How to Change the Language on Your iPhone

Change Your iPhone's Display 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 — tap it, scroll through the list of available languages, and select the one you want. Your iPhone will restart briefly to explore the change, and all menus, buttons, and system text will appear in your chosen language.

The language you select here controls the entire system interface: Settings, Mail, Messages, Calendar, and every built-in app. It also sets the default language for Siri and text prediction on your keyboard. If you change your mind, you can return to the same menu and pick a different language at any time.

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, and the change affects all built-in apps and menus when ready.
You can set a different language for Siri separately in Settings > Siri & Search > Language if you want Siri to speak a different language than your system menus.
Third-party apps (like Facebook or Spotify) usually follow your iPhone's language setting, but some apps let you change their language independently in their own settings.
If you don't see your preferred language in the list, your iPhone model or software version may not support it yet.

What Languages Are Available on Your iPhone

Apple supports over 40 languages on iPhone, including English (US, UK, Australia, India, and Canada), Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, Hindi, and many others. The exact list depends on your iPhone model and which version of iOS you're running.

To see which languages your specific iPhone supports, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and tap iPhone Language. The complete list appears there. If a language you need isn't shown, check whether you're running the latest iOS version — Apple adds language support with major updates. You can check your current iOS version in Settings > General > About, and update in Settings > General > Software Update.

Changing the Language for Siri Separately

Siri normally speaks and understands the same language as your iPhone's system language. If you want Siri to use a different language — for example, if your menus are in English but you want Siri to respond in Spanish — you can change it independently.

Open Settings, tap Siri & Search, then tap Language. Select the language you want Siri to use. Siri will now respond in that language while your system menus stay in your original choice. This is useful if you're learning a new language and want Siri to help you practice, or if you live in a multilingual household.

Changing Language for Individual Apps

Most third-party apps (like Instagram, Gmail, or Spotify) automatically use whatever language you've set for your iPhone. However, some apps let you override this and set their own language in their internal settings.

To change the language for a specific app, open that app and look for a Settings or Preferences section — usually found by tapping a menu icon or your profile picture. Look for an option labeled Language, Locale, or Region. Not every app offers this choice, and the menu location varies widely. If you don't find a language option in the app itself, it's using your iPhone's system language and can't be changed independently.

Changing Your Region and Keyboard Language

Your iPhone's Region setting (also in Settings > General > Language & Region) controls how dates, times, and numbers display — for example, whether you see 12/25/2024 or 25/12/2024. This is separate from your system language. You can have your menus in English but your region set to France, so dates appear in French format.

Your keyboard language is also separate. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards to add or remove keyboard languages. You can then switch between them while typing by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard. This lets you type in multiple languages without changing your entire system language.

What Happens When You Change Your Language

When you select a new language and confirm, your iPhone restarts for a few seconds. During this time, you'll see the Apple logo and a loading screen. Once it finishes, every system menu, button, and notification will appear in your new language. Any text you've written in Notes, Messages, or Mail stays exactly as you wrote it — changing the language only affects the interface, not your personal content.

If you have iCloud sync turned on, your language preference may sync to other Apple devices (iPad, Mac) that share your Apple ID, depending on your sync settings. Check Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud to see what's syncing.

Troubleshooting Language Changes That Don't Stick

If you change your language but it reverts to the previous one, or if the change doesn't take effect, restart your iPhone manually. Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button until the power-off slider appears, drag it to turn off your phone, wait 10 seconds, then press the Side button again to turn it back on.

If the problem continues, go back to Settings > General > Language & Region and confirm your choice is still selected. If a language appears grayed out or won't save, your iPhone may need a software update. Check Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates, then try changing the language again.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your system menus can only display one language at a time, but you can add multiple keyboard languages and switch between them while typing. You can also set Siri to a different language than your system language, and some apps let you change their language independently.

Will changing my language affect my apps or data?

No. Your photos, messages, notes, and all personal content stay exactly as they are. Only the system interface — menus, buttons, settings labels — changes to the new language. Apps that support multiple languages will usually switch to match your new system language, but your data inside them is unaffected.

What if my language isn't in the list?

Check whether you're running the latest iOS version, as Apple adds languages with major updates. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to see if an update is available. If your language still doesn't appear after updating, your iPhone model may not support it yet.

Can I change the language back to English if I accidentally chose the wrong one?

Yes. Even if you can't read the menu labels, the process is the same: tap the gear icon (Settings), tap the second option (General), tap the third option (Language & Region), tap the first option (iPhone Language), find English in the list, and tap it. You can also ask Siri to open Settings if you're unsure where to tap.

Does changing my iPhone language change my Apple ID language?

No. Your Apple ID language is set separately in Settings > [Your Name] > Language & Region. You can change your iPhone's language without affecting your Apple ID account language, though they often match by default.

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.