This guide will walk you through the process to change the language on your iPhone, allowing you to set another language as your primary one or add it as a secondary option.
Changing the language on your iPhone changes the text language for the entire device, including apps and menus. However, be aware that selecting a language that reads from right-to-left, such as Arabic or Hebrew, will reverse your iPhone’s entire screen layout to match the reading direction.
To switch your iPhone’s system language, follow these instructions to add a new language to your device and, if you choose, set it as the new default for your entire system.
First, open the Settings app by tapping the grey cog icon on your home screen. Then, scroll down and tap on the General menu option.
Next, select the Language & Region option, which is located in the same section as Date & Time. After that, tap Add Language. You can use the search bar at the top or scroll through the list to find and select the language you want to add.
A pop-up will appear asking if you want to set the new language as your primary. Choose to make it your primary language or keep your current one. Adding a language also adds its corresponding keyboard.
If you wish to revert your primary language back to English, you can easily do so from the Language & Region screen. To do this, tap and hold the three-line icon next to English in the Preferred Languages list, drag it to the top of the list, and tap the red text in the pop-up to confirm the change.
After adding multiple languages, you can quickly switch between keyboards while typing by tapping and holding the globe icon on the bottom-left of your keyboard to see a list of available language keyboards.
Customizing your iPhone’s language settings is essential for multilingual individuals who navigate different languages in their daily lives. Setting the device to a native or preferred language makes the user experience more intuitive and comfortable, ensuring all system prompts, menus, and app content are easily understood.
Furthermore, changing your device’s language can be an excellent tool for language immersion. By forcing yourself to navigate menus and read notifications in a language you are learning, you reinforce your vocabulary and reading comprehension in a practical, real-world context every time you use your phone.
