How to change language on iPhone or iPad: All you need to know

It comes in handy to know how to change the language on iPhone if you’re bilingual, or if the interface of the iOS device you bought is not in your native tongue. In a couple of minutes and with just a few taps, you can change the iPhone language to one of the other 40+ options available. This guide illustrates how to change the language on iPad or iPhone from English to Spanish, but you can also switch to Chinese, German, etc., the same way. Better yet, if you’re not familiar with the language your iPhone is currently using, we detail icons and provide clues to help you easily navigate every step of the way. Let’s get started:

Contents

1. How to change the language on iPhone
2. How to change iPhone language when there are more available options
3. What iPhone or iPad language are you using?

NOTE: On iPhone, changing language translates the iOS’s interface and menus. The new iPhone language settings also become the default for displaying apps that support the language. However, if you want to type in another language, check out our guide on switching keyboard languages.

How to change the language on iPhone

The first step to change language on iPhone or iPad is to launch the Settings app. Look for a gray gear icon on the Home Screen of your iOS device and tap on it.

On iPad or iPhone, change language by accessing Settings

Next, scroll down until you find the General entry, whose icon also looks like a gear. Press on it.

NOTE: If you’re trying to change language on iPad, this screen looks slightly different, and you can find the General settings on the left column. Use the right panel to follow the next steps.

Scroll down if you have to, and then access General

This is where it might get a bit tricky, as the next entries have no icons next to them. Tap on the Language & Region option - the fourth entry from the fourth section on this screen.

Access the iPhone Language & Region settings

At the top, you can see the iPhone Language or iPad Language - in our case, English (US).

This is what you’re looking for, so press on the first entry to change the language on iPhone or iPad.

Access the iPad or the iPhone Language settings

Next, you can see a list of all the languages supported on iOS. One option is to scroll through the list until you find the iPhone language you want to use, and then tap on it - in our case, Espanol or Spanish.

On either iPad or iPhone, change language by selecting the option you want

However, since some languages have more than one version available for your iPhone’s interface, you can use the field at the top to see all the available options - in our case, Spanish and Spanish (Latin America). Press on the iPhone language version you prefer.

Tap on a result to change the iPhone language

Your iPhone displays a pop-up at the bottom of the screen, letting you know that applying this setting restarts your iOS device.

To confirm your choice, tap on the first option, called “Change to [the new language]” - in our case, “Change to Spanish.”

Confirm your choice to change language on iPhone

On an iPad, change language by pressing Continue, on the right of the pop-up shown in the middle of the screen.

Confirm your choice to change language on iPad

The screen goes dark as your iOS device applies your changes, and you get a message about this in the new language you chose. You are then returned to the Language & Region screen, where you can see everything translated according to your preferences.

TIP: If you just got a new iOS device, you might also be interested in our guides about changing the iPhone wallpaper or setting a new ringtone.

How to change iPhone language when there are more available options

If you followed the steps in the first chapter, the Language & Region screen should now include a new section, called “Preferred language order,” which displays your new language at the top of the list. Any apps and websites you access on iOS use the first language they support from the list.

More iPhone language settings become available

If you’re bilingual and always switching between the same options, this provides a quick way to change language on your iPhone or iPad. Touch-and-hold on the hamburger menu to the right of a language and drag it to the top of the list to display iOS in that language.

How to change language on iPad and iPhone when there are more preferred languages

Confirm your choice by pressing Continue, and the iPhone restarts.

Tap Continue in the pop-up to change the iPhone or iPad language

Alternatively, you can also tap on Edit, from the top-right corner to manage your preferred languages.

Press Edit to change iPhone language

Use the hamburger buttons to change the order of the available languages, as shown earlier. When you are done, tap Done in the top-right corner, confirm your choice, and your iPhone or iPad restarts to translate the interface in the first language in the list.

NOTE: To remove an iPhone language you no longer need, press the - (minus) icon next to an entry, and then tap on Delete to confirm.

Edit or change the languages on your iPhone or iPad

TIP: Apps can use a language different than the one of your iPhone or iPad. Here’s a guide on changing the language on Facebook if you’re interested in translating the popular social media app in another language on your iOS device.

What iPhone or iPad language are you using?

Now you know how to change the language on iPhone to one you’re comfortable with. Unfortunately, you get fewer options on iOS than you do when changing the language of an Android device, so we hope you found what you’re looking for. Before you close this guide, let us know what language was your device using? Did you find your native language among the options offered by Apple? What language did you end up using? Tell us your story in the comments section.