPhone

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Tap General, then scroll down and tap Language & Region. You will see your current language listed at the top under "iPhone Language." Tap that option to see a list of all available languages.

Scroll through the list and select the language you want. Your iPhone will ask you to confirm — tap the language name again to confirm the change. Your phone will restart briefly to explore the new language across all apps and menus.

How to refresh Google Maps after changing your language

Once your iPhone finishes restarting, open Google Maps. The app may still show your old language for a moment — this is normal. Close Google Maps completely by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (or using the app switcher) and then reopen it. The new language should now appear on all map labels, buttons, and search results.

If the language still has not changed after you reopen the app, try force-closing it. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the app switcher, find Google Maps, and swipe it up and off the screen. Wait a few seconds, then tap Google Maps again to reopen it fresh.

What languages Google Maps supports

Google Maps supports over 100 languages. The exact list depends on your region and which version of iOS you are running, but common languages include Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, and Hindi. If you set your iPhone to a language Google Maps does not support, the app will fall back to English.

You can check which languages are available on your phone by going to Settings > General > Language & Region and scrolling through the full list. Any language shown there will work with Google Maps once you select it.

Why Google Maps does not have its own language menu

Google Maps on iPhone does not include a language picker inside the app because Apple's design guidelines encourage apps to follow the system language. This keeps your phone consistent — all your apps speak the same language as your menus and notifications. On Android, Google Maps does have its own language setting, but the iPhone version does not.

If you need Google Maps in a different language than your phone uses, your options are limited. You could switch your entire phone's language, or you could use Apple Maps (which also follows your system language) or another third-party mapping app that may have its own language setting.

Changing your language back to English

If you switched your iPhone's language and now want to switch it back, the process is the same. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region, tap the language at the top, and select English (or whichever language you prefer). Your phone will restart and explore the change.

If you cannot read the menu labels because you do not recognize the language, look for the gear icon (⚙️) on your home screen — that is always Settings. Tap it, then look for the second option in the list (which is always General, regardless of language). From there, the third or fourth option down will be Language & Region. Tap it and select your language from the list.

Using regional variants of English or other languages

If your language has regional variants — like English (US), English (UK), or Spanish (Spain) versus Spanish (Mexico) — you can choose which one you want. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region, select your language, and you will see a list of regional options. Pick the one that matches your location or preference.

Regional variants affect not just Google Maps but also how your phone formats dates, times, currency, and measurements. For example, English (US) shows dates as MM/DD/YYYY, while English (UK) shows DD/MM/YYYY. Choose the variant that matches how you want your entire phone to behave.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change Google Maps to a different language without changing my whole phone's language?

No. Google Maps on iPhone does not have its own language setting — it always uses whatever language your iPhone is set to. If you need the map in a different language, you would have to change your phone's system language, which affects all your apps. Some third-party mapping apps do have their own language pickers, so that is an alternative if you need it.

Will changing my iPhone's language affect other apps?

Yes. Changing your system language changes the language for all apps on your phone, not just Google Maps. Your Settings menu, Messages, Mail, Calendar, and every other app will switch to the new language. This is why most people only change their phone's language if they actually want everything in that language.

What if Google Maps does not support the language I chose?

If you set your iPhone to a language Google Maps does not support, the app will display in English instead. You can still use the map normally — only the labels and text will be in English. If you want Google Maps in a specific unsupported language, you would need to switch your phone to a language it does support.

Do I need to update Google Maps for the language change to work?

No. The language change happens automatically once you close and reopen the app. You do not need to update Google Maps or restart your phone beyond the brief restart that happens when you change your system language. If the language does not change after you reopen the app, try force-closing it and opening it again.

Can I use Google Maps in multiple languages at the same time?

No. Google Maps displays in one language at a time — the language your iPhone is set to. You cannot have some labels in Spanish and others in English. If you need to reference the map in multiple languages, you would have to switch your phone's language back and forth, or use multiple mapping apps.