How to Change the Language on Your iPhone

Change your iPhone's system 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 entire system switches to your chosen language: menus, buttons, notifications, and built-in apps like Mail, Messages, and Calendar all change immediately. This is different from changing the language for a single app or for Siri — those are separate settings you can adjust independently.

If you don't see your language in the list, it may not be available for your iPhone model or iOS version. Older iPhones support fewer languages than newer ones. You can check Apple's support pages for your specific model to see which languages are supported.

Key Takeaways

Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language to change your system language.
Your iPhone will restart when you confirm the change, and all system menus and built-in apps will switch to the new language.
Changing the system language is separate from changing Siri's language or the language for individual apps.
If your language doesn't appear in the list, it may not be supported on your device or iOS version.
You can add multiple languages to your keyboard and predictive text without changing your system language.

Add a keyboard in a different language 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. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard. Scroll through the list and select the language you want. You can add as many keyboards as you need.

When you're typing in any app, press and hold the globe icon (or the space bar) to switch between your keyboards. Your system language stays the same — only your typing changes. This is useful if you speak multiple languages or need to type in a language that uses a different alphabet, like Arabic, Chinese, or Russian.

Each keyboard can have its own settings. For example, you can turn on autocorrect for English but turn it off for another language if the suggestions aren't helpful. Tap Settings > General > Keyboard and scroll down to see options for each keyboard you've added.

Change the language for Siri separately from your system language

Siri can speak and understand a different language than your iPhone's system language. Go to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Language and choose the language you want Siri to use. Siri will respond in that language and understand voice commands in that language.

This is helpful if you're learning a language or if you prefer Siri to speak to you in a language other than the one your menus are in. You can change Siri's language without affecting your keyboards, your system language, or any of your apps.

Change the language for individual apps

Some apps let you change their language independently of your system language. Open the app, go to its settings or preferences (usually found by tapping a menu icon or gear icon), and look for a language or region option. Not all apps offer this — it depends on whether the developer built that feature in.

For example, some language-learning apps let you choose which language the app displays in, separate from your iPhone's system language. If an app doesn't have its own language setting, it will use whatever language your iPhone is set to.

Change your region without changing your language

Your region setting affects things like the date format, time format, and which currency your apps display. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region and tap Region. Choose your region from the list. This doesn't change your system language — your menus stay in the language you chose earlier.

For example, you could have your iPhone in English but set your region to France, so dates appear in the French format (day/month/year instead of month/day/year). This is useful if you've moved to a different country or want your phone to display information in a specific regional format.

Troubleshoot if your language won't change

If you've selected a new language but your iPhone is still showing the old one, restart your phone. Hold down the power button (or power and volume button, depending on your model) until you see the power-off slider, then slide to turn off. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.

If the language still hasn't changed after a restart, go back to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language and make sure your selection was saved. Sometimes the change doesn't stick if you didn't tap the language name twice to confirm. If you're still having trouble, check that your iOS is up to date by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

If you're trying to add a keyboard and it's not appearing in the list, the language may not be available for your device. Try restarting your iPhone, or check Apple's support documentation for your specific model to see which languages are supported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my iPhone's language affect my apps or data?

No. Changing your system language only changes the language of your menus and built-in apps. Your personal data, photos, messages, and third-party apps are not affected. Some apps may change their display language to match your system language, but your data stays the same.

Can I have my iPhone in one language and my Apple Watch in another?

Yes. Your Apple Watch has its own language setting, separate from your iPhone. On your Apple Watch, go to Settings > General > Language and choose what you want. Your iPhone and Watch can be in different languages independently.

What if I accidentally changed my language and can't read the menus?

Go to Settings (the gear icon), then look for the icon that looks like a globe or a flag — that's usually General. Tap it, then tap the icon that looks like a globe again — that's Language & Region. Tap the top option to change your language back. If you're still stuck, you can ask Siri by saying "Open Settings" and Siri will help you navigate.

Does changing my language affect my keyboard layout?

Not automatically. Your keyboard layout (QWERTY, AZERTY, etc.) is separate from your language. If you want a keyboard layout that matches your language, you may need to add it separately in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard. Some languages have multiple layout options to choose from.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.