How to Change Your iPhone Language to English

The fastest way to switch your iPhone to English

Open Settings on your iPhone home screen. Scroll down and tap General, then tap Language & Region. At the top, tap iPhone Language. Scroll through the list, find and tap English, then tap Done in the top right corner. Your iPhone will restart and display everything in English.

The whole process takes about 30 seconds. If your iPhone is already in a language you cannot read, the Settings app icon looks like a gear and is usually on your home screen or in the App Library (swipe right from your last home screen page).

Key Takeaways

Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language to find the language list.
English appears as "English" in the list, with regional variants like "English (US)" and "English (UK)" below it.
Your iPhone will restart automatically after you select English and confirm the change.
If you cannot read the current language, look for the gear icon (Settings) on your home screen or swipe right to the App Library.

Finding Settings when your iPhone is in another language

If your iPhone is displaying a language you do not recognize, the Settings app is still in the same place. Look for a gear or cog icon on your home screen — this is Settings on every iPhone, regardless of language. Tap it to open the app.

If you do not see the gear icon on your home screen, swipe right from the rightmost home screen page to open the App Library. Scroll down to find the gear icon, or use the search box at the top and tap the magnifying glass, then type the first letter of "Settings" in your current language (or just tap around until you find the gear icon).

Choosing between English variants

When you tap iPhone Language, you will see several English options. The most common are English (US), English (UK), English (Australia), and English (Canada). Choose whichever matches your location or preference — the difference is mainly in spelling (colour vs. color) and some regional terms.

If you are unsure which to pick, English (US) is the most widely used. You can always change it again later by following the same steps.

What happens after you change the language

Your iPhone will restart itself after you confirm the language change. This takes about 10 to 20 seconds. During the restart, you may see the Apple logo on a black screen — this is normal. Do not turn off your phone during this time.

Once your iPhone restarts, all menus, buttons, notifications, and system messages will display in English. Apps you have downloaded may still show in their original language if the app developer did not include an English translation, but the iPhone system itself will be fully in English.

Changing the language for Siri and keyboard

Changing your iPhone language to English also changes Siri's language and the default keyboard language. If you want Siri to respond in English but use a different keyboard, you can adjust this separately.

To change just the keyboard language, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Tap Add New Keyboard and select English (or your preferred variant). You can then switch between keyboards by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard when typing. To change Siri's language separately, go to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Language and pick English from that list.

If the change does not take effect

In rare cases, your iPhone may not fully switch to English on the first try. If you still see the previous language after the restart, go back to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language and select English again. Make sure you tap Done in the top right corner to confirm.

If menus are still in another language after a second attempt, restart your iPhone manually. Hold down the power button (or power and volume button, depending on your model) until you see "slide to power off," then slide to turn it off. Wait 10 seconds, then hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears. This full restart often clears the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the language delete my photos or data?

No. Changing the language only changes how menus and text appear on your screen. All your photos, messages, contacts, and other data remain exactly as they were. The change is purely visual.

Can I have multiple languages on my iPhone at the same time?

Your iPhone system language can only be one at a time. However, you can add multiple keyboard languages so you can type in different languages. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard and select each language you want to type in.

What if I accidentally selected the wrong English variant?

straightforward go back to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language and pick a different English variant. The change takes effect after your iPhone restarts. You can switch between English (US), English (UK), and other variants as many times as you need.

Does changing the language affect my apps?

Your iPhone system will be in English, but individual apps display in whatever languages their developers included. Many apps automatically match your iPhone language, but some may stay in their original language. You can usually change an app's language inside that app's own settings.

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.