Change Facebook's Language Setting in Three Steps

Open Facebook and look at the bottom left of any page. Click the down arrow next to your name or profile picture, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Language and region. Under the Language section, click the dropdown next to your current language, select English, and click Save changes. Facebook will reload in English within seconds.

If you cannot find the language menu, you may be on the mobile app instead of the website. The steps are slightly different on phones and tablets, but the result is the same. The desktop website is usually the fastest way to make this change because all the menus are visible at once.

Key Takeaways

  • On the Facebook website, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Language and region to find the language dropdown.
  • The mobile app uses a different menu structure: tap the three lines at the bottom right, scroll to Settings and privacy, then tap Settings, then Language.
  • Facebook changes your language when ready after you save, and the change applies to all your devices once you log in again.
  • If Facebook is still in another language after you change the setting, clear your browser cache or log out and back in.

How to Change Language on the Facebook Mobile App

On iPhone or Android, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll down to find Language and tap it. Select English from the list. The app will refresh and display in English.

On some older versions of the app, the menu icon may be at the top right instead of the bottom. If you do not see the three lines at the bottom, look at the top of the screen. The exact location of buttons can shift between app updates, so checking both places will usually find what you need.

What to Do If the Language Does Not Change

If Facebook is still showing in another language after you save your choice, the most common cause is a cached version of the old language. On a computer, open your browser settings and clear your browsing cache, then reload Facebook. On a phone, close the Facebook app completely, wait a few seconds, and open it again.

Another reason the change may not stick is if you are logged into multiple Facebook accounts. Make sure you are changing the language for the account you actually use. Log out completely, then log back in to the account whose language you want to change. This forces the system to reload your settings from scratch.

How to Change English Dialect or Regional Variant

Facebook offers more than one English option. In the Language and region menu, you may see English (US), English (UK), English (Canada), and others. The differences are small — mainly spelling and a few regional terms — but you can choose the variant that matches where you live or your preference.

Select whichever English variant appears in the dropdown. The change takes effect when ready. If you later want to switch to a different English variant, follow the same steps and pick a different option from the list. You can change between variants as often as you want.

Changing Language on Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger uses the same language setting as your main Facebook account. Once you change your Facebook language to English, Messenger will also display in English the next time you open it. You do not need to change Messenger separately.

If Messenger is still in another language, log out of Messenger, close the app, and open it again. It should sync with your Facebook account language setting. If it does not, try clearing the Messenger app cache on your phone and reopening it.

Changing Language When You Cannot Access Your Account

If you are locked out of your account or cannot remember your password, you can still change the language on the login page itself. At the bottom of the Facebook login screen, you will see a language selector. Click it and choose English. The login page will switch to English, and you can then enter your information to regain access to your account.

This temporary language change only affects the login page. Once you log in, your account will use whatever language setting you saved in your account settings. The login page language resets each time you visit it, so you may need to select English again on your next login if your account is still set to another language.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. The language setting only changes what you see on your own screen. Your friends will see your profile in whatever language their own accounts are set to. Your posts and comments appear the same to everyone regardless of your language setting.

Can I set different languages for different devices?

Yes. Each device you log into can have a different language setting. If you change the language on your phone to English but leave your computer set to another language, each device will display in its own language when you log in.

What if English does not appear in my language dropdown?

English should appear in the dropdown for any Facebook account. If it does not, try logging out completely, closing your browser, and logging back in. If the problem continues, try a different browser or clear your cache.

Does changing my language affect my privacy settings or data?

No. Language is purely a display setting. It does not change your privacy controls, what data Facebook collects, or who can see your information. Only the words on your screen change.