How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser

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How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
You can change your language across Google products, services, and devices.nortonrsx/Getty Images
  • You can change the language of Google Chrome on your computer, but only if you have a Windows or Chromebook device.
  • If you don't have a Windows or Chromebook device, you can change the language of your Google search results.
  • On all mobile devices, you must change the default language of your entire device to view the Chrome app in your preferred language.
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Google lets you change languages across your Google services, on the Chrome browser, and directly on a web page through translation.

If you want to change your default language or add multiple languages to your Google browser, services, or direct web pages, here's how to do it.

How to change language in Google on desktop

1. Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in if you aren't already.

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2. Click "Data & personalization."

How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
Select “Data & personalization" from the left sidebar.Abbey White/Insider

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3. Under General preferences for the web, select "Language."

How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
Select Language from the list of options.Abbey White/Insider

4. Click the pencil icon to edit your default language from English.

How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
Click the pencil icon to edit your Google language.Abbey White/Insider

5. Type in the language you want to set or scroll until you find it, then click Select.

How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
Choose which language and region you want it from before clicking Select.Abbey White/Insider

6. If you want to add another language and receive a Google translate prompt on web pages, click "Add another language" and repeat the process.

7. To have Google automatically add languages you frequently use in Google services, toggle the relevant slider and wait for it to turn blue.

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How to change language in Google on mobile

You can change the language of your Google account services on your Android or iPhone following mostly the same steps as you would on the desktop. Smartphone users just need to take a few extra steps in the beginning.

How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
Access your Data & Personalization settings on Android through your Google account settings.Abbey White/Insider

To change language for Google services and web page translation on Android, you'll first need to open your Settings app and select Google from the list of options. On your account profile, tap "Manage your Google Account" under your email and profile icon. Finally, choose the "Data & personalization" option from the top bar.

How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
Tap your Gmail icon and select Google Account in the pop-up window.Abbey White/Insider

On an iPhone, it's much easier to get to your account's language settings. Just open the Gmail app, tap your profile picture or initials in the top right corner, and select "Google Account." From here you should be able to access your data and personalization settings.

How to change language in Google for products and search results

1. With your chosen browser open, go to www.google.com/preferences.

2. Select "Languages" from the left-side column.

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3. Select the language you want to change see Google products and search results in.

How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
Select which language you want your Google search in.Abbey White/Insider

4. Click Save.

5. A window confirming your language preferences were updated will appear. Press OK to continue to the Google Search home page.

How to change language in Google Chrome browser

Google lets you update your language settings across the Chrome browser, but there's a catch - it can only be done in the browser on a Windows PC or Chromebook.

Quick tip: On Mac and Linux computers, the language within Chrome will automatically match the default system language of the device. So if you want to change the language for Chrome on Mac, you'll need to do it through your macOS system settings.

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1. Open the Google Chrome app on your Windows or Chromebook computer.

2. Click the three vertical dots icon at the top right corner of your screen, and select "Settings" from the dropdown.

3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Advanced."

4. In the Languages section, click "Language" and wait for a dropdown to appear.

How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
Click on "Language" to reveal a dropdown menu.Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider

5. If your preferred language isn't already listed, click "Add languages."

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How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
If your language isn't already listed, click "Add languages."Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider

6. In the pop-up, select the language you want to add, then click "Add" in the lower right corner.

7. Click on the three vertical dots to the right of your preferred language's name and select "Move to the top" to give that language the highest priority.

How to change your language in Google on desktop, mobile, or the Chrome browser
After clicking the three-dot menu beside your preferred language, click "Move to the top."Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider

8. Once the language is at the top, click the three dots next to it again and check the "Display Google Chrome in this language" box.

9. Restart Chrome for the changes to take effect.

Troubleshooting language changes in Google

With so many ways to change your Google language across devices, services, and products, you're bound to run into issues. Here's a few common ones and how to fix them.

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If your language update didn't work: Sometimes it will appear that a language update hasn't occurred. You can try restarting your Chrome browser, your Google app, or logging back into your account to see if that updates the changes. If not, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then set the language again.

If your language isn't listed: While Google has a number of languages available for users, it doesn't encompass everything that exists. If the primary language you want isn't available, Google will prompt you to choose an alternate language. You can add a secondary language using just about every language update method, and it will be visible beneath your primary language.

How to change your Gmail language settings to read or compose in another language on a computer or mobile deviceHow to change the keyboard language on your Android phone or tablet using the Gboard app or SettingsYou can change the language on your Chromebook in 2 ways - here's howHow to change the language on a Samsung Galaxy S10, and choose among regional variations
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