Change Your iPad's Display Language in Settings

To change the language your iPad displays, open Settings and tap General, then Language & Region. Tap iPad Language and select the language you want from the list. Your iPad will restart and show all menus, buttons, and system text in that language.

The language list includes dozens of options — English (US), English (UK), Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic, and many others. Scroll through the full list to find the one you need. Once you select it, your iPad applies the change when ready and restarts automatically.

This change affects only the system language. Apps you have installed may or may not support the language you choose — that depends on whether the app developer included that language in their version. Your personal files, photos, and documents stay exactly as they were.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPad Language to see all available languages and pick a new one.
  • Your iPad restarts automatically after you select a new language, and all system text switches to that language right away.
  • Apps may not support every language your iPad supports, so some apps might still show in English or another language even after you change the system language.
  • Changing the system language does not affect your files, photos, or documents — only the words iPad uses to label buttons and menus.
  • You can change back to your original language anytime by following the same steps and selecting a different language from the list.

What Happens to Your Apps When You Change Languages

When you change your iPad's language, built-in apps like Mail, Calendar, Photos, and Safari switch to the new language when ready. Third-party apps — ones you downloaded from the App Store — may or may not follow. An app shows in the new language only if the developer included that language in the app's code.

You can check whether an app supports your chosen language by opening the App Store, finding the app, and scrolling down to the "Information" section. Look for "Languages" and see if your language is listed. If it is not, that app will stay in English or whatever language it defaults to, even though your iPad's system language has changed.

Some apps let you change their language separately from your iPad's system language. Open the app, go to its settings or preferences, and look for a language option. This gives you control over individual apps without changing your whole iPad.

Changing the Region and Keyboard Language Separately

Your iPad has three language-related settings that work independently. The iPad Language controls what language the system uses. The Region setting determines how dates, times, and numbers display — for example, whether a date shows as 12/25/2024 (US) or 25/12/2024 (UK). The keyboard language controls which keyboard layout you see when you type.

To change your region, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and tap Region. Pick the region that matches where you are or where you want dates and numbers formatted. This does not change the words on your screen — only how numbers and dates appear.

To add or switch keyboard languages, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and tap Add New Keyboard. Choose the language and keyboard layout you want. When you type, you can switch between keyboards by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard.

Troubleshooting: Your iPad Did Not Restart or Language Did Not Change

If you selected a new language but your iPad did not restart or the language did not change, force restart your iPad. Press and hold the top button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your iPad, wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the top button again until the Apple logo appears.

If the language still has not changed after the restart, go back to Settings > General > Language & Region and check that your chosen language is actually selected. Sometimes the change does not stick if you closed Settings too quickly. Select the language again and wait for the restart to complete fully before using your iPad.

If you cannot find your language in the list, your iPad may not support it. Check Apple's official list of supported languages on their website. Some languages are available only on newer iPad models or with certain iOS versions.

Changing Language for Siri and Dictation

Siri and dictation use the language you set in Settings > General > Language & Region, but you can change them separately if you want. Go to Settings > Siri & Search and tap Language to pick a different language just for Siri. This lets you speak to Siri in one language while your iPad displays everything else in another.

For dictation — the feature that types what you say — go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Dictation and toggle on the languages you want to use. When you tap the microphone on your keyboard, you can switch between dictation languages by tapping the language name that appears.

Keep in mind that Siri and dictation work best in languages they were designed for. Accuracy may be lower in some languages, and some languages may not be available for dictation even if they are available for the system language.

Switching Back to Your Original Language

If you changed your iPad's language and now cannot read the menus because you do not understand the new language, you can still change it back. The steps are the same no matter what language is currently displayed. Open Settings (usually the first icon in the list), tap the second option (which is General), tap the third option (which is Language & Region), and tap the first option under that (which is iPad Language).

Scroll through the list until you find the language you want — you can recognize it by its name written in that language. For example, English appears as "English", Spanish as "Español", and French as "Français". Tap your language and your iPad will restart and switch back.

If you are still stuck, you can restore your iPad to its factory settings and set it up again in your original language. This erases everything on your iPad, so only do this if you have a backup. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my iPad language change the language of my iCloud account or Apple ID?

No. Your iPad language is separate from your Apple ID settings. Your iCloud account and Apple ID stay in whatever language you set them to originally. If you want to change the language of your Apple ID account itself, you do that on Apple's website in your account settings, not on your iPad.

Can I use two languages on my iPad at the same time?

The system language can only be one at a time, but you can add multiple keyboard languages and switch between them when you type. You can also set Siri to one language and your system to another. For full bilingual support, some apps have built-in language settings you can change independently.

What if an app is in the wrong language after I changed my iPad language?

Open the app and look for a settings or preferences menu inside the app itself — many apps let you override your iPad's system language. If the app does not have its own language setting, the app developer did not include your language, and you would need to contact them or look for a different app that supports your language.

Does changing my iPad language affect my email or messages?

Changing your iPad language changes the words in the Mail and Messages apps — buttons, menus, and labels. It does not change the language of the emails or messages themselves. Your actual messages stay in whatever language you wrote them.

Can I change the language just for one app?

Most apps follow your iPad's system language, but some apps have their own language settings inside the app. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences, and check if there is a Language option. If there is, you can set that app to a different language than your iPad's system language.