How to Change the Language on Android Devices

You can switch between multiple languages too

By
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlin
Senior Content Strategist
  • New York University
Molly K. McLaughlin has been a technology writer since 2004. Her work has appeared on many tech sites across the web including PCMag, Dealnews, Wirecutter and many others.
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Updated on September 6, 2021
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher headshot
Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

What to Know

  • Go to Settings > System > Languages & Input > Languages > Add a Language > Select a language and a dialect if applicable.
  • Open the app in which you want to type. Tap and hold the space bar and select a language.
  • To change your region in the Play Store app, tap the profile icon in the top right > Settings > General > Account preferences..

This article outlines how to change your Android’s language from English to another language and how to change it back.

How to Change the Language on Your Phone

Changing the language takes just a few steps.

  1. Go to Settings.

  2. Tap System.

  3. Tap Languages & input.

    Changing the language on an Android device.

  4. Tap Languages.

  5. The current language is displayed.

  6. Tap Add a Language.

    Changing the language on an Android device.

  7. Select a language and a dialect if applicable.

    Changing the language on an Android device.

  8. Now you can switch between languages as needed.

How to Switch Languages on Android

Anytime you use your Android keyboard, you can switch between languages on the fly. 

  1. Open the app in which you want to type.

  2. Tap and hold the space bar.

  3. Select a language.

    Switching the language in an Android app.

How to Change the Language on an Android Back to English

To switch between languages, tap and hold the space bar in the app you’re using and select the language. If you no longer need to type in a language, you can remove it.

  1. Go to Settings.

  2. Tap System.

  3. Tap Languages & input.

    Changing the language on an Android device.

  4. Tap Languages.

  5. The current languages are displayed.

  6. Tap the three-dot menu icon.

    Removing a language on Android.

  7. Tap Remove.

  8. Tick the box next to a Language.

  9. Tap the trash icon.

    Removing a language on Android.

  10. Tap Remove.

    Removing a language on Android.

How to Change Your Android’s Region

If you move to a different country, you can change your region. You must be in that country to change it. You might not see this option if you’ve changed your country within the last year. However, once you’ve added a new country, you can switch between the two. 

  1. Tap the profile icon at the top right.

  2. Go to Settings.

  3. Expand the General section.

  4. Choose Account preferences.

  5. Select the country in Country and profiles.

  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to add payment methods.

FAQ
  • How do you take a screenshot on Android?

    You can take a screenshot on an Android device by holding down the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously.

  • How do you scan a QR code on Android?

    Using Android 9 or later, just open the Camera app and focus on the QR code. Google Lens should automatically detect it and display the hyperlink attached to it. If the Camera app doesn't automatically detect the code, go to Modes > Lens and try again.

  • How do you block a number on Android?

    Long press on the contact, then choose Block & Report Spam. If you just want to block without reporting the person as a spammer, uncheck the Report call as spam checkbox before confirming by selecting Block.

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