How to Change the Language in Android

PDF download Download Article
Changing the language for your Android's icons, menus, and keyboard
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to change the default language on your Android phone or tablet, as well as how to change your Android keyboard's input language.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Changing the Display Language

PDF download Download Article
  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen, then tap the gear-shaped "Settings" icon
    Android 7 Settings
    that's in the top-right corner of the drop-down menu.
    • You may need to use two fingers to swipe down.
  2. This option is near the bottom of the Settings page. If you're attempting to change the language on a phone that's currently in a language you don't speak, look for the "ⓘ" icon near the bottom of the page; the text to the right of it is the System option.
    • On a Samsung Galaxy, you'll scroll down and tap General management , which is next to three grey, horizontal lines with circles on them.
    Advertisement
  3. It's near the top of the System page, to the right of a globe-shaped icon.
    • On a Samsung Galaxy, you'll tap Language and input , which is the top result on the page.
  4. This is the top option on the page.
    • On a Samsung Galaxy, you'll tap Language at the top of the page.
  5. It's below the bottom language listed on this page, to the right of a large ＋ icon.
    • On a Samsung Galaxy, you'll tap Add language next to the ＋ icon.
  6. Scroll down until you find the language you want to switch to, then tap it. Doing so will open the language's page if more than one dialect is available.
    • Your language will be written in its own language to make this step easier.
  7. Tap the region that pertains to the dialect of the selected language you want to use.
  8. This option is in the bottom-right corner of the prompt for most languages, though if your Android's current language reads from right to left you'll find it in the lower-left corner of the prompt.
    • On a Samsung Galaxy, you'll tap SET AS DEFAULT .
  9. If the option you tapped in the last step didn't reset your Android's language to your selected one, you'll need to move it to the top of the language list by tapping and dragging the icon on the far-right side of the language to the top of the list.
    10. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Changing the Input Language

PDF download Download Article
  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen, then tap the gear-shaped "Settings" icon
    Android 7 Settings
    that's in the top-right corner of the drop-down menu.
    • You may need to use two fingers to swipe down.
  2. This option is near the bottom of the Settings page.
    • On a Samsung Galaxy, you'll scroll down and tap General management instead.
  3. It's near the top of the page.
    • On a Samsung Galaxy, you'll tap Language and input instead.
  4. This option is in the middle of the screen.
    • On a Samsung Galaxy, you'll tap On-screen keyboards here instead.
  5. Tap the keyboard for which you want to change the language.
    • This should be your default keyboard. If you don't change the language for your default keyboard, you won't find the language in the keyboard's menu when you go to type.
  6. This will vary depending on your keyboard, so look for a Languages or Change input language option.
    • For example, if you selected the Samsung keyboard on a Samsung Galaxy, you would tap MANAGE INPUT LANGUAGES here.
  7. Tap the grey switch or checkbox next to the language you want to add to your keyboard, then disable any languages you don't want to use by unchecking them or tapping the colored switches next to them.
    • You may have to download the language you want to use by tapping Download or
      Android 7 Download
      to the right of the language before you can apply it.
  8. Now that your keyboard has the language you selected applied to it, you can switch between languages by doing the following:
    • Open an app that lets you type.
    • Tap the app's text field to bring up your on-screen keyboard.
    • Long-press the "Languages"
      Android 7 Language
      icon in your Android's keyboard.
    • Tap the language you want to use in the resulting pop-up menu.
    9. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I change my phone into a language that isn't there?
    Community Answer
    If your device doesn't have the language you are looking for as an option, there won't be a way to change it to that language, as the translation hasn't been programmed into the device.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 10 Helpful 18
  • Question
    How do I change an App's language?
    Community Answer
    Go to keyboard settings, click "input language" and keyboard layout, and choose your language.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 11
  • Question
    How do I change the language to Hebrew?
    Community Answer
    You would do it the same way that you would change it to English, Spanish, or any other language. (See above.)
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 18 Helpful 26
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • The settings for third-party keyboards (e.g., keyboards that didn't come installed on your phone) will vary from the default keyboards' settings.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Change the Pointer Speed in Android
      How to
      Add Widgets on Android
      How to
      Check What Android Version You Have
      How to
      Add an App Back to Home Screen: Tips for Finding Apps
      4 Simple Ways to Turn Off Safe Mode on Any Android
      3 Ways to Unlock an Android Tablet
      How to
      Find Your Phone Number on Android
      How to
      Block All Incoming Calls on an Android Phone
      How to
      Connect Android Phone to Computer
      How to
      Hide Apps on Android
      How to
      Copy an Entire Text Conversation on Android
      How to
      Change Number of Rings on Android
      How to
      Disable Parental Controls on Android
      A Guide to Copying and Pasting with the Android Clipboard
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Settings .
      2. Scroll down to tap System or General management .
      3. Tap Language & input , then tap Language .
      4. Tap Add a language , then select a language and a dialect.
      5. Tap Set as default when prompted, or drag the language up to the top of the list.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 552,267 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement