Setting the language on your mobile phone these days seems silly, but when we mix Apps in multiple languages, Android 13, iOS, and hidden optionsThings get quite complicated. Luckily, both Android and iPhone allow you to play with the system language and, in many cases, with the language of each application separately, which is fantastic if you're learning a language, using apps that are only well translated in English, or simply like to have everything the way you want it.
In the following lines you will see How to assign a separate language to an app On Android (especially from Android 13 onwards) and on iOS, what limitations does this function have, how to force the language in almost any application with ADB, how to change the general language of the mobile, what to do if your language does not appear in the list and several tricks to solve typical problems when the language of an app does not change no matter what.
What does it mean to assign a separate language to an app?
Until recently, changing the language on your mobile phone meant that The entire system and all compatible applications will be adapted to that same language.In other words, if you set the phone to Spanish, the apps that had Spanish translations were displayed in Spanish; if you switched the phone to English, they all changed to English.
With Android 13 and with iOS for some time now, this changes: you can Choose a different language for each compatible application.For example, having your entire phone in Spanish, but using Netflix in English, TikTok in French, and Facebook in Portuguese, as long as those apps include those translations.
Keep in mind that The applications can only be displayed in the languages ​​they have built in.Although the system allows you to select any language, if the app doesn't include that translation, you'll see parts in English or another base language. This explains why sometimes, no matter what you tap, the interface doesn't change completely.
Assigning a separate language to an app in Android
In Android there are two distinct levels of configuration: on the one hand, the system's general languageOn the other hand, the new adjustment of application languages which appears from Android 13 onwards and is expanded with regional preferences in Android 14 and later.
Change the language of an app from Android settings
On phones with Android 13 (and later versions that support this feature), you can change the language of specific apps directly from Settings. The process, on stock Android or similar, is usually as follows:
- On your mobile, open the app Settings.
- Enter the section System.
- Press on Languages ​​and text input or a very similar name option.
- Tap on Application languages.
- You'll see a list of apps that support separate languages; select the application What do you want to modify?
- Choose the language you want to use only in that app.
On many recent mobile phones, this list only shows applications whose developer has activated the independent language functionThe rest will continue to use the language you have set as default in the system.
You can also access an app's language by going to its specific page: in some manufacturers, when you go to Settings > Applications > , there is a section called Language where you can select your preferred language for that specific application.
How the language list works in each app
When you change the language of an application, the system shows you a list of options. You will usually see... all languages ​​that Android supportsnot just those supported by the app. This can be somewhat confusing, because you might select a language that the app doesn't actually have translated and notice that almost nothing changes.
They usually appear at the top suggested languages ​​or languages ​​related to your country (for example, Spanish from Spain and Spanish from Latin America), and the rest below. If you leave the option on "system default", the app will continue to use the language you have set as primary on your device, respecting the language priority you have configured.
Requirements and limitations on Android
Not all apps allow you to change the language independently, even if you're using Android 13. For the setting to appear, you need to the developer has correctly integrated the application's language function or that the system has enabled that support for that specific app.
In addition, you will only be able to select languages ​​that the app actually includesAlthough the menu lets you choose any language, the result will depend on the integrated translations: some small apps only offer English and maybe a couple more languages; the larger ones usually have a much wider range.
Troubleshooting problems when changing the language of an app on Android
It's relatively common to change the language in an app's settings and still... The interface appears to still be in the same language or it's only partially translated. In these cases, there are several steps you should take before you lose your mind.
When the language doesn't change even though you've configured it
If you've selected a different language in "App languages" and you don't see the change in the app, try these solutions, which usually fix most problems:
- Close and reopen the appSometimes the app needs to be completely restarted to apply the new language settings.
- Check that your mobile phone has an internet connectionSome apps download additional language resources the first time you change the language; if there is no connection, they may get stuck.
- Add the language as a secondary language in the system and try again. The process is usually like this:
- Opens Settings on your Android mobile.
- Go to System > Languages ​​and text input > Languages.
- Press on Add language and add the language you want as a secondary language.
- After a few minutes, it returns to the screen of Application languages.
- Select the app again from the list.
- Choose the desired language for that app.
If after all this the language still doesn't change, it's very possible that The list of languages ​​reported by the app does not match the ones it actually supports. or that the implementation of languages ​​per app is not well integrated.
In any case, make sure you always have the latest version of the appThis is because many translation errors and compatibility issues with Android 13 are being corrected with updates.
If your app is not listed
You might go to Settings > System > App languages ​​and see that The app you want to configure isn't even listed.In that case, it is most likely that the developer has not enabled the independent language function for that application.
In those cases you only have a few options: use the system languageYou can change the language from the app's internal settings (many large apps have their own language selector in the settings menu) or use other more advanced methods such as ADB to force the setting to appear in all applications.
If the application also seems to be "stuck" in a language that doesn't match those you have on your system, it can help. delete app data From Settings > Apps > Storage > Clear data. Note that this usually logs you out, clears caches, and resets internal settings.
Force independent language in all apps with ADB on Android 13
Android 13 includes the per-app language system, but by default It hides the setting in apps that don't officially support it.If you want to force all apps to display the language option, there's an ADB-based trick that enables this feature globally.
The trick is to use an ADB command to change a system parameter. To do this, you need Connect your mobile phone to a computer with ADB configured or use an app like LADB that allows you to run ADB commands directly from your phone, via a local connection.
Once you have ADB up and running, the command you need to run is:
adb shell settings put global settings_app_locale_opt_in_enabled false
After executing this command, There is no need to restart your phone.However, you will need to exit and re-enter the app's information screen if you already had it open. From that point on, virtually all apps should display the section for Language in your information settings.
It should be noted that this method is somewhat experimental: the The list of languages ​​that appears will be the complete Android list.It's not just about the languages ​​actually supported by each app, so it's normal to see options that don't actually change anything. There may also be strange behavior or errors in apps that weren't designed for this feature.
Change the general system language on Android
Beyond the languages ​​per app, you can always change the phone's primary languagewhich is the one that the entire system and most applications will use by default.
The exact route varies slightly depending on the manufacturer, but generally you can follow these steps:
- Open the application Settings from your Android mobile.
- Sign in Languages ​​and text inputIf you don't see it, it's usually inside. System.
- If you're having trouble finding it, use the Settings search bar and type language.
- Sign in Languages to see the available languages.
- Press on Add language to incorporate a new language into the system.
- Once added, you can Set it as the primary language by moving it to the top of the list or selecting it as the default.
When you change the primary language, the operating system and all apps set to "follow the system language" will automatically adapt. On phones with Android 13 and compatible apps, you can then go app by app and overwrite that language with a different one using the application's language menu.
Remove languages ​​you no longer need
If you've been trying out languages ​​and your phone is full of options, you can delete languages ​​you are no longer interested inUsually, you just need to press and hold on the language you want to remove or tap the trash can icon and confirm that you want to delete it.
Remember that as soon as you delete one of the languages ​​you were using, It will disappear as an option until you add it again.If you frequently switch between two languages, it might be worthwhile to keep both in the list so you can switch between them more quickly without having to download them again.
Shortcut to change languages ​​more quickly
Android does not include a default shortcut to change the system language With a single tap, which would be very useful for those who frequently switch languages. However, you can also install a widget or a third-party app that directly opens the language menu.
Its operation is usually simple: Add the widget to the desktopYou place it in an empty area, and when you press it, the language menu opens without having to navigate through all the Settings submenus. It's a great way to save yourself a few taps each time.
Regional preferences in Android 14 and later
Android 14 expands on the idea of ​​language personalization with regional preference adjustmentswhich allow you to adapt things like the date format, currency, or units without having to change the system language.
These regional preference adjustments They are only available on Android 14 and higherSo, if your phone hasn't been updated yet, you won't see these options. In any case, they work very well with the per-app language feature to customize your phone to your liking, both in language and locale.
Change the system language on iPhone (iOS)
On iOS, changing the system language has been around for a long time and, in general, The process is quite straightforward and easy to locate.even if the phone is set to a language you don't fully understand.
To change the general language of the iPhone, the steps are usually:
- Open the app Settings on your iPhone.
- Enter the section General.
- Tap on Language and regionIf your iPhone is set to a different language, you can use the Settings search bar and type "language".
- You will see a list with the languages ​​available for the system.
- Select the language you want to use as your primary language.
- Confirm the selection for the iPhone to apply the change.
After confirmation, the phone may take a few seconds and The entire interface may restart or reload.Once completed, the entire system will be displayed in your chosen language. You may need to review the settings of some accounts or services to ensure everything is configured correctly.
One of the advantages of iOS is that, if you have several languages ​​addedIt usually switches from one to the other quite quickly and coherently, prioritizing the order you define in that "Language and region" menu.
Separate language per app on iOS
On Apple devices, the possibility of Choose language per application It's not something particularly new: it's been available for some time in many versions of iOS, although its exact presence may change depending on the system version.
The classic procedure for changing the language of a specific app on iPhone is as follows:
- Open the Settings of the iPhone.
- Scroll down until you find the application you want to configure and click on it.
- Among your options, tap on Language.
- Select the language you want to use only in that app.
In some recent versions of iOS, this per-app language option has disappeared or has hidden This setting is only available in some apps, so you might not see it in all of them. It's quite likely that Apple will reinstate or reorganize this setting in future iOS versions, so it's a good idea to check after each major update.
Unlike Android, changing the iPhone's general language doesn't necessarily force all apps to use that language: Each application can have its own language settings managed internally or through this dedicated menu, which provides considerable flexibility when mixing languages.
Change the language of apps according to the system version
Depending on the operating system version you have installed, apps may behave very differently when you change the language. It's important to understand this nuance to avoid frustration.
In older versions of Android (prior to Android 13), when changing the system language all applications that support that language They adapt automatically. Only apps with their own language selector can operate independently.
With Android 13 and later, the official option to change the language of apps individuallywithout affecting the rest. This means you can have your entire phone in Spanish, one app in German, and another in English, as long as you configure it that way in the app language settings.
On iOS, the ability to configure the language of specific apps separately has existed for some time, although with some changes in the location of the menus from one version to another and with the peculiarity that The system language and the language of each app do not necessarily have to match.even more so than on Android.
Restart or restore your phone to radically change the language
Some people take advantage of the situation to Change the device language when you factory reset itFor example, after buying a second-hand mobile phone from another country or when you want to leave it like new.
Restoring the phone is quite a drastic measure, because delete all data, apps, and settings of the device. Before doing so, it is advisable to make a complete backup in the cloud (Google, Apple) or on an external storage device such as a computer, USB drive or hard drive.
On Android, the general process for restoring is usually:
- Opens Settings on your mobile.
- Sign in System or in General, according to the model.
- Locate the section Resetting o Restart.
- Choose Factory data reset o Clear all data.
- Read the warning and confirm if you are sure.
- The phone will turn off, be completely erased, and restart.
- When it turns on, it will ask you that you select the initial language.
In that first setup wizard, choose the language carefully, because from then on... All menu paths will appear in that language.You can always change it later, but if the initial language is one you don't speak fluently, navigating the settings can be a bit of a challenge.
What to do if your language doesn't appear on the phone?
On some devices, especially when imported from other markets (for example, mobile phones purchased in China or India), it is possible that Spanish or other European languages ​​do not appear in the system's language listThis is because many brands use country-specific ROMs with a very limited set of languages.
These source ROMs usually only include local languages ​​such as Chinese, English, or other Southeast Asian languagesThis excludes languages ​​such as Spanish, French, or German. There are several alternatives to solve this problem, although not all are equally simple or secure.
The cleanest solution, if your phone allows it, is to install a Official global ROM from the manufacturer. These international versions of the software include more languages, full support for Google services, and a wider range of regional settings. However, the process of flashing a custom ROM may require unlocking the bootloader and involves certain risks.
If installing a global ROM isn't possible or you don't want to complicate things too much, there are apps on Google Play designed for that. force the system languageMany of them, like the well-known More 2 roomThey require advanced permissions (such as root) or ADB, but allow adding languages ​​not originally included in the ROM.
Before rooting your phone or modifying the system, it's advisable to carefully consider the risks. the security risks, the possible loss of warranty and the stability of the device. In some cases it may be worthwhile; in others, it may be more practical to get used to an English interface if it is the only Western language available.
In short, the current Android and iOS ecosystem offers more and more tools so that you can assign a separate language to each app, define a primary system language, adjust regional preferences, and even force hidden languages. When standard options fall short; by combining these functions you can have your mobile in a comfortable language, practice another in specific applications and overcome a good part of the limitations imposed by the translations integrated by developers. Share the information so that more people know about the topic.
