How to Change the Language on Your iPhone

This article outlines how to change the language on an iPhone, including for Siri and the keyboard.

How to Change the iPhone Language Settings

While you initially set the language during the iPhone setup process, there is no need to reset the iPhone to change the language. Once you choose a new language, your iOS device will load in the new language settings and you'll be using the new language in seconds.

1. First, launch the iPhone's Settings app.

2. Scroll down and choose General from the menu.

3. In the middle of the general settings, you'll find Language & Region. (You can also change your geographical region here.)

4. Tap the iPhone Language selection at the top of the screen.

5. Choose your new language from the list. To save time, you can type the first few letters of the search bar's language to narrow the list.

6. When you have you new language chosen, tap Done at the top of the screen.

7. Confirm your language choice.

How to Change Language for Siri

You may find that Siri doesn't change over when you change the language for your iPhone. Siri also supports several languages, and for some languages, it can also produce some popular accents. Changing Siri's language is even easier than switching languages for your iPhone.

1. Launch the Settings app or return to Settings' main menu if you are still within the app.

   You can return to the main menu by tapping the back button at the top left until you are back at the menu. The back button appears as a less-than sign (<) followed by the previous menu's name.

2. Tap Siri & Search.

3. Scroll down and select Language.

4. Choose your new language and then confirm your choice.

5. Tap the back button to return to the Siri settings.

6. Choose Siri Voice.

7. Select the gender and accent if available.

How to Switch Languages for the iPhone Keyboard

The iPhone's keyboard should switch over automatically, but if it doesn't, you can add the new language to the choice of keyboards. You can also switch back and forth between two languages for the keyboard.

1. Launch the Settings app or return to the main menu of settings.

2. Tap General.

3. Select Keyboard in the general settings.

4. Choose Keyboards at the top of the screen.

5. Tap Add New Keyboard...

6. Select the new keyboard language.

If you want to remove any of the available keyboards, tap Edit at the top of this screen and then tap the Delete button next to the keyboard. The Delete button appears as a red minus sign. After deleting the keyboard, tap Done.

What Happens When You Change an iPhone's Language

The entire process only takes a few minutes and, once completed, all text in menus will display in the new language and in apps that support the language. Changing the language setting will also switch the language for the iPhone's keyboard but still allows you quick access to accent characters needed for various languages.

However, you may need to change the language setting for Siri, too, as it may not automatically switch over to a new language.

The iPhone supports over thirty languages and several dialects within several of those languages, so you aren't stuck with just American English. You can also use UK English, Canadian English, or even Singapore English. Or you can choose between French or Canadian French, Spanish or Latin American Spanish, Portuguese or Brazil Portuguese, and the list goes on from there.