Change Your iPhone's System Language in Settings
Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap General. Scroll down and tap Language & Region. At the top, tap iPhone Language, and you will see a list of all available languages. Select the language you want, then tap Done. Your iPhone will restart and display everything in that language — the home screen, menus, apps, and system messages.
The process takes less than a minute. Your personal data, photos, and app content stay exactly as they were. Only the words that label buttons, settings, and system features change. If you change your mind, you can switch back the same way.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language to see all available languages on your device.
- Selecting a new language causes your iPhone to restart, but your apps, photos, and personal files remain unchanged.
- Some apps may not support every language your iPhone offers, so they might stay in English or another default language even after you change the system language.
- You can change your region separately from your language in the same Language & Region menu, which affects date format, currency, and keyboard options.
- If you cannot find a language you want, it may not be installed on your device — you can check Apple's support site to see which languages your iPhone model supports.
What Happens to Your Apps When You Change Language
Most built-in Apple apps — Mail, Messages, Calendar, Photos, and others — switch to your new language when ready. Third-party apps from the App Store may or may not follow. Some apps are built to support many languages and will switch automatically. Others are only available in one or two languages, so they will stay in English or whatever language the developer chose.
You cannot force an app to change language if the developer did not build that support in. If an app you use regularly does not offer your language, your only option is to contact the developer and request it, or look for an alternative app that does support your language.
Changing Region Separately From Language
Your iPhone has two separate settings: language and region. Language controls the words you see. Region controls how dates, times, currency, and phone numbers are formatted. You can set them independently — for example, you can use English language with a United Kingdom region, or Spanish language with a Mexican region.
To change your region without changing your language, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and tap Region. Choose the region you want. This affects how your calendar displays dates, how your keyboard works, and which currency symbol appears in apps like Stocks or Maps.
Keyboards and Input Methods in Different Languages
When you change your iPhone's language, the keyboard layout may change too, depending on which language you select. If you want to type in multiple languages, you can add extra keyboards without changing your system language. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Add New Keyboard, and select the language you want to type in.
Once you add a keyboard, a globe icon appears on your keyboard when you are typing. Tap it to switch between your installed keyboards. This way you can keep your iPhone in English but type in Spanish, French, Japanese, or any other language your device supports.
Troubleshooting When a Language Does Not Appear
If you do not see the language you want in the iPhone Language list, it may not be installed on your device. Older iPhone models or devices with very little storage space sometimes have a limited set of languages available. Check your iPhone's available storage by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If you are very low on space, delete apps or photos you do not need, then try again.
If storage is not the issue, your iPhone model may straightforward not support that language. Apple's website lists which languages each iPhone generation supports. If your language is not listed for your model, you cannot add it — you would need a newer device.
Changing Language for Siri and Voice Features
When you change your iPhone's system language, Siri switches to that language automatically. However, you can change Siri's language separately if you want. Go to Settings > Siri & Search, tap Language, and choose a different language from your system language if you prefer.
Voice features like dictation and voice typing also follow your system language by default. If you want dictation in a different language, add that language as a keyboard (as described above) and switch to it before you start dictating. Your iPhone will recognize and type in whichever keyboard language is active.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my iPhone's language delete my data?
No. Changing the system language does not affect your photos, messages, contacts, or any personal data. Only the words that label the system menus and buttons change. Your iPhone will restart during the process, but everything you stored on the device remains intact.
Can I use my iPhone in two languages at the same time?
Your system language can only be one at a time, but you can add multiple keyboards and switch between them while typing. You can also change your system language whenever you want — the process takes less than a minute. Some people switch their language daily depending on who they are communicating with.
What if an app does not support the language I chose?
The app will stay in whatever language the developer built it in, usually English. You cannot force it to change. Your best option is to look for a different app that supports your language, or contact the app's developer and request language support.
Does changing my language affect my Apple ID or iCloud account?
No. Your Apple ID and iCloud settings stay the same. Your language change only affects how your iPhone displays system menus and features. Your account information, passwords, and cloud storage are not touched.
Can I change the language for just one app instead of the whole phone?
Not directly through iPhone settings. Some apps have their own language settings inside the app — check the app's settings menu. But most apps follow your system language and do not offer a separate language choice. If an app does not support your language, changing the system language will not help.