Change Your Facebook Language in Settings

To change the language Facebook displays to you, open your account settings and navigate to the language option. Facebook will show menus, buttons, and posts in whichever language you select. The process takes less than a minute and applies when ready across all your devices once you log in again.

You do not need to create a new account or contact Facebook support. The language setting is personal to your account, so other people using the same device will see Facebook in their own chosen language when they log in.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to find the Language option under the Personal Information section.
  • Click or tap the language you currently see listed, then choose a new language from the dropdown menu.
  • Facebook updates your language choice when ready, but you may need to refresh the page or log out and back in to see all changes take effect.
  • Your language setting is tied to your account, not your device, so it will be the same on your phone, tablet, and computer.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Desktop

On a computer, start by clicking the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook. This opens a menu with several options. Select Settings and Privacy, then click Settings from the submenu that appears.

On the left side of the page, you will see a list of categories. Scroll down until you find Personal Information. Click on it to expand that section. You should now see Language listed as an option. Click on the language name that appears next to it (for example, "English" or "Español").

A dropdown menu will open showing available languages. Find and click the language you want to use. Facebook will save your choice automatically. Refresh the page or close and reopen Facebook to see the full interface in your new language.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Mobile

On your phone or tablet, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner of the Facebook app. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings.

Scroll down the settings page until you see Personal Information. Tap it to open that section. You will see Language listed there. Tap on the current language name next to it.

A list of available languages will appear. Tap the language you want to switch to. The app will update when ready. Close and reopen Facebook or restart the app to may support all text displays in your chosen language.

What Languages Facebook Offers

Facebook supports over 100 languages, including major languages like Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese, and Japanese. The exact list of available languages may vary slightly depending on your region and which version of Facebook you are using.

If you do not see your preferred language in the dropdown menu, it may not be available in your region yet, or Facebook may not offer it. In that case, English or another widely supported language may be your closest option. You can always change your language setting again if a new option becomes available later.

Changing Language for Specific Content

Your language setting controls the Facebook interface itself — the buttons, menus, and labels you see. It does not automatically translate posts from your friends or pages you follow. Those posts will still appear in whatever language the person who wrote them used.

If you want to read a post in a different language, Facebook sometimes offers a See Translation button below the post. Clicking it will show you a translation into your chosen language. This feature is not available for every post and depends on the languages involved.

Troubleshooting Language Changes That Do Not Appear

If you change your language but Facebook still shows the old language, try logging out completely and logging back in. Sometimes the change does not take effect across all pages until you refresh your session. Close the browser tab or app entirely, wait a few seconds, and open Facebook again.

If the problem continues, clear your browser cache or app cache. On a computer, this is usually under Settings or Preferences in your web browser. On a phone, go to your device settings, find the Facebook app, and select Clear Cache. Then open Facebook again and check whether your language preference has taken effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my language affect what my friends see on my profile?

No. Your language setting only changes what you see. Your friends will see Facebook in their own chosen language, and your posts will appear to them in whatever language you wrote them in. Changing your language does not translate your posts or change how your profile looks to other people.

Can I use different languages on different devices?

No. Your language setting is tied to your Facebook account, not to individual devices. If you change the language on your phone, it will also change on your computer the next time you log in. If you want different devices to show different languages, you would need to use different Facebook accounts.

What if I accidentally choose the wrong language and cannot read the menus?

You can still change it back. Look for the icon that looks like a downward arrow or three horizontal lines in the top right or bottom right corner of the page, depending on whether you are on desktop or mobile. Tap or click it, then look for a gear icon or the word that looks like "Settings" (it may be in the language you selected). From there, find the option that looks like it controls language and switch back.

Does Facebook offer languages other than the ones in the dropdown menu?

Facebook's dropdown menu shows all languages currently available in your region. If you do not see a language listed, it is not currently offered for your location. Facebook adds new languages periodically, so you can check back later to see if your preferred language has been added.