Facebook is frustrating when every menu, button, and alert appears in a language you cannot read. Start with the in-app language control when you can, then use the desktop shortcut or your device language settings when Facebook sends you there. The right setting depends on whether you want to change Facebook’s interface, translated posts, captions, or only the current web page.
Change Facebook language on Android
Use this method when the Facebook app itself needs to show buttons, menus, titles, and other interface text in another language. It applies to current Facebook for Android app versions, though the exact placement can vary by app layout or region.
Open the Facebook app and tap Menu.
Tap Settings & privacy, then tap Settings.
Open Language and region.
Use the Account and app language dropdown and select the language you want.
Tap Save.
Change Facebook language on iPhone or iPad
On iPhone and iPad, start in Facebook and follow the language option it shows.
Open the Facebook app and tap Menu.
Tap Settings & privacy, then tap Settings.
Open Language and region.
Tap Language for buttons, titles and other text from Facebook.
Choose the available language option, or follow Facebook’s handoff to the iPhone or iPad app language settings, tapping Open Phone Settings and following the on-screen instructions when prompted.
Switch the language on Facebook desktop
On a computer, open Facebook.com while signed in and click your profile picture in the top right.
Go to Settings & privacy, then Settings, then Language and Region in the left column. Click Choose or the current language next to Account language, pick the language Facebook should use for its interface text, then click Ok.
If the menus are hard to follow because Facebook is already in another language, open the direct language settings page instead.
Use the direct language settings page when menus are unreadable
When the whole Facebook interface is in a language you cannot read, open https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=language while signed in. That page opens the same desktop language settings area as the normal menu path.
Change the Facebook display language or the translation-language settings shown on that page.
If this method fails, use browser translation long enough to find Settings & privacy, Settings, and Language and region.
Adjust post and comment translation language
This fixes translated posts and comments, not the language of Facebook’s buttons or menus.
On Facebook.com, click your profile picture in the top right.
Open Settings & privacy.
Choose Settings.
Go to Language and region.
Click the language button beside Language you'd like to have posts translated into.
Select the language you want Facebook to use for translations.
Control which translations Facebook offers
If Facebook keeps offering translations you do not want, open Facebook.com, click your profile picture in the top right, then go to Settings & privacy, Settings, and Language and region.
To stop translation offers for certain languages, use View beside Languages you don't want to be offered translations for, enter a language, and choose Save Changes. This changes translation prompts, not the Facebook interface language.
To stop automatic translation for selected languages, choose Choose next to Languages you don't want automatically translated, then search for and select the languages you want to exclude and save or confirm the change.
For one post or comment, use See Translation below that item. For reels, click Closed captions, choose the subtitle language when translated captions are available, and use Settings for caption options.
Use phone language settings when Facebook follows the device
Use these controls when Facebook redirects you to system language settings or the app follows your phone’s language preferences.
- 1.On Android 13 or later, open Settings, then go to System, Languages, and App Languages. Google’s Android Help lists that menu as Languages, while Android’s developer documentation lists it as Languages & input, so open whichever name your phone shows; on many phones you can also reach the same control through Settings, Apps, Facebook, and Language.
- 2.Choose Facebook, then select a language. If Facebook is not listed, use Facebook’s own Language and region setting instead.
- 3.On Samsung Galaxy phones with App languages support, open Settings, then General management, App languages, and Facebook.
- 4.Select the language you want Facebook to use on that Galaxy device.
- 5.On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, then General, Language & Region, and Add Language; choose the language and make it primary when prompted, or add and reorder preferred languages to influence apps and websites.
Fix browser translation without changing Facebook settings
The most common cause is changing a page translation control when you meant to change Facebook’s display language.
Use browser translation only when you need to read the current Facebook web page. Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Safari translate the page view without changing your Facebook account or app language.
For Chrome on Android, use More, Settings, Languages, and Translation settings, then open Facebook and use the translation prompt or translate option.
On Chrome desktop, right-click the Facebook page and choose Translate to [Language], or use the translate icon and options.
In Microsoft Edge version 136 or later, open Facebook, use the translate icon or prompt in the address bar, choose a language in Translate to, and click Translate.
In Safari on Mac, open Facebook, click the Translate button in the Smart Search field, and choose a language; add a missing language in Language & Region settings.
Update the app and ignore older menu names
This fixes cases where your app does not show the current Language and region menus.
Update or install the official Facebook app from Facebook’s install page, the iPhone or iPad App Store page, or Google Play.
After updating, open Facebook and use Menu, Settings & privacy, Settings, and Language and region.
If you use Facebook Lite on Android, update or install it from the official Facebook Lite product page or Google Play.
Open Facebook Lite, tap Menu in the top right, scroll down and tap Settings & privacy, then Settings, then tap Language and region and select your preferred language.
Skip older desktop paths that rely on Facebook language, Edit, and Show Facebook in this language. Use the current Language and region area in Facebook settings instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Facebook change language by itself?
Facebook can use the language selected inside its own settings, the language available in the app, or language preferences from your phone or browser. Check Facebook’s Language and region setting first.
Does changing Facebook language change my posts?
No. Changing the display language affects Facebook menus, buttons, titles, and other interface text. It does not rewrite posts you have already published.
Can I change only the language Facebook translates posts into?
Yes. On Facebook.com, go to Settings & privacy, Settings, Language and region, then change the language beside Language you'd like to have posts translated into.
Can browser translation replace Facebook language settings?
No. Browser translation only changes the page view in that browser. It does not change your Facebook account language or the Facebook app language.