Change your Android phone's language in Settings
Open Settings on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap System (on some phones this appears as About phone or directly as Languages). Tap Languages and input, then Languages. Tap Add a language and select the language you want from the list. Once you've added it, press and hold that language, then drag it to the top of the list. Your phone will switch to that language when ready.
The exact path varies slightly by phone manufacturer. Samsung phones often have the language setting under Settings > General management > Language and input > Languages. Google Pixel phones use Settings > System > Languages and input > Languages. If you can't find the option, search for "language" in your Settings search bar at the top—most Android phones have this feature.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings, find System or General management, then Languages and input to locate the language menu.
- Add a new language by tapping Add a language and selecting from the full list of available options.
- Move your chosen language to the top of the list by pressing and holding it, which makes it your primary language when ready.
- The exact menu path differs between Samsung, Google Pixel, and other Android brands, but the search function in Settings can help you find it quickly.
- Changing the language affects all menus, notifications, and system text, but not content you've downloaded like books or videos.
What happens when you change your language
When you move a language to the top of your list, your entire phone switches to that language. This includes the Settings menu itself, system notifications, keyboard suggestions, and the names of apps. The change takes effect right away—you don't need to restart your phone.
Apps you've downloaded may or may not switch languages depending on how they were built. Many apps detect your phone's language and adjust automatically. Others stay in the language they were originally set to. If an app doesn't switch, you can often change its language inside the app's own settings rather than through your phone's system settings.
Adding multiple languages and switching between them
You can add as many languages as you want to your phone. Each one you add appears in your language list. Whichever language sits at the top is your active language. To switch to a different language, go back to Settings > System > Languages and input > Languages, press and hold the language you want to use, and drag it to the top.
Some Android phones let you set a second language as a backup. If you add a second language and leave it below your primary one, your phone will use it for any text that can't be displayed in your main language. This is useful if you speak two languages regularly and want both available without constantly switching.
Changing the keyboard language separately
Your keyboard language can be different from your phone's system language. If you want to type in one language while your phone displays menus in another, go to Settings > System > Languages and input > On-screen keyboard (or Virtual keyboard). Select your keyboard app—usually Gboard or Samsung Keyboard—and tap Languages. Add the language you want to type in and enable it.
Once you've added a keyboard language, you can switch between them while typing by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard. This is faster than changing your entire phone's language if you only need to type in a different language occasionally.
Fixing a phone you can't read
If you accidentally changed your language to one you don't read, you can still fix it by following the visual path. Open Settings (usually a gear icon), look for the icon that looks like a globe or the word that appears in the position where "Languages" usually sits, and tap it. The language list will appear in your current language, but the order of menu items is usually the same across all languages. Drag the language you recognize to the top.
If you're completely stuck, restart your phone and try again—sometimes the visual layout helps you navigate even when you can't read the text. Alternatively, ask someone who reads that language to help you navigate to the language menu, or search online for a screenshot of the menu in your phone model to match the icons.
When your language isn't in the list
Android supports over 100 languages, but not every language or dialect appears in the main list. If you're looking for a regional variant—like Brazilian Portuguese instead of European Portuguese, or Simplified Chinese instead of Traditional Chinese—check whether it's listed separately in the language menu. Many variants appear as sub-options when you scroll through the full list.
If your language truly isn't available, your phone will display in English or another default language. Some third-party apps and keyboards offer additional languages that Android's system doesn't include, so you can change the language of individual apps even if the system language isn't available. This won't change your phone's menus, but it will let you use apps in your preferred language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my phone's language affect my contacts or messages?
No. Your contacts, messages, photos, and all your personal data stay exactly as they are. Only the language of the menus, buttons, and system text changes. Any text you've written in messages or notes remains in the language you wrote it in.
Can I use two languages at the same time?
Your phone displays in one language at a time, but you can add multiple languages and switch between them whenever you want. Some phones let you set a secondary language that appears for text your primary language can't display. You can also change your keyboard language separately from your system language so you can type in a different language while keeping your menus in your main language.
What if I change my language and an app stops working?
Changing your phone's language rarely breaks apps. If an app does stop working, restart it or restart your phone. If the problem continues, the app may not support that language—try changing the app's own language settings, or contact the app's support team. Changing your phone's language back won't undo any damage; the issue is usually with the app itself, not your language choice.
Does changing my language affect my Google account or passwords?
No. Your Google account, passwords, and login information are not affected by changing your phone's language. You'll still log in the same way. The only change is that the text on your screen appears in a different language.
Can I change the language of just one app?
Yes. Open the app, go to its settings or preferences menu (usually found by tapping a menu icon or gear icon within the app), and look for a language or localization option. Not all apps have this feature, but many do. Changing an app's language doesn't affect your phone's system language or other apps.