Change your iPhone's system language in Settings

Open Settings, then tap General. Scroll down and tap Language & Region. At the top, tap iPhone Language, then choose the language you want from the list. Your iPhone will restart to apply the change, and all system text — menus, buttons, notifications — will appear in that language.

The process takes less than a minute. Your apps and documents stay intact; only the operating system interface changes. If you change your mind, you can switch back the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language to change your system language.
  • Your iPhone will restart after you select a new language, and the change applies to all system menus and buttons.
  • Changing the system language does not affect your apps, photos, or documents — only the interface text.
  • You can switch between languages whenever you want using the same path in Settings.
  • If you want apps to display in a different language than your system, you can change individual app languages in Settings > [App Name] > Language.

What happens when you change your iPhone language

When you select a new language in Language & Region, your iPhone restarts and displays everything in that language. This includes the Settings app itself, so menu names and options will be in your chosen language from that point forward. Your home screen, Control Center, Siri, and system notifications all switch over.

Your personal data — photos, messages, calendar events, contacts — remains exactly as it was. Text you have typed in English stays in English. Only the labels and buttons that Apple controls change.

How to change language for individual apps

Some apps let you set their language separately from your system language. Open Settings, scroll down to find the app name, tap it, then look for a Language option. Not all apps offer this choice — it depends on whether the developer built that feature in.

If an app does not have its own language setting, it will display in whatever language your iPhone system is set to. You cannot override that at the app level.

Changing your region and keyboard language

In the same Language & Region menu, you can also set your Region separately from your system language. This affects date and time formats, currency symbols, and which keyboard layouts are available. For example, you can run your iPhone in English but set your region to France, which changes how dates appear and adds French keyboard options.

To add a keyboard in a different language, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Add New Keyboard, and choose the language. You can then switch between keyboards by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard when you type.

If your iPhone is in a language you do not understand

If you accidentally changed your language to one you cannot read, the path to fix it is the same — you just have to recognize the icons and order of the menus. Open Settings (the gear icon), tap the second item in the list (which is General), scroll down to the third section, and tap the item that mentions your current language. The list of languages will appear, and you can scroll to find one you recognize.

Alternatively, if you have a family member or friend who speaks the language your phone is in, they can walk you through the steps, or you can look up a visual guide that shows the exact buttons to tap in order.

Supported languages on iPhone

iPhone supports over 40 languages, including English (US and UK), Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, Hindi, Thai, Vietnamese, and many others. The exact list depends on your iPhone model and iOS version, but the most widely spoken languages are always included.

When you tap iPhone Language in Settings, you see only the languages available for your device. If a language you want is not listed, your iPhone model or iOS version may not support it yet. Updating to the latest iOS can sometimes add new language options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my iPhone language affect my apps or data?

No. Your photos, messages, contacts, and all personal data stay exactly as they are. Only the system interface — menus, buttons, and settings labels — changes to the new language. Apps that do not have their own language setting will display in your system language.

Can I use two languages on my iPhone at the same time?

Not for the system interface — it can only be in one language at a time. However, you can add multiple keyboard languages so you can type in different languages. When you type, tap the globe icon on your keyboard to switch between them.

What do I do if my iPhone restarts after I change the language?

That is normal. Your iPhone restarts automatically to apply the language change. It usually takes 30 seconds to a minute. Your phone will be ready to use once it finishes restarting.

Can I change the language for Siri only?

Siri uses your system language, so you cannot change it independently. If you want Siri to respond in a different language, you need to change your iPhone language. You can, however, set Siri to use a different accent or voice within the same language by going to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice.