Change your Facebook language in Settings
Facebook lets you change the language the site displays in from your account settings. The steps are the same whether you use Facebook on a computer or phone. Go to the down arrow in the top right corner (on mobile, this is the three horizontal lines), select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Look for Language in the left menu and click it. You'll see a list of languages Facebook supports — select the one you want, and the site will switch when ready.
The language you choose affects menus, buttons, notifications, and labels across your account. It does not change the language of posts your friends write — those stay in whatever language they posted them in. If you switch back and forth between languages, Facebook remembers your choice each time you log in.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Language to find the full list of languages Facebook offers in your region.
- Your language choice applies only to Facebook's interface — buttons, menus, and labels — not to the content your friends post.
- On mobile, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, then Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Language.
- Facebook saves your language choice and uses it every time you log in, even if you access the site from a different device.
- If you do not see your language in the list, Facebook may not support it yet, or your region may have a limited set of options.
Step-by-step on a computer
Start by logging into Facebook. In the top right corner, you'll see a down arrow next to your profile picture. Click it to open a menu. Select Settings and privacy, then Settings from the dropdown. On the left side of the page, you'll see a menu with several options — scroll down until you find Language and click it.
A page will open showing your current language and a list of other languages. Click the language you want to use. Facebook will reload and display everything in that language. The change happens right away — you do not need to log out or refresh the page.
Step-by-step on a phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) at the bottom right of your screen. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll down the settings page until you see Language and tap it. A list of languages will appear — tap the one you want to use.
Your phone will switch to that language when ready. If you are using an older version of the Facebook app, the menu icon might be in a different spot, but the Settings path stays the same. Make sure your app is up to date if you have trouble finding these options.
What happens when you change your language
When you switch languages, Facebook changes the words and labels you see, but not the content other people have posted. If a friend writes a post in Spanish, it will still appear in Spanish in your feed, even if your interface is set to English. Facebook does offer a See Translation button on posts in other languages, which you can use to read a translation if you want.
Your language setting is personal to your account. If someone else logs into Facebook on your device, they will see the language you chose unless they change it themselves. Each person's account remembers their own language preference.
If your language is not in the list
Facebook supports over 100 languages, but not every language is available in every region. If you do not see your language when you open the Language page, it may not be supported yet, or it may only be available in certain countries. Check the full list by scrolling through all the options — sometimes languages are listed under different names than you might expect.
If your language truly is not there, you can leave feedback to Facebook about adding it. On the Language settings page, look for a link or option to report missing languages. You can also try switching your device's system language, which may change some of Facebook's display, though the main interface will still follow your account setting.
Switching back to your original language
If you change your language by mistake or want to switch back, follow the same steps. Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Language, and pick your original language from the list. The change happens when ready. You can switch languages as often as you want — there is no limit to how many times you can change it.
If you forget which language you set it to and cannot read the menus, look for the gear icon or settings symbol, which looks the same in every language. The position of the language setting in the menu stays consistent, so you can navigate by location even if you cannot read the words.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my language affect my friends' experience on Facebook?
No. Your language setting is only for your account. Your friends will see Facebook in whatever language they chose for their own accounts. Changing your language does not change how anyone else sees the site.
Can I use different languages on different devices?
Yes. Each time you log in, Facebook uses the language setting saved to your account. If you want different languages on different devices, you would need to change your account language each time you switch devices. Facebook does not offer a way to set one language per device.
What if Facebook is showing me the wrong language after I changed it?
Clear your browser cache or close and reopen the Facebook app. Sometimes the old language stays on your screen until your browser refreshes. If it still shows the wrong language after that, log out completely and log back in. Your account setting should take effect on the next login.
Does changing my language change the language of notifications I receive?
Yes. Notifications, emails, and text messages from Facebook will appear in the language you selected. If you want notifications in a different language, you would need to change your account language setting.
Can I set Facebook to show different languages for different parts of the interface?
No. Facebook applies one language to your entire account. You cannot set the menu to English and your notifications to Spanish, for example. The language setting controls everything at once.