How to Change the Language on Your iPhone

Where to Find the Language Setting

The language setting on your iPhone lives in the Settings app, not in a separate menu. Open Settings, tap General, then tap Language & Region. The first option, iPhone Language, shows your current language. Tap it to see the full list of languages your iPhone supports.

The list is long — over 40 languages — and organized alphabetically. Scroll to find the language you want. The name of each language appears in that language itself, so Spanish shows as "Español", French as "Français", and so on. If you are not sure which one you need, look for the English name in parentheses below it.

Key Takeaways

Open Settings, tap General, then Language & Region to reach the language menu.
Select your new language from the alphabetical list, then confirm the change when your iPhone asks you to restart.
The system language changes when ready after restart, but some apps may still show in English if they do not support your chosen language.
You can change the language back at any time using the same Settings path, even if you cannot read the menu labels.
Region and language are separate settings — changing one does not automatically change the other.

Confirming Your Choice and Restarting

Once you tap your chosen language, a confirmation screen appears. It shows the language name and asks you to confirm. Tap the button in the bottom right corner — it will say "Change" or the equivalent word in your new language. Your iPhone will restart automatically.

The restart takes 30 seconds to two minutes. During this time, your screen will go black and show the Apple logo. Do not turn off your phone or interrupt the restart. When it finishes, your iPhone will display everything in your new language: the lock screen, Settings, Messages, Mail, and all built-in apps.

What Changes and What Does Not

Apple's built-in apps — Settings, Messages, Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Maps, Camera, Photos, and Health — all switch to your new language when ready. The system menus, notifications, and error messages change too. If you use Siri, voice commands and responses will also switch to your new language.

Third-party apps (ones you downloaded from the App Store) may not change. An app like Instagram, TikTok, or Spotify will stay in English unless the app itself has a separate language setting inside it. This happens because those apps are built to use your device's language only if the developer programmed them to do so. You can change the language within individual apps by opening them, going to their settings, and looking for a language or language preference option.

Changing the Region Separately

Language and region are two different settings. Your language controls what words appear on your screen. Your region controls how dates, times, and numbers display — for example, whether you see 12/31/2024 or 31/12/2024, and whether prices show in dollars or euros.

To change your region without changing your language, stay in Settings > General > Language & Region and tap Region instead of iPhone Language. Choose your region from the list. This is useful if you move to a new country but want to keep your iPhone's menus in English, or if you want dates and times to display in a specific format.

If You Cannot Read the Menu After Changing

If you changed your language and now cannot read the labels in Settings, you can still change it back. The Settings app icon looks the same in every language — it is a gray square with gears. Open Settings, then tap the second option in the list (General is always the second item). Tap the third option in that menu (Language & Region is always third). Tap the first option (iPhone Language is always first), and select English or your preferred language from the list.

Alternatively, if you have a family member or friend who speaks the language you accidentally selected, they can walk you through the steps by describing which buttons to tap in order.

Restarting Without Changing Language

Sometimes your iPhone needs a restart for a language change to fully take effect, especially if some apps are still showing in the old language. To restart without changing the language again, go to Settings > General > Shut Down. Slide the power slider to the right, wait for your phone to turn off completely, then press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears.

A full restart can also fix cases where the keyboard is not matching your language, or where autocorrect is still using the old language's dictionary. After the restart completes, check a few apps to confirm everything is displaying correctly.

Choosing a Keyboard That Matches Your Language

When you change your iPhone's language, the keyboard does not automatically switch. You may want to add a keyboard for your new language so you can type in it. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard. Find your language in the list and tap it. Some languages have multiple keyboard layouts — for example, Spanish has both standard and ABC layouts — so you may see options to choose from.

Once you add a keyboard, a globe icon appears when you are typing. Tap it to switch between keyboards. This is useful if you need to type in both English and your new language. You can add as many keyboards as you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my language delete my photos, messages, or other data?

No. Changing the language only changes the words that appear on your screen. All your photos, messages, contacts, and files stay exactly where they are. The change is purely visual and does not affect any of your stored information.

Can I use different languages for different apps?

Your iPhone's system language applies to all built-in apps and menus. However, many third-party apps have their own language settings inside the app. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences, and search for a language option. You can set Instagram to Spanish while keeping your iPhone menus in English, for example.

What if my language is not on the list?

iPhone supports over 40 languages, but not every language in the world. If your language is not listed, the closest regional variant may be available — for example, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese are both options. Check the full list by scrolling all the way through. If your language truly is not there, you can keep your iPhone in English and change individual app languages where available.

Does changing the language affect my Apple ID or iCloud settings?

No. Your Apple ID, iCloud account, and all your cloud data remain unchanged. The language setting only affects how your iPhone displays information to you. Your account and backups work the same way in any language.

How long does it take to change the language?

The actual change takes less than a minute once you confirm your choice. Your iPhone restarts, which takes 30 seconds to two minutes depending on your model and how much data is on it. After the restart completes, your new language is active when ready.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.