Change Your Facebook Language in Three Steps

To change the language on Facebook, open the menu at the bottom right of your screen (on mobile) or top right (on desktop), scroll down to "Settings & privacy," then "Settings," then find "Language and region" in the left sidebar. Select your preferred language from the list, and Facebook will switch when ready — no restart needed.

The process takes less than a minute and works the same way whether you use the Facebook app, the mobile website, or the desktop site. Your language choice syncs across all your devices once you log in, so you only need to change it once.

Key Takeaways

  • Facebook language settings are found under Settings & privacy > Settings > Language and region, not in a separate preferences menu.
  • The change takes effect right away across all your devices and does not require you to log out or refresh the page.
  • You can choose from over 100 languages, including regional variations like Spanish (Mexico) or Portuguese (Brazil).
  • If you change your mind, you can switch back to your original language using the exact same steps at any time.

Steps for Desktop Facebook

On a computer, log into Facebook and look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the page, next to the search bar. Click it to open a dropdown menu.

Scroll down to the bottom of that menu and click "Settings & privacy," then click "Settings" from the submenu that appears. On the left side of the screen, you will see a list of categories — click "Language and region." A list of available languages will appear on the right side. Click the language you want, and it will set up when ready. Your entire Facebook interface — buttons, menus, notifications, everything — will switch to that language.

Steps for Facebook Mobile App

Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of your screen. Scroll down and tap "Settings & privacy," then tap "Settings."

Scroll down the Settings page until you see "Language and region" and tap it. A list of languages will appear. Tap the one you want, and Facebook will switch when ready. Close the Settings page by tapping the back arrow or swiping left, and you will see your feed in the new language.

Steps for Facebook Mobile Website

If you use Facebook through a mobile web browser instead of the app, the steps are nearly identical to the app. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then "Settings & privacy," then "Settings."

Scroll to "Language and region," tap it, choose your language, and the change takes effect when ready. The mobile website version works the same way as the app, so if you switch between the two, your language choice will be the same on both.

What Happens When You Change Your Language

When you select a new language, Facebook translates the entire interface — menu labels, button text, notification messages, and settings names all switch to your chosen language. Posts and comments from other people remain in whatever language they wrote them in; changing your interface language does not translate other people's content.

If you have set up a secondary language in your Facebook settings (separate from your interface language), Facebook may show you some posts in that language as well, but this is a different setting. Changing your interface language does not affect which posts appear in your feed — only the words Facebook itself uses to label buttons and menus.

Changing Back to Your Original Language

If you accidentally switched to a language you do not read well, or if you want to switch back, use the exact same steps. The process is identical whether you are switching from English to Spanish or from Spanish back to English.

If you cannot read the current language well enough to navigate the menus, look for the word "Settings" (which is usually similar across languages) or the gear icon. The menu structure stays the same regardless of language, so you can follow the position of buttons even if you cannot read the labels.

Troubleshooting Language Changes That Do Not Stick

In rare cases, Facebook may revert to your previous language after a few hours or days. This usually happens if your browser or app has cached (stored) the old language setting. To fix this, clear your browser cache if you use Facebook on a computer, or uninstall and reinstall the Facebook app if you use mobile.

If the problem continues, log out of Facebook completely, clear your browser cookies or app data, then log back in and change the language again. If you use multiple devices, make sure you are changing the language on the device where you want it changed — your language setting is tied to your account, but browser cache can override it temporarily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my language affect my friends' view of my posts?

No. Your language setting only changes what you see on your screen. Your friends will see your posts in the language you wrote them, and their interface language does not affect how your content appears to them.

Can I set 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 be the same language when you log in on your computer. If you want different languages on different devices, you would need separate Facebook accounts.

What if my language is not in the list?

Facebook supports over 100 languages, but not every language or dialect is available. If your language is not listed, you can choose the closest regional variant or use English. You can also contact Facebook through their Help Center to request a language be added, though response times vary.

Does changing my language change my account region or location?

No. Language and region are separate settings. Changing your interface language does not change your account's location, which is used for ads and local content. If you need to change your region or location, that is a different setting in the same Language and region menu.

Why is Facebook showing me posts in a language I did not choose?

If you set a secondary language in your Language and region settings, Facebook may show you posts in that language. You can remove the secondary language by going back to Language and region and deleting it, or you can adjust which languages Facebook shows you posts in through the same menu.