Change Instagram's Language in Settings
Open Instagram and go to your profile by tapping the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right. Tap Settings and privacy, then Language and region. Select your preferred language from the list. Instagram will switch when ready — your feed, buttons, and menus will all display in that language the next time you refresh or restart the app.
The language you choose applies only to your account on that device. If you use Instagram on your phone and your computer, you can set different languages on each one. Changing the language does not affect what other people see when they view your profile or posts.
Instagram supports over 100 languages. If you do not see your language in the list, scroll down — the full menu is longer than what appears on the first screen. Some regional variations (like Brazilian Portuguese versus European Portuguese) are listed separately.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings and privacy, then Language and region, to find the full list of available languages.
- The change takes effect when ready on that device and does not affect other people's view of your account.
- If you use Instagram on multiple devices, you can set a different language on each one independently.
- Instagram offers over 100 languages, including regional variations like Brazilian Portuguese and Mexican Spanish.
- Changing the language does not change the language of captions, comments, or messages from other users — only Instagram's own interface.
What Happens to Your Posts and Messages
Changing your language setting affects only the Instagram interface — the buttons, menus, and labels you see. It does not translate your own posts, captions, or comments into that language. If you wrote a caption in English, it stays in English for everyone who reads it, regardless of what language their Instagram is set to.
Messages from other users appear in the language they wrote them. If someone sends you a message in Spanish and your Instagram is set to English, the message still appears in Spanish. Instagram's auto-translate feature (available on some posts and comments) is separate from the language setting and works independently.
Changing Language on the Instagram Website
If you use Instagram on a computer, the process is slightly different. Log in and click your profile picture in the bottom left corner. Click Settings, then Language in the left menu. Select your language and the page will refresh in that language.
Your website language setting is separate from your phone app setting. You can have English on your phone and Spanish on your computer, or any other combination. Each device stores its own preference.
Switching Back to Your Original Language
If you accidentally changed your language and cannot read the menus, the process is the same — you just need to recognize the icon locations. On the phone app, tap the three-line menu icon (bottom right), then look for the gear or settings icon. On the website, click your profile picture and look for the gear icon. The language menu is always in the same location, regardless of which language is currently active.
If you are completely lost, you can also log out and log back in — this does not reset your language, but it gives you a fresh view of the login screen. Alternatively, uninstall and reinstall the app, and during setup you will see the language selection screen again.
Languages Available on Instagram
Instagram's language list includes major languages like Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, and Thai. It also includes many smaller regional languages and variations. The complete list changes occasionally as Instagram adds support for new languages.
Some languages may display differently depending on your device's operating system. For example, right-to-left languages like Arabic and Hebrew may format differently on iOS versus Android. If you notice text that looks misaligned or cut off, try the same language on a different device to see if it is a display issue specific to your phone.
Troubleshooting Language Changes That Do Not Stick
If you change your language but it reverts to the previous one, try closing the app completely and reopening it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom to close Instagram entirely, then tap the app again. On Android, go to Settings, find Instagram in your app list, and force-stop it before reopening.
If the problem continues, try logging out and logging back in. This refreshes your account settings and often fixes language display issues. Make sure you have the latest version of Instagram installed — outdated versions sometimes have bugs with language settings. Check your phone's app store for updates.
Using Instagram in Multiple Languages
If you speak multiple languages, you can switch between them as often as you want. There is no limit to how many times you can change your language setting. Some people switch depending on which country they are in or which language they are thinking in that day.
Keep in mind that changing your language does not change your keyboard language. If your phone is set to English keyboard, you will still type in English even if Instagram is displaying in Spanish. You may need to change your keyboard settings separately if you want to type in a different language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my language affect what my followers see?
No. Your language setting is private to your account. Your followers see your posts, captions, and profile in whatever language you wrote them, regardless of what language their own Instagram is set to. Changing your language only changes what you see on your screen.
Can I set different languages for different parts of Instagram?
No. Instagram applies one language setting to your entire account on that device. You cannot have your feed in Spanish and your messages in English. If you need different languages, you would need to use different devices or accounts.
What if my language is not on the list?
Instagram supports over 100 languages, but not every language in the world. If yours is not available, English is the default fallback. You can also check whether your language might be listed under a different name or regional variation — for example, Chinese is listed as both Simplified and Traditional.
Will changing my language delete my posts or messages?
No. Changing your language setting does not affect any of your content. Your posts, messages, followers, and account information remain exactly as they were. The change only affects the labels and buttons you see.
Can I change the language of captions or comments from other users?
No. Captions and comments appear in the language the person who wrote them used. However, Instagram offers an auto-translate feature on some posts and comments that lets you see a translation. This is separate from your language setting and works on a per-post basis.