Change your iPhone language in Settings
Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap General. Scroll down and tap Language & Region. At the top, tap iPhone Language, then select the language you want from the list. Your iPhone will ask you to confirm — tap the language name again, and your phone will restart to apply the change.
The whole process takes less than a minute. Your home screen, menus, notifications, and built-in apps will all switch to the new language immediately after the restart. Any third-party apps you've installed may or may not support the language you choose — that depends on whether the app developer added that language to their version.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language to change your system language.
- Tap the language you want, confirm it, and your iPhone will restart with the new language active.
- Your Apple ID region and keyboard languages are separate settings you may want to adjust separately.
- Third-party apps display in your chosen language only if the developer included that language in their app.
- You can add multiple keyboard languages without changing your system language.
Add a second language keyboard without changing your system language
If you want to type in another language but keep your iPhone's menus in English, add a keyboard instead of changing the system language. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard. Find the language you want to type in and tap it.
Once you've added a keyboard, a globe icon appears on your keyboard when you're typing. Tap it to switch between your languages. You can add as many keyboards as you need — each one stays available in any app where you type.
Change your region and language for apps and services
Your Region setting (also in Language & Region) controls which app store you see, what currency prices show in, and which services are available to you. Changing your region is separate from changing your language — you can have your iPhone in English but set to Japan region, or vice versa.
If you change your region, you may need to update your Apple ID payment method, because some payment options only work in certain regions. Your iCloud, App Store, and Apple Music accounts all use this region setting, so changing it affects what you can buy and download across all Apple services.
What happens to Siri and voice features when you change language
Siri automatically switches to the language you selected in iPhone Language settings. If you want Siri to speak a different language than your system language, go to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Language and choose separately there.
Dictation (the microphone button on your keyboard) also follows your system language by default. You can add more dictation languages in Settings > General > Keyboard > Dictation Languages if you need to switch between them while typing.
Troubleshoot if your iPhone language won't change
If you tap a language and nothing happens, force restart your iPhone. Press and release the Volume Up button, press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until the power-off slider appears. Drag it to turn off your phone, wait 10 seconds, then press the Side button again to turn it back on.
If the language list is empty or grayed out, check that you have enough storage space — language packs need room to download. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and look at the available space. If you're running low, delete apps or photos you don't need, then try changing the language again.
Restore English or another language if you chose one by mistake
You can change your language back the same way you changed it the first time, even if you don't recognize the words on your screen. The Settings app icon looks the same in every language — it's a gray gear. Tap it, then look for the icon that looks like a gear (General), then the icon with a globe (Language & Region), then tap the top option (iPhone Language), and select the language you want.
If you're completely lost, you can also restore your iPhone from a backup that had your preferred language. Connect to a computer or use iCloud to restore from a previous backup, and your language setting will go back to what it was before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my iPhone language affect my apps?
Built-in Apple apps like Mail, Calendar, and Maps will switch to your new language. Third-party apps only display in your new language if the developer included that language in their app — many apps only support English or a few major languages. Your data and settings in any app stay the same.
Can I use different languages on different parts of my iPhone?
Your system language applies to everything — menus, settings, notifications, and Siri all use the same language. You can add multiple keyboard languages for typing, and you can set Siri to speak a different language than your system language, but you cannot change just the Settings menu to one language and your home screen to another.
What's the difference between iPhone Language and Region?
iPhone Language controls what language your menus and apps display in. Region controls which App Store you see, what currency shows for prices, and which services are available to you. You can change one without changing the other.
Do I need to change my Apple ID region when I change my iPhone language?
No — your Apple ID region is separate from your iPhone language. You can have your iPhone in Spanish but your Apple ID set to the United States region. However, if you want to change your Apple ID region, you do that in Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases, not in Language & Region.
What happens to my text messages and emails if I change the language?
Your messages and emails stay exactly as they were — changing your language only changes how your iPhone displays its menus and features. The content you've written or received does not change.