Change YouTube's language in three steps

YouTube displays in your browser's language by default, but you can change it to any of the 76+ languages YouTube supports. The fastest way is through your account settings: click your profile picture in the top right corner, select Language from the menu, and pick a new language from the list. The change takes effect when ready across all your devices signed into that account.

If you do not have a YouTube account, you can still change the language without signing in. Look for the language selector at the bottom of any YouTube page — it shows your current language and lets you switch to another. This method changes the language only on that device and browser, not across devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Signed-in users change language by clicking their profile picture, selecting Language, and choosing from the full list of 76+ supported languages.
  • The language setting applies to menus, buttons, and interface text, but not to video titles, descriptions, or captions unless you change those separately.
  • Unsigned users can click the language selector at the bottom of the page, though this change only affects that browser on that device.
  • YouTube remembers your language choice across devices when you are signed in, so you only need to change it once.
  • Changing the interface language does not affect your search results or recommendations, which YouTube bases on your watch history and location.

Where to find the language setting if you are signed in

Open YouTube and look for your profile picture in the top right corner of the page. Click it to open a dropdown menu. The menu shows several options: Create a channel, Settings, Help, and others. Look for Language in this list — it usually appears near the bottom, above or below Location.

Click Language and a new menu appears showing all available languages in alphabetical order. Scroll through and select the language you want. YouTube switches to that language when ready. Your choice syncs across all devices where you are signed into that account, so your phone, tablet, and computer will all show the same language the next time you open YouTube.

How to change language without a YouTube account

If you are not signed in, scroll to the very bottom of any YouTube page. In the footer, you will see a language selector — usually a globe icon or the name of your current language. Click it to open a list of available languages.

Select your preferred language from the list. The page reloads in that language. This change applies only to your current browser on your current device. If you open YouTube on a different device or in a different browser, it will revert to the default language for that browser. To make the change permanent across devices, sign into a YouTube account and use the account settings method instead.

What changes when you switch languages

Changing your language setting affects the YouTube interface — the menus, buttons, labels, and text that YouTube itself displays. This includes the search bar, your subscriptions list, the sidebar, and notification text. The change happens when ready and applies to every page you visit on YouTube while signed into that account.

Your language setting does not change video titles, descriptions, or comments posted by other users. Those remain in whatever language the creator or commenter wrote them in. If you want to read captions in a different language, you must change the caption language separately — click the CC button on the video player, then select a language from the caption menu. YouTube also does not change your search results or recommendations based on interface language; those are based on your watch history and location instead.

Troubleshooting: language setting not changing

If you click Language but do not see a menu, or if the language does not change after you select it, try signing out and signing back in. Sometimes the setting does not sync properly until you refresh your session. Clear your browser's cache and cookies, then sign back into YouTube and try again.

If you are using a work or school account, your organization may have locked the language setting. Contact your IT department or account administrator to ask whether they have restricted language changes. Some managed accounts do not allow users to change the interface language.

On mobile apps, the language setting lives in a different place. Open the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then tap Language. The process is the same, but the menu structure is different from the web version.

Why YouTube might be in the wrong language

YouTube usually defaults to the language your browser is set to use. If your browser is set to Spanish but you want YouTube in English, you need to change the YouTube language setting directly — changing your browser language alone will not always fix it. YouTube also considers your location and past language choices, so if you have used YouTube in another language before, it may default back to that language when you sign in from a new device.

If you share a device with other people, each person should sign into their own YouTube account. That way, each account remembers its own language preference. If you all use the same account, whoever changes the language last will determine what language everyone sees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing YouTube's language affect my search results?

No. YouTube bases your search results and recommendations on your watch history, location, and what you search for — not on the interface language you choose. If you want to search for videos in a specific language, you can use the search filters to narrow by upload date, duration, or channel, but there is no built-in filter for video language.

Can I set different languages on my phone and computer?

Yes. Each device remembers its own language setting when you are signed into the same account. If you set your phone to Spanish and your computer to English, they will stay that way. The language setting syncs within each device, not across devices.

What if my language is not on the list?

YouTube supports 76+ languages, but not every language in the world. If your language is not available, the closest option is usually a related language or a major language spoken in your region. You can also request a language through YouTube's Help Center, though there is no may provide it will be added.

Does changing the language affect captions on videos?

No. The interface language and caption language are separate. Changing your interface language does not automatically change video captions. To change captions, click the CC button on the video player and select a caption language from the menu.

Will my subscriptions and playlists change if I switch languages?

No. Your subscriptions, playlists, watch history, and all your account data stay exactly the same. Only the text labels and menu names change to the new language.