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Android: Change the System Language

If your phone suddenly shows menus in a language you don't understand, or you picked the wrong one during setup, every screen becomes hard to navigate. Android can store several languages at once, but only the one sitting at the top of the list actually controls the interface. Apps that don't support your preferred language usually fall back to whichever language ranks next in that same list.

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Step 1 of 8: Tap on **Settings**

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Android 14 · Android 14
Change System Language – Android 14: step 1 – Tap on Settings
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Android

Change System Language auf Android

Android stores every installed language in one ordered list. The entry at the very top becomes the active system language, while the others stay available as fallback options for apps that only support certain translations.

To change the active language, open Tap on SettingsTap on SystemTap on LanguagesTap on System Languages. Here you see every language already installed on the phone.

To add a new one, tap Tap on Add a language and confirm with Select a Language. The new entry appears at the bottom of the list first, which means it has no effect yet.

Drag the language to the first position to set it as default, then confirm with Tap on Change. The interface, keyboard suggestions and system messages switch immediately.

If an app still displays the old language afterwards, it may only support the languages further down your list, or it uses its own language setting instead of the system default. Removing a language from the list only hides it from the fallback order and does not affect saved contacts, messages or files.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Reordering the list in System Languages only changes which language is active. The other languages stay installed and act as fallback options for apps.