Change the Maps language in Settings, not in the app itself
Apple Maps uses the language you set for your iPhone's system language. If you want Maps to display in a different language—street names, directions, search results, and labels—you change your iPhone's language setting, and Maps follows automatically. There is no separate language toggle inside the Maps app.
The process takes about two minutes. You go to Settings, find Language & Region, and select a new language. Maps will switch to that language the next time you open it. If you use multiple languages, you can set a primary language and add secondary languages to your keyboard, but Maps itself will display in whichever language you choose as your iPhone's main language.
Key Takeaways
- Apple Maps language is controlled by your iPhone's system language setting in Settings > General > Language & Region, not by anything inside the Maps app.
- Changing your iPhone language affects all apps and system text, not just Maps, so consider whether you want that change system-wide.
- If you want to keep your iPhone in English but see Maps in another language, you will need to add that language to your keyboard and use Siri in that language, which is a workaround rather than a direct setting.
- Maps will update to the new language the next time you close and reopen the app after changing your system language.
How to change your iPhone language in Settings
Open Settings and tap General. Scroll down and tap Language & Region. At the top, you will see iPhone Language with your current language listed. Tap it to see the full list of available languages.
Scroll through the list and select the language you want. Your iPhone will ask you to confirm the change—tap the language name again to confirm. Your iPhone will restart briefly, and when it comes back, the system language and all compatible apps, including Maps, will be in that language.
If the language you want is not in the main list, scroll to the bottom and tap Add Language. This lets you add a secondary language to your device. However, this does not change your primary system language; it adds a language option to your keyboard and Siri. Maps will still display in your primary language.
What happens when you change your iPhone language
Changing your iPhone language affects everything on your device, not just Maps. Your Settings menu, notifications, system alerts, and any app that supports that language will all switch to it. If you change to Spanish, for example, your entire iPhone interface becomes Spanish until you change it back.
Some apps may not support all languages. If an app does not have a translation for the language you chose, it will fall back to English or another default language. Maps supports most major languages, so this is rarely a problem with Maps itself, but it is worth knowing.
If you want Maps in a different language but your iPhone in English
There is no direct way to run Maps in one language while keeping your iPhone in another. The app follows your system language. However, you can use Siri to get directions in a different language by changing Siri's language separately.
Go to Settings > Siri & Search > Language and choose a different language for Siri alone. When you ask Siri for directions, it will respond in that language and may open Maps in that language for that specific request. This is a partial workaround and does not permanently change Maps' display language, but it can be useful if you need directions in another language occasionally.
Switching back to your original language
If you changed your iPhone language and want to switch back, follow the same steps: Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language, then select your original language and confirm. Your iPhone will restart, and everything will return to the original language.
If you added a secondary language and want to remove it, go to Settings > General > Language & Region, find the language in the list below iPhone Language, swipe left on it, and tap Delete. This removes it from your keyboard and Siri options but does not affect your primary system language.
Why Maps does not have its own language setting
Apple designed Maps to respect your iPhone's system language rather than offer a separate language menu inside the app. This keeps the design straightforward and ensures that directions, labels, and search results all match the language you use for the rest of your device. It also reduces the number of settings you have to manage.
If you frequently need Maps in multiple languages, the fastest approach is to use Siri in different languages for different requests, or to keep a note of key locations and landmarks in the languages you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my iPhone language affect my Apple ID or iCloud account?
No. Your Apple ID and iCloud account are tied to your account credentials, not your device language. Changing your iPhone language will not log you out or affect your data. Your account will remain the same.
Can I have Maps in Spanish and my keyboard in English?
Not simultaneously. Maps follows your system language. You can add Spanish as a secondary keyboard language while keeping your iPhone in English, but Maps will stay in English. To see Maps in Spanish, you would need to change your primary system language to Spanish.
What if Maps does not appear in the language I selected?
Maps supports most major languages, but if you selected a very new or regional language, Maps may not have a full translation and may default to English. Check Apple's list of supported languages for Maps on their website, or try a closely related language variant.
Do I need to restart my iPhone after changing the language?
Your iPhone will restart automatically when you confirm a system language change. You do not need to do anything—just wait for it to restart and then open Maps. The new language will be active.
Can I change the language for just one app?
Not for Maps specifically. Some third-party apps have their own language settings inside the app, but Apple's built-in apps like Maps do not. They all use your system language. If you need an app in a different language, you would need to change your iPhone's system language.