Change Your Facebook Language in Three Steps

To change your Facebook language, open the menu in the bottom right corner of your screen, scroll to the bottom, and select Settings & privacy. Then tap Settings, scroll down to Language, and choose the language you want. Facebook will switch when ready — no restart needed.

The process is the same whether you use Facebook on a phone, tablet, or computer. The menu location and button names stay consistent across all devices. If you use Facebook in a web browser, the steps are identical.

Key Takeaways

  • Facebook language settings are found in the main menu under Settings & privacy, then Settings, then Language.
  • Your language choice applies only to your account and does not affect what language your friends see on their own screens.
  • Facebook supports over 100 languages, and you can change your language setting at any time without losing your account or posts.
  • If you cannot find the Language option, make sure you are scrolled all the way to the bottom of the Settings menu.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Phone or Tablet

Open the Facebook app and look for the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right corner of your screen. Tap it to open the main menu.

Scroll all the way to the bottom of this menu. You will see Settings & privacy — tap it. Then tap Settings from the list that appears. Scroll down until you see Language and tap it. A list of available languages will appear. Select the one you want, and Facebook will change when ready.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Computer or Web Browser

Log into Facebook in your web browser. In the top right corner, you will see a downward-pointing arrow or your profile picture. Click it to open a dropdown menu.

Click Settings & privacy, then click Settings. On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu. Scroll down until you find Language and click it. Choose your language from the list, and the change takes effect right away. You do not need to log out or refresh the page.

What Happens When You Change Your Language

When you change your Facebook language, only your own view of Facebook changes. The buttons, menu names, and text you see will appear in your chosen language. Your friends will not see any difference on their screens — they will see Facebook in whatever language they have set for their own accounts.

Your posts and messages do not change. If you wrote a post in English, it stays in English even if you switch your Facebook language to Spanish. Other people will see your posts in the language you wrote them, not in the language you have set for your account.

Languages Facebook Offers

Facebook supports more than 100 languages, including major languages like Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Hindi, and Portuguese. It also supports many regional and minority languages. If you do not see your language in the list, Facebook may not yet offer it, or it may be listed under a different name than you expect.

Some languages have regional variations. For example, Spanish may be listed as Spanish (Spain) or Spanish (Latin America). Choose the version that matches where you live or the dialect you prefer.

Troubleshooting: Language Setting Not Showing

If you cannot find the Language option in Settings, make sure you have scrolled all the way to the bottom of the Settings menu. On phones, this sometimes requires scrolling past several other options. On computers, the Language option appears near the bottom of the left-side menu.

If you are using an older version of the Facebook app, the menu layout may be slightly different. Try updating the app from your phone's app store. If the Language option still does not appear, log out of Facebook, close the app completely, and log back in. This sometimes refreshes the menu.

Changing Your Language Back

You can change your Facebook language as many times as you want. Follow the same steps, but select a different language from the list. There is no limit to how often you can switch, and changing your language does not affect your account security or your saved passwords.

If you accidentally selected the wrong language and cannot read the menu, look for the word that looks like a gear or cog (the Settings icon) or follow the same path by tapping or clicking in the same locations, even if you cannot read the words. The menu structure stays the same regardless of language.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my language affect my Facebook password or login information?

No. Your password and login information remain exactly the same. Changing your language only changes the words you see on your screen — it does not touch your account security or any of your personal data.

Can I set different languages for Facebook and Facebook Messenger?

Facebook and Messenger share the same language setting. When you change your Facebook language, Messenger changes to match. You cannot set them separately.

What if I want Facebook in one language but my phone is set to a different language?

Your Facebook language setting is independent of your phone's language. You can have your phone set to English and Facebook set to French, or any other combination. Facebook uses only the language you choose in its own settings.

Does changing my language affect what my friends see when they message me?

No. Your friends see their messages in the language they wrote them, and they see your replies in the language you wrote them. Your language setting only controls what you see on your own screen.

Can I change my language on Facebook if I am using a computer at work or school?

Yes, but the change will only explore while you are logged into that account on that computer. If someone else logs into Facebook on the same computer, they will see their own language setting. Your language choice is tied to your account, not to the device.