Change Your iPhone's 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, and your iPhone will ask you to confirm the change. Tap Change to [Language], and your phone will restart with the new language applied to all system menus, buttons, and built-in apps.

The entire process takes less than a minute. Your personal files, photos, and downloaded apps stay exactly where they are — only the operating system language changes. If you change your mind, you can switch back the same way at any time.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language to see all available languages for your phone.
  • Select your preferred language from the list, confirm the change, and your iPhone will restart with the new language active.
  • Changing the system language does not affect your photos, messages, or downloaded apps — only menus and system text.
  • You can switch languages back and forth as often as you need using the same Settings path.

What Changes When You Switch Languages

When you change your iPhone's language, the operating system switches all text that Apple controls. This includes the Settings app itself, Siri voice commands, notifications, keyboard suggestions, and the names of built-in apps like Mail, Calendar, and Photos. System error messages and prompts will also appear in your new language.

Apps you downloaded from the App Store may or may not change language. Many apps detect your iPhone's language setting and switch automatically, but some apps have their own language settings inside the app. If an app stays in English after you switch your iPhone to another language, you may need to open that app's settings and change the language there separately.

Changing Regional Settings Separately

In the same Language & Region menu, you can also set your Region independently from your language. For example, you could set your language to English but your region to France, which would change date formats, time zones, and currency displays without changing the language of your menus.

Tap Region in the Language & Region settings, select your region from the list, and confirm. This change takes effect when ready without restarting your phone. Your region setting affects how dates appear (month-day-year versus day-month-year), which currency symbol shows in apps, and which phone number format is suggested when you type.

Keyboard Languages and Text Input

Changing your iPhone's system language does not automatically add a keyboard in that language. If you want to type in a different language, you need to add that keyboard separately in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Tap Add New Keyboard, find the language you want, and select it.

Once you add a keyboard, you can switch between them while typing by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard. This lets you type in multiple languages even if your iPhone's system language stays in English. You can add as many keyboards as you need.

Siri and Voice Recognition in Different Languages

Siri automatically uses your iPhone's system language when you set up it by saying "Hey Siri" or holding the home button. If you change your iPhone language to Spanish, Siri will listen for Spanish commands and respond in Spanish.

You can also set Siri to use a different language than your system language. Go to Settings > Siri & Search > Language and choose a language separate from your iPhone's main language. This is useful if you want your phone menus in one language but prefer to speak to Siri in another.

Troubleshooting Language Changes That Did Not Work

If you changed your language but some apps or menus are still in the old language, restart your iPhone completely. Press and hold the power button and volume down button (or power button only on older models) until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off the phone. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.

If an app is still in the wrong language after your iPhone restarts, that app has its own language setting. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences inside the app itself, and change the language there. Some apps also need to be closed and reopened after you change your iPhone's system language for the change to take effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my iPhone language delete my data?

No. Changing your system language affects only the text and menus you see — your photos, messages, contacts, and all other data remain unchanged. Downloaded apps stay installed and your personal files stay in place.

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

Your system language can only be one at a time, but you can add multiple keyboards so you can type in different languages. You can also add Siri in a different language than your system language through Settings > Siri & Search > Language.

What if I cannot find my language in the list?

iPhone supports most major languages, but not all regional dialects. If your exact dialect is not listed, choose the closest match — for example, if you want Brazilian Portuguese but only see Portuguese, that version will work for your region. You can also check if your language appears under a different name or spelling.

Do I need to restart my iPhone after changing the language?

Yes, your iPhone will automatically restart when you confirm a system language change. This restart is necessary for the new language to explore throughout the operating system. The restart takes about one minute and your phone will work normally afterward.