Change Chrome's display language in three steps

Google Chrome lets you change the language it displays — menus, buttons, error messages, everything — without reinstalling the browser. You do this through Chrome's Settings, and the change takes effect after you restart the browser. The process is the same whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left side, click Languages. Under "Languages," click the three dots next to any language already listed, or click Add languages to find a new one. Select your preferred language, then click Display Google Chrome in this language. Chrome will ask you to relaunch — click Relaunch and the browser will restart in your chosen language.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome's display language is changed through Settings > Languages, not through your computer's system settings.
  • You can add multiple languages to Chrome and switch between them without restarting each time.
  • Changing Chrome's language does not change the language of websites you visit — only Chrome's own interface.
  • The language change takes effect immediately after you restart the browser.
  • Chrome will remember your language choice even after you close and reopen the browser.

Add a language that is not yet installed

If the language you want is not already listed under "Languages" in Settings, you need to add it first. Click Add languages and a search box will appear. Type the name of the language you want — for example, "Spanish," "Mandarin," or "Arabic" — and Chrome will show matching options.

Click the language you want from the list. Chrome downloads the language files in the background; this usually takes a few seconds. Once the download finishes, the language appears in your Languages list with three dots next to it. Click those dots and select Display Google Chrome in this language. Restart Chrome when prompted.

Switch between multiple languages without reinstalling

You can add as many languages as you want to Chrome and switch between them without restarting the browser each time. Once you have added multiple languages, go back to Settings > Languages. Find the language you want to use and click the three dots next to it, then select Display Google Chrome in this language. Click Relaunch and Chrome will restart in that language.

This is useful if you work in multiple languages or share a computer with people who speak different languages. Each person can set their own preferred language, and Chrome will remember it the next time they log in with their Google account.

Understand what changes and what does not

Changing Chrome's language affects only Chrome's own interface — the menus, buttons, settings pages, and error messages you see. It does not change the language of websites you visit. If you visit a website in English, it will still display in English even if Chrome's interface is in Spanish or French.

Some websites detect your browser language and offer to translate their content, but that is the website's choice, not Chrome's. If you want to translate a webpage itself, use Chrome's built-in translation feature: right-click on the page and select Translate to [your language], or click the translate icon that appears in the address bar when Chrome detects a different language.

Remove a language you no longer need

If you have added languages you no longer use, you can remove them to keep your Languages list clean. Go to Settings > Languages and find the language you want to remove. Click the three dots next to it and select Remove. The language is deleted immediately.

You cannot remove the language Chrome is currently displaying in. If you want to delete your current language, first switch to a different language using the steps above, then remove the old one.

Troubleshoot when Chrome does not restart in your chosen language

If you selected a language and clicked Relaunch but Chrome still displays in the old language, the browser may not have fully restarted. Close Chrome completely — not just the window, but the entire application. On Windows, check the taskbar to make sure no Chrome windows are still open. On Mac, use Command+Q to quit Chrome fully. Then open Chrome again.

If the language still has not changed, go back to Settings > Languages and check that your chosen language is listed. If it is not there, the download may have failed. Click Add languages, search for the language again, and wait for the download to complete before selecting it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing Chrome's language affect my Google account settings?

No. Your Google account language (used for Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services) is separate from Chrome's display language. To change your Google account language, sign into your account at myaccount.google.com, click Language & region on the left, and select a new language. Chrome's interface language and your account language can be different.

Will my extensions and bookmarks still work in a different language?

Yes. Extensions and bookmarks are not affected by Chrome's display language. They will work exactly the same way. Some extensions may have their own language settings, but those are separate from Chrome's interface language.

Can I set different languages for different user profiles in Chrome?

Yes. Each Chrome profile can have its own language setting. If you have multiple user profiles on your computer, each profile can display Chrome in a different language. The language setting is stored with that profile, so Chrome remembers it when you switch profiles.

What if my language is not in Chrome's list?

Chrome supports over 100 languages. If you cannot find your language in the Add languages list, it may not be available yet. Check the full list by typing the first letter of your language name in the search box. If it truly is not there, you can request it through Chrome's feedback tool: click the three dots, select Help, then Send feedback.