Change Your iPad Language in Settings

To change your iPad language, go to Settings > General > Language & Region, tap iPad Language, choose your language from the list, and tap Done. Your iPad will restart and display everything in the new language. The process takes less than a minute and works on all iPad models running current software.

This change affects the entire system — menus, buttons, notifications, and built-in apps all switch to your chosen language. Apps you downloaded from the App Store may or may not follow this change; many apps let you set their language separately within the app itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, then General, then Language & Region to find the language option on any iPad.
  • Your iPad will restart after you select a new language, so save any open work first.
  • Third-party apps may not change language automatically and may need their own language settings adjusted inside the app.
  • If you change your mind, you can switch back to your original language using the same Settings path.
  • The language you choose also affects the keyboard layout and regional settings like date and time format.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Changing Language

Start by unlocking your iPad and opening the Settings app — it has a gray icon with gears and is usually on your home screen or in the App Library. Tap it to open the main settings menu.

In the left sidebar, tap General. This opens a list of general iPad settings. Scroll down and tap Language & Region. You will see options for iPad Language, Region, and Calendar format.

Tap iPad Language (the first option). A list of available languages appears in alphabetical order. Scroll to find your language and tap it once to select it. A checkmark appears next to your choice.

Tap Done in the top right corner. Your iPad will ask you to confirm the change. Tap Change to [Language Name]. Your iPad restarts and displays everything in the new language.

What Happens When You Change Language

Once you confirm the change, your iPad shuts down and restarts — this takes about 30 seconds. When it comes back on, every system element switches to your new language: the Settings app, Control Center, Siri, notifications, and all built-in apps like Mail, Calendar, Photos, and Safari.

The keyboard layout also changes to match your language. If you switch to French, your keyboard becomes AZERTY instead of QWERTY. If you switch to a language that uses a different alphabet — Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Russian, for example — the keyboard changes to that alphabet.

Your personal data does not change: your photos, contacts, messages, and files stay exactly as they are. Only the labels and menus around them change.

Apps That May Not Change Language Automatically

Apps you downloaded from the App Store do not always follow your iPad language setting. Many popular apps — including social media, messaging, and productivity apps — have their own language settings inside the app.

To change the language in a specific app, open that app and look for Settings or Preferences, usually found in a menu or gear icon. Look for a Language or Localization option. Not every app offers this choice; some apps use only the language of your region or your Apple ID account.

If an app does not have a language setting inside it, the only way to change its language is to change your iPad's region setting, which affects more than just language — it also changes how dates, times, and currency display.

Switching Back to Your Original Language

If you change your language and decide you want to switch back, follow the same steps: Settings > General > Language & Region > iPad Language. Find your original language in the list, tap it, and tap Done. Your iPad restarts again and returns to the original language.

You can change your language as many times as you want. There is no limit to how often you switch, and each change works the same way.

Language vs. Region: What Is the Difference

Language controls what words appear on your screen — English, Spanish, French, German, and so on. Region controls how dates, times, numbers, and currency display. You can have English language with a British region (which shows dates as DD/MM/YYYY) or English language with a US region (which shows dates as MM/DD/YYYY).

Most people change only the language and leave the region set to their home country. If you change the region, it affects how your calendar displays dates, how your clock shows time, and how apps format phone numbers and addresses. You can adjust region separately in the same Language & Region menu if you need to.

Troubleshooting: Language Change Did Not Work

If you changed the language but some apps or menus still show the old language, restart your iPad completely. Hold the top button and one volume button until the power-off slider appears, drag it to turn off your iPad, wait 10 seconds, then hold the top button again until the Apple logo appears.

If a specific app is still in the wrong language after your iPad restarts, that app has its own language setting. Open the app, find its settings menu, and look for a Language option there. Some apps also require you to sign out and sign back in for a language change to take effect.

If you cannot find your language in the iPad Language list, your iPad software may be outdated. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates. Newer software versions often add more language options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my iPad language affect my Apple ID or iCloud account?

No. Your Apple ID, iCloud account, and all your data remain unchanged. Only the language your iPad displays changes. You can sign in with the same account and access all your files, photos, and settings exactly as before.

Can I use two languages on the same iPad?

Your iPad system can display only one language at a time. However, you can add multiple keyboards in different languages so you can type in different languages without changing your system language. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard to add extra keyboards.

What if my language is not in the list?

iPad supports over 40 languages. If you do not see your language, check that your iPad software is up to date by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Older software versions have fewer language options. If your language still does not appear after updating, it may not be supported on iPad.

Does changing language affect Siri?

Yes. Siri will speak and understand commands in your new language. If you want Siri to use a different language than your system language, go to Settings > Siri & Search > Language and choose a separate language for Siri only.

Will my keyboard automatically switch to the new language?

Your default keyboard will switch to match your new language. If you use multiple keyboards, you can switch between them while typing by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard. You can keep keyboards in multiple languages active at the same time.