Change Your iPhone's System Language in Settings
To change the language your iPhone displays, open Settings, tap General, then tap Language & Region. At the top, you'll see iPhone Language with your current language listed. Tap it, scroll through the list of available languages, and select the one you want. Your iPhone will restart briefly to explore the change — this is normal and takes less than a minute.
The language you choose here controls everything: menu names, system messages, keyboard suggestions, Siri responses, and the names of your built-in apps. It does not change the language of content you've downloaded — a book you bought in English stays in English, and a Spanish-language podcast stays in Spanish.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language to see all available languages and select a new one.
- Your iPhone will restart when you change the system language, but this takes only a few seconds and is not a problem.
- Changing the system language affects menus and Siri but does not change the language of apps you've downloaded or content you own.
- You can set a second language for keyboard input and regional formats (like date and time display) separately from your system language.
Add a Second Language for Keyboard and Regional Settings
If you want to type in a different language or see dates and times in a different format without changing your entire system language, use the Preferred Languages list in the same Language & Region menu. Tap Preferred Languages, then tap the plus sign to add a language. You can rank them in order — your iPhone will use the top language for spell-check and suggestions, but you can switch between them while typing.
This is useful if you live in one country but speak another language at home, or if you work in two languages. Your system menus stay in your primary language, but your keyboard and regional formats adapt to your needs.
Switch Between Keyboard Languages While Typing
Once you've added a second language to your Preferred Languages list, a globe icon appears on your keyboard. Tap it to cycle through your available keyboard languages. The name of the current language shows briefly on the spacebar so you know which one is active.
If you have more than two languages added, tapping the globe cycles through them in the order you ranked them in Preferred Languages. You can also long-press the globe icon to see all available languages and jump directly to one without cycling.
Change Regional Formats Without Changing System Language
Your iPhone can display dates, times, and numbers in the format of one country while keeping menus in another language. In Language & Region, scroll down to Region and tap it. Select the country or region whose date and number formats you prefer. For example, you might keep your system language as English but set your region to Spain so dates appear as day/month/year instead of month/day/year.
This setting also affects which apps appear in your App Store and which payment methods are available, so choose the region where you actually live or do business.
What Happens to Your Apps and Data
Changing your system language does not delete anything or sign you out of your accounts. Your photos, messages, contacts, and downloaded apps all stay exactly where they are. However, some apps may not support your new language — they'll continue to display in English or whatever language they were built to support. Developers choose which languages their apps offer, and your system language change doesn't override that.
If you change your system language and then change it back, everything returns to normal. There's no permanent effect on your device or your data.
Troubleshooting Language Changes That Don't Stick
If you change your language but it reverts to the previous one, your iPhone may not have completed the restart. Go back to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language and select your language again. If it keeps reverting, restart your iPhone manually by holding the power button and sliding to power off, then turning it back on.
If a specific app is still showing in the wrong language after you've changed your system language, that app may have its own language setting. Open the app, go to its settings (usually found by tapping a gear icon or your profile picture), and look for a Language option there. Some apps, especially those made by large companies, let you choose their language independently from your system language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different languages for different apps?
Your system language applies to all built-in apps and menus. Some third-party apps have their own language settings that override the system language — check inside the app's settings to see if that option exists. Most smaller apps follow your system language and don't offer a separate choice.
What if I don't see my language in the list?
iPhone supports dozens of languages, but not every language in the world. If yours isn't listed, the closest related language (like a regional variant) may be your only option. You can also check Apple's support site to see the full list of supported languages for your iPhone model and iOS version.
Will changing my language affect my Apple ID or iCloud?
No. Your Apple ID and iCloud account are tied to your account, not your language setting. You'll stay signed in, and your synced data will remain intact. However, the language used in emails from Apple and in your account settings on Apple's website may depend on the language you set in your Apple ID account settings, which is separate from your iPhone's system language.
Can I use two languages at the same time on my iPhone?
Your system menus can only display in one language at a time, but you can add multiple languages to your keyboard and switch between them while typing. You can also set a preferred language for Siri that's different from your system language by going to Settings > Siri & Search > Language.
Do I need to restart my iPhone after changing the language?
Your iPhone will restart automatically and briefly when you confirm a system language change. You don't need to do anything — just wait a few seconds and your device will come back on with the new language applied.