Change your Steam interface language in three steps

Open Steam and go to Steam (top left menu) > Settings. Click Interface on the left sidebar. Under "Language", click the dropdown menu and select your language. Click OK at the bottom right. Steam will restart and display in your chosen language.

This changes the language of Steam's menus, buttons, and interface text — the words you see when you navigate the store, your library, and your account settings. It does not change the language of individual games themselves. Some games include multiple languages and let you pick separately; others ship in one language only.

The process takes less than a minute. If you share your computer with other users, each Steam account can have its own language setting, so changing yours will not affect anyone else's.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam's interface language is set in Settings > Interface > Language, and takes effect after Steam restarts.
  • Changing the interface language does not change the language of the games you own — those are set separately within each game.
  • Each Steam account on the same computer can use a different interface language without affecting the others.
  • Steam supports over 30 languages, though some games may not be translated into all of them.

Where to find the language dropdown

Start by opening Steam on your computer. In the top left corner, click the word Steam (not the logo). A menu will drop down with several options. Click Settings — it is usually near the bottom of this menu.

The Settings window will open. On the left side, you will see a list of categories. Click Interface. The main panel on the right will now show interface options. Look for the section labeled "Language" — it is usually near the top. You will see a dropdown menu with your current language selected.

Selecting a new language and applying it

Click the language dropdown to see the full list. Steam displays languages in their native names — for example, "Español" for Spanish, "Français" for French, "Deutsch" for German. Scroll through the list and click the language you want.

Once you select a language, you will see an OK button at the bottom right of the Settings window. Click it. Steam will close the Settings window and restart itself. This restart is necessary for the language change to take effect. Do not close Steam during this restart — let it complete on its own.

When Steam reopens, all menus, buttons, and text in the interface will be in your chosen language. Your game library, store page, and account settings will all display in the new language.

What changes and what does not

The interface language controls only the Steam client itself — the launcher, store, and menus you interact with. It does not change the language of the games you own. A game published in English will still launch in English even if your Steam interface is set to French.

Many games include multiple language options built into the game itself. If a game supports your language, you can usually change it by opening the game's settings or options menu once it is running. Some games let you pick the language during installation. Check the game's store page to see which languages it supports — this information is listed under "Languages" on the right side of the store page.

Changing language on a shared computer

If multiple people use Steam on the same computer, each account can have its own language setting. When you log into your Steam account and change the language, only your account is affected. When another person logs in with their account, Steam will display in whatever language they set for themselves.

To switch between accounts, log out of your current account (click your username in the top right > Log Out) and then log in with a different account. That account's language preference will take effect after Steam restarts.

If your language is not in the list

Steam supports over 30 languages, but not every language is available. If you do not see your language in the dropdown, Steam may not have a translation for it yet. In this case, English is the default fallback — the interface will display in English.

You can still play games in other languages if those games support them. Check the game's store page to see which languages are available for that specific title. Some games are translated by the publisher into languages that Steam itself does not yet support.

Troubleshooting language changes that do not take effect

If you select a new language and click OK, but Steam still displays in the old language after restarting, close Steam completely and open it again. Sometimes the change requires a second launch to fully apply. Close the Steam window entirely (not just minimize it) and reopen the Steam application.

If the language still has not changed, verify that you clicked OK at the bottom right of the Settings window. If you clicked a different button or closed the window without confirming, the change will not be saved. Go back to Settings > Interface > Language, select your language again, and click OK.

On rare occasions, Steam's interface files may be corrupted. If you have tried the above steps and the language still will not change, you can reinstall Steam. Uninstall it through your computer's control panel (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac), then download and install Steam fresh from steampowered.com. Your games and account will remain intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Steam language change the language of my games?

No. The Steam interface language and game language are separate. Changing your Steam language only affects the menus and buttons you see in Steam itself. Games display in whatever language they were published in, unless that game includes multiple language options you can change within the game's settings.

Can I use Steam in a language it does not officially support?

Steam's interface is only available in the languages listed in the Language dropdown. If your language is not there, the interface will display in English. However, individual games may support languages that Steam itself does not, so you can still play games in other languages if the game publisher has translated them.

If I change my language, will other people using my computer see it?

Only if they log into your Steam account. Each account has its own language setting. When someone else logs in with their own account, Steam will display in whatever language they set for themselves. Your language choice does not affect other accounts on the same computer.

What should I do if Steam is in the wrong language and I cannot read the menus?

Click the top left corner where it says Steam, then look for the word that looks like a gear or wrench icon (Settings). Once in Settings, look for the word that appears early in the left menu — this is Interface. Find the dropdown near the top of the right panel and select your language. If you cannot read the text, the dropdown is usually in the same position across all languages.