Change Your Facebook Language in Settings

To change the language Facebook displays to you, open your account settings, find the language option, and select from the list of available languages. Facebook will switch when ready — your feed, buttons, menus, and messages will all appear in your chosen language. The process takes about one minute and works the same way on desktop, phone, and tablet.

Your language choice affects only what you see on your own screen. It does not change the language of posts your friends write, comments people leave, or messages they send you. If someone writes in Spanish and you set Facebook to English, their post still appears in Spanish — Facebook does not translate user-generated content automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to find Language and Region to change your display language.
  • Facebook switches your interface language when ready, but does not translate posts, comments, or messages from other people.
  • You can change your language at any time, and the change applies across all your devices where you are logged in.
  • If your language does not appear in the list, Facebook may not yet support it, and you can report this through the Help Center.

Steps to Change Language on Desktop

On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook (next to your profile picture). Select Settings and Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, scroll down until you see Language and Region. Click on it.

Next to Language, you will see your current language listed. Click the pencil icon or the language name itself to open a dropdown menu showing all available languages. Scroll through the list and click the language you want. Facebook reloads and displays everything in that language within seconds.

Steps to Change Language on Mobile

On iPhone or Android, open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll down to Language and Region and tap it.

Tap the language option to see the full list. Find your preferred language, tap it, and the app will refresh. Your entire interface will now display in that language. The change syncs across all your devices within a few minutes.

What Happens When You Change Your Language

When you select a new language, Facebook changes every word on your screen — menu labels, button text, notification descriptions, and settings page names all switch to your chosen language. Your News Feed, groups, pages, and messages all update at the same time. You do not need to log out or restart the app.

If you use Facebook on multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer), the language change applies to all of them once you are logged in. If you log out and back in on a different device, it will use whatever language you set in Settings — not the device's system language.

Languages Facebook Supports

Facebook supports over 100 languages, including major languages like Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese, and Japanese. It also supports many regional and minority languages. The exact list varies slightly by country and region, because some languages are more commonly used in certain areas.

If you do not see your language in the list, Facebook may not yet support it. You can report a missing language through the Help Center by searching for "language not available" and following the feedback form. Facebook uses these reports to decide which languages to add next.

Changing Language Back to English or Another Language

You can change your language as many times as you want. Go back to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Language and Region, click the pencil icon next to your current language, and select a different one. There is no limit to how often you can switch, and no penalty for changing frequently.

If you accidentally selected a language you do not read, you can still navigate back to Settings by memory. The Settings icon usually appears in the same location regardless of language. Alternatively, you can log out, log back in, and the interface will return to the language you had set before.

When Language Settings Do Not Change

If you change your language but Facebook still displays in the old language, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the app. Clear your browser cache if you are on desktop — sometimes old language files stay stored locally. On mobile, try closing the app completely (not just minimizing it) and opening it again.

If the problem persists, check that you actually clicked the language in the dropdown menu and waited for the page to reload. Sometimes the dropdown closes without saving if you click outside it. Go back to Language and Region and confirm your language is now listed as your current choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my language affect what language my friends see?

No. Your language setting changes only what appears on your screen. Your friends see Facebook in whatever language they chose in their own settings. If you write a post in English and set your Facebook to Spanish, your friends still see your post in English.

Can I set different languages for different devices?

Yes. Each device where you log in can have its own language setting. If you set your phone to Spanish and your computer to English, your phone will display Spanish and your computer will display English. The settings are tied to your account but explore per device.

What if Facebook does not support my language?

You can report the missing language through the Help Center. Search for "report a missing language" and fill out the feedback form. Facebook reviews these requests and adds languages based on demand. Until then, you can use English or another available language.

Will changing my language change the language of messages people send me?

No. Messages appear in whatever language the sender wrote them. If someone sends you a message in French, it will display in French even if your Facebook is set to English. Facebook does not translate incoming messages automatically.

Does my language setting change if I log in from a different country?

No. Your language setting stays the same no matter where you log in from. If you travel and log into Facebook from another country, it will still display in the language you chose. Your location does not override your language preference.