Where to find the language setting on Facebook

Facebook's language setting lives in your account settings, not in a separate preferences menu. The exact path depends on whether you're using Facebook on a computer or phone, but the setting is always called "Language" and sits alongside other account controls like password and email address.

On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of any Facebook page (next to your profile picture), then select "Settings and privacy" followed by "Settings." On the left side, you'll see a menu; click "Personal information" and then look for "Language." On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down to "Settings and privacy," tap "Settings," then scroll to find "Language."

Key Takeaways

  • Facebook's language setting is in your account settings under "Personal information," not in a general preferences menu.
  • You can change your language from a computer or phone using the same account settings path, though the menu layout differs slightly between devices.
  • Facebook displays the language menu in your current language, so you may need to recognize the word for "Language" in whatever language Facebook is currently showing.
  • Changing your language affects only your own account and takes effect immediately across all your devices.
  • If you accidentally change to a language you don't read, you can still navigate back to settings by following the icon positions rather than reading the words.

What happens when you change your language

When you select a new language, Facebook switches the entire interface to that language on all your devices within a few minutes. This includes menu labels, button text, notifications, and the names of features. Your feed content itself—posts from friends and pages—stays in whatever language people posted it in, but all the controls and labels around it change.

The change applies only to your account. Other people using your computer or phone will see Facebook in whatever language their own accounts are set to. If you share a device with someone else, each person's language setting is independent.

Choosing from Facebook's available languages

Facebook supports over 100 languages, though the exact number varies because the company adds and removes languages based on translator availability and user demand. When you click on the Language option in settings, you'll see a dropdown or search box showing all available languages for your region.

Some languages appear with regional variants—for example, Spanish (Spain) and Spanish (Latin America) are separate options because word choice and phrasing differ. If you're looking for a specific dialect or regional version, scroll through the full list or type the first few letters to narrow it down. The list is usually alphabetical in English, regardless of which language you're currently using Facebook in.

If you accidentally select the wrong language

If you change to a language you don't read, you can still get back to settings by remembering the icon positions. On a computer, the downward arrow is always in the top right corner. On a phone, the three horizontal lines are always at the bottom right. Once you're in the settings menu, the Language option is typically in the same position regardless of what language is displayed.

If you're completely stuck, you can also change your language through Facebook's mobile app by tapping your profile picture at the bottom right, then scrolling to find the settings icon (usually a gear symbol). The gear icon's position doesn't change even if you can't read the labels around it.

Changing language on the Facebook mobile app

The Facebook app on iPhone and Android follows the same principle as the website but uses the phone's menu structure. Tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the screen, then scroll down past your name and profile section until you see "Settings and privacy." Tap that, then tap "Settings," and scroll until you find the Language option.

On some Android phones, the language setting may also appear in your phone's system settings under "Apps" or "Application Manager," where you can set a default language for Facebook specifically. Changing it there will override your Facebook account language setting, so if you're trying to use Facebook in a particular language and it keeps switching, check both your phone's system settings and your Facebook account settings.

Why Facebook might show a different language than you selected

If you've changed your language setting but Facebook is still displaying in a different language, the most common cause is that your phone's system language is overriding your Facebook account setting. On iPhones, go to Settings > General > Language and Region and check what's selected there. On Android phones, go to Settings > System > Languages and input.

Another possibility is that you're logged into multiple Facebook accounts on the same device. Each account has its own language setting, so if you switch between accounts, the display language will switch too. Make sure you're logged into the account whose language you want to change, then update that account's settings.

If you've recently changed your language and it still hasn't updated across all your devices, wait a few minutes and refresh the page or close and reopen the app. Facebook sometimes takes a few minutes to sync language changes across devices, especially if you're using multiple phones or computers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different languages for different devices?

No. Your Facebook account language is tied to your account, not to individual devices. If you change the language on one device, it changes on all devices where you're logged in. However, you can set your phone's system language differently from your Facebook account language, which will override Facebook's setting on that phone only.

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

No. Your language setting only changes what you see. Your friends will see your profile in whatever language their own accounts are set to. Your posts and comments appear in the language you wrote them in, regardless of what language your account is set to.

What if my language isn't in the list?

Facebook's language list is limited to languages with enough volunteer translators to maintain the interface. If your language isn't available, you can report it through Facebook's Help Center, but there's no timeline for when or if it will be added. In the meantime, you can use a browser extension that translates web pages, though this won't change Facebook's official interface.

Does changing my language change the language of my notifications?

Yes. Notifications, emails from Facebook, and push alerts will all appear in whatever language your account is set to. If you want notifications in a different language than your interface, you'll need to change your account language, receive the notifications, then change it back—there's no way to set them independently.

Can I use Facebook in multiple languages at the same time?

No. Facebook accounts support only one language setting at a time. If you need to use Facebook in multiple languages regularly, you would need to create separate accounts, each set to a different language, and switch between them.