Change your Facebook language in three steps

Facebook lets you switch the language of your interface from English to one of over 100 languages. The process takes less than a minute and applies only to your account — it does not change the language for anyone else who uses your device.

Go to the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook (on desktop) or the menu icon at the bottom right (on mobile). Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Scroll down to Language and region and click Language. Choose your language from the list and click Save. Your Facebook interface will refresh when ready in the new language.

If you use Facebook in a web browser, the change takes effect right away. If you use the mobile app, you may need to close and reopen it to see the new language throughout the entire interface.

Key Takeaways

  • The language setting is in Settings and privacy > Settings > Language and region > Language on both desktop and mobile.
  • Changing your language affects only your account and only the Facebook interface labels, menus, and buttons — not the content your friends post.
  • Facebook supports over 100 languages, including regional variants like Spanish (Spain) and Spanish (Mexico).
  • The change takes effect when ready on desktop browsers and usually within a few seconds on mobile apps after you close and reopen the app.
  • You can switch back to English or any other language at any time using the same menu.

Where to find the language setting on desktop

On a desktop or laptop, open Facebook and look for the downward arrow icon in the top right corner of the page, next to your profile picture. Click it to open a dropdown menu. The first option should be Settings and privacy — click that.

A submenu will appear. Click Settings (not Settings and privacy again). You will land on your Settings page. On the left side, scroll down until you see Language and region. Click it. The Language option will appear. Click the dropdown next to it, find your language, and click Save.

Where to find the language setting on mobile

On the Facebook mobile app (iPhone or Android), tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right of your screen. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll down to Language and region and tap Language.

A list of languages will appear. Tap the one you want. The app will ask you to confirm. Tap Save or Confirm depending on your device. Close the app completely and reopen it — the interface should now display in your chosen language.

What changes and what does not

When you change your language, Facebook translates all the buttons, menus, labels, and navigation text on your screen. The words "Like," "Comment," "Share," "Settings," and "Log Out" will appear in your chosen language. Notifications and messages from Facebook itself (like password reset emails) will also appear in that language.

Your friends' posts, comments, and messages do not change. If a friend writes something in English, it will still appear in English on your screen. Facebook's automatic translation feature (which offers to translate posts in other languages) is a separate tool and works independently of your language setting.

Switching between multiple languages

You can change your language as often as you want. There is no limit to how many times you switch. If you speak multiple languages or want to practice a language you are learning, you can change your Facebook interface to that language and change it back whenever you choose.

Some people set their Facebook to a language they are learning in order to practice reading and navigation in that language. Others switch languages depending on which device they are using or which country they are visiting. The setting is tied to your account, so it will be the same language on any device you log into.

If your language is not in the list

Facebook offers over 100 languages, but not every language or dialect is available. If you do not see your language in the dropdown, check whether a regional variant exists — for example, Portuguese (Brazil) and Portuguese (Portugal) are listed separately, as are Chinese (Simplified) and Chinese (Traditional).

If your language truly is not available, you can leave feedback to Facebook about adding it. In Settings, scroll to the bottom of the page and look for Give feedback or Report a problem. Describe the language you want and why. Facebook reviews these requests, though there is no may provide a language will be added.

Troubleshooting language changes

If you change your language and the interface does not update, try these steps. On desktop, refresh the page by pressing Ctrl+R (Windows) or Command+R (Mac). On mobile, close the Facebook app completely — swipe it away from your recent apps — and reopen it. Wait a few seconds for the app to load fully.

If the language still has not changed, log out of Facebook and log back in. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Language and region and confirm that your language choice was saved. Sometimes the setting does not stick if you navigate away too quickly after clicking Save.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my language affect my friends' experience on Facebook?

No. Your language setting changes only what you see on your own account. Your friends will see Facebook in whatever language they have set for themselves. If you change to Spanish, your friends still see English (or whatever they chose).

Can I set different languages for different devices?

No. Your language setting is tied to your Facebook account, not to individual devices. If you log into Facebook on your phone and your computer, both will display in the same language. To use different languages on different devices, you would need separate Facebook accounts.

Will changing my language change the language of my messages?

No. Your messages stay in the language you wrote them. If you wrote a message in English and then change your Facebook to Spanish, that message still appears in English to the person who receives it. Only the Facebook interface labels change.

What if I accidentally change to a language I do not understand?

You can still change it back. Click the downward arrow in the top right, look for the icon that looks like a gear (Settings), and click it. Find the option that looks like it controls language (it may be labeled in your current language), and select English or your preferred language from the list.

Does Facebook offer automatic translation of posts in other languages?

Yes, but that is separate from your language setting. When you see a post in another language, Facebook often shows a "See translation" link below it. Clicking that translates just that post into your language. This feature works independently of which language your interface is set to.