Change Your Facebook Language in Settings

To change Facebook to English, open your account settings, find the language option, and select English from the list. The exact steps depend on whether you are using Facebook on a computer or phone, but the setting is in the same place on both: your account menu.

Facebook remembers your language choice across all devices once you change it, so you only need to do this once. If you are currently viewing Facebook in a language you do not read, the button locations stay the same even if the words are different.

Key Takeaways

  • On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, select Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then find Language in the left menu.
  • On an iPhone or Android phone, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, scroll to Settings and Privacy, tap Settings, then scroll down to find Language.
  • Once you select English and save, Facebook will switch when ready and stay in English on all your devices.
  • If you cannot find the Language option, make sure you are in your account settings, not your page settings or ad settings.

Steps on a Computer or Laptop

Start by looking at the top right corner of your Facebook page. You will see a small downward-pointing arrow or triangle next to your profile picture. Click it to open a dropdown menu.

In that menu, look for "Settings and Privacy" near the top. Click it, then click "Settings" in the submenu that appears. This opens your account settings page.

On the left side of the settings page, you will see a list of options. Scroll down until you find "Language" — it is usually near the bottom of the list. Click on it.

A new section will open showing your current language. Click the "Edit" button next to it. A dropdown list will appear with all available languages. Find and click "English" (or the specific English variant you prefer, such as English (US) or English (UK)). Facebook will switch to English when ready.

Steps on iPhone or Android

Open the Facebook app and look at the bottom right corner. You will see three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other (called a menu icon). Tap it.

Scroll down the menu that appears until you see "Settings and Privacy." Tap it, then tap "Settings" in the submenu.

In Settings, scroll down until you find "Language." Tap it to open the language options.

You will see your current language listed. Tap the option to change it, then select "English" from the list. The app will switch to English right away. Close the settings by tapping the back arrow or swiping back.

What to Do If Language Does Not Change

If Facebook is still showing in another language after you change the setting, try closing the app completely and opening it again. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close the app. On Android, swipe up from the bottom and hold, then swipe the Facebook app away. Then tap the app icon to reopen it.

If you are using Facebook in a web browser on your phone, try clearing your browser cache. On most phones, this is in your browser settings under Privacy or History. After clearing the cache, go back to Facebook and the language change should take effect.

Make sure you are changing the language in your account settings, not in your phone's system settings. Some phones have their own language setting that can override Facebook's choice. If your phone is set to a different language, Facebook may switch back to match it. Check your phone's Settings app and make sure it is set to English if you want Facebook to stay in English.

Switching Back to Another Language Later

You can change your Facebook language back to any other language at any time using the same steps. The Language option in your settings works the same way — just select a different language from the list instead of English.

If someone else uses your Facebook account, they can also change the language themselves using these same steps. The language setting is tied to your account, not to a specific device, so whoever logs in will see whatever language was last selected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my language to English affect my friends' view of Facebook?

No. Your language setting only changes what you see on your own screen. Your friends will continue to see Facebook in whatever language they have set for their own accounts. The language you choose does not affect anyone else's experience.

What if English is not showing up in my language list?

This is rare, but if it happens, try logging out of Facebook completely and logging back in. Sometimes the language list does not load fully on the first try. If English still does not appear, try using a different browser or device to change the setting.

Can I set different languages for Facebook and Messenger?

Facebook and Messenger share the same language setting tied to your account. Changing the language in one changes it in both. You cannot set them to different languages.

Why did Facebook change to another language on its own?

This usually happens when you log in from a new device or browser, or when your phone's system language changes. Facebook sometimes defaults to match your device's language setting. Changing it back to English in your account settings will fix it.