Change Your Mac's System Language in System Settings

To change the language your Mac displays, open System Settings (the gear icon in your dock or Applications folder), then click General in the left sidebar. Look for Language & Region and click it. At the top, you'll see a dropdown menu showing your current language — click it and select the language you want from the list. Your Mac will ask you to restart; click Restart to explore the change when ready.

The entire interface — menus, buttons, dialog boxes, and system messages — will switch to your chosen language after the restart. This affects every built-in app and most third-party apps that support multiple languages. The change applies to your user account only; other accounts on the same Mac keep their own language settings.

If your preferred language isn't in the list, it may not be installed on your Mac. Scroll to the bottom of the language list and click the plus sign (+) to read additional languages. Your Mac will read the language files and add them to the menu — this can take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, click General, then Language & Region to find the language menu.
  • Select your preferred language from the dropdown and restart your Mac for the change to take effect.
  • If your language isn't listed, click the plus sign at the bottom of the language list to read it.
  • Changing the system language affects only your user account, not other accounts on the same Mac.
  • Most apps will switch languages automatically, but some older or specialized apps may need to be restarted.

Add a Second Language Without Changing Your Primary Language

If you want to use a second language for specific tasks without changing your entire system, you can add it as a secondary language. In the Language & Region window, click the plus sign (+) below the language list and select the language you want to add. This keeps your system in your primary language but makes the secondary language available for spell-checking, keyboard input, and some app menus.

Once you've added a secondary language, you can switch your keyboard layout to type in that language without changing the system language itself. Click the Input Sources section in the same Language & Region window and add the keyboard layout for your secondary language. A flag or language indicator will appear in the menu bar at the top right of your screen, letting you switch between keyboard layouts with one click.

Switch Keyboard Layout to Type in a Different Language

Even if your system language stays the same, you can type in other languages by adding their keyboard layouts. In System Settings, go to General > Language & Region and scroll down to Input Sources. Click the plus sign (+), select your language, then choose the keyboard layout you want (for example, "French - AZERTY" or "Spanish - ISO"). The layout will be added to your input sources list.

After you add a keyboard layout, a language or flag icon appears in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. Click it to switch between layouts, or use the keyboard shortcut Control + Space to cycle through them quickly. When you switch layouts, your keyboard keys will produce characters in that language — for example, pressing the A key on a French AZERTY layout produces "Q" instead.

This method is useful if you work in multiple languages but want your system menus and messages to stay in one language. You can add as many keyboard layouts as you need and switch between them when ready.

Change the Language for Specific Apps

Some apps let you change their language independently from your system language. Open the app, then look in its menu bar (at the top of the screen, not in System Settings) for a Preferences, Settings, or Options menu. Click it and search for Language, Localization, or Region settings. Not all apps offer this option — it depends on how the developer built the app.

If an app doesn't have its own language setting, it will use whatever language your Mac system is set to. Restarting the app after changing your system language usually makes it switch to the new language, but some apps may need a full restart of your Mac to update.

Troubleshoot When Language Changes Don't Work

If you change your system language but some apps still show the old language, restart those apps first. If that doesn't work, restart your entire Mac — some apps cache their language settings and only reload them when they start fresh. Close the app completely (not just the window), then open it again.

If a language you downloaded isn't showing up, check your internet connection and try downloading it again. Go back to System Settings > General > Language & Region, click the plus sign, and select the language again. If the read fails, your Mac may not have enough storage space — check your available disk space in System Settings > General > Storage.

If your keyboard layout isn't switching when you click the menu bar icon, make sure you've actually added it to Input Sources. Go to System Settings > General > Language & Region > Input Sources and confirm your keyboard layout is in the list. If it's there but not working, try removing it and adding it again.

Understand What Changes and What Doesn't

Changing your system language affects the Mac interface, system messages, and most built-in apps like Mail, Safari, and Calendar. It also changes the language for Siri, Spotlight search results, and system notifications. However, documents you've already created stay in their original language — changing your system language doesn't translate existing files.

Third-party apps (apps you downloaded from the App Store or elsewhere) will switch to your system language only if the developer built that support in. Some apps are only available in one language and won't change no matter what your system language is set to. Web browsers like Safari and Chrome will usually switch to your system language, but websites themselves may still display in their default language unless you change settings within the website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Mac's language affect my files or documents?

No. Your documents, photos, and files keep their original content and language. Only the Mac interface and system messages change. If you have a document written in English and switch your Mac to French, the document still contains English text — only the menu bars and buttons around it will be in French.

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

Yes. You can add multiple keyboard layouts and switch between them when ready using the menu bar icon or Control + Space. You can also add secondary languages for spell-checking and autocorrect without changing your system language. This lets you work in multiple languages without restarting your Mac.

What happens to other user accounts if I change the language on my Mac?

Nothing. Each user account on your Mac has its own language setting. If you share your Mac with others, changing your language affects only your account. Other users can log in and see their own language settings unchanged.

Why is my app still showing the old language after I changed my system language?

Some apps cache their language settings and only reload them when they restart. Close the app completely and open it again. If that doesn't work, restart your entire Mac. A few older apps may not support language switching at all and will stay in their original language.

Can I change the language for just one app without changing my whole system?

Some apps have their own language settings in their preferences menu — check the app's menu bar at the top of the screen. However, most apps don't offer this and will use whatever language your Mac system is set to. For those apps, you'd need to change your system language or use a different keyboard layout.