How to Change the Language on Samsung: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to change the language on your Samsung device? It’s a surprisingly simple process that can drastically improve your user experience. This guide walks you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you can effortlessly navigate your phone in your preferred language.

Changing the System Language: A Step-by-Step Approach

The core of changing the language on your Samsung phone lies within the settings menu. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Access the Settings App: Locate the Settings app icon on your home screen or in your app drawer (usually represented by a gear or cogwheel). Tap to open it.

2. Navigate to General Management: Within the Settings menu, scroll down until you find “General management”. This section consolidates various device management options, including language settings. Tap on “General management” to proceed.

3. Select Language: Inside “General management,” you’ll find the “Language” option. Tap on it to access the language settings.

4. Add Your Preferred Language: You’ll likely see the current system language listed. To add a new language, tap the “Add language” button (often represented by a plus (+) sign). This will open a list of available languages.

5. Choose Your Language: Scroll through the extensive list of languages and select your preferred language. Once you tap on a language, you might be prompted to choose a specific dialect or region (e.g., English (United States), English (United Kingdom), Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico)). Select the desired variant.

6. Set as Default: After selecting the language, you’ll be presented with two options: “Keep current” or “Set as default”. Tapping “Set as default” will immediately change the system language to your chosen one. The phone will then restart or refresh its interface to apply the changes. This includes menus, system apps, and some third-party apps.

7. Rearrange Language Priority (Optional): If you’ve added multiple languages, you can prioritize them. This is useful if some apps support specific languages and you want to set a preferred fallback. In the Language settings, you should see the option to reorder the languages (often achieved by long-pressing and dragging them up or down). The language at the top of the list will be the primary language used.

Alternative Methods

While the above is the standard approach, some Samsung devices might have slight variations depending on the Android version or custom UI. If you can’t find the exact options as described, try searching within the Settings app using the search bar at the top. Simply type “language” and it should guide you to the relevant settings.

Troubleshooting Language Changes

Sometimes, the language change may not fully propagate. Here are a few things to try:

• Restart your phone: A simple restart can often resolve minor glitches and ensure all system components recognize the new language.

• Clear the cache of specific apps: If only certain apps are not displaying the correct language, try clearing their cache in the Settings app under “Apps”.

• Check app-specific language settings: Some apps have their own language settings that override the system language.

Understanding App Language Behavior

It’s crucial to remember that not all apps automatically adapt to the system language. Here’s why:

• App Language Support: Apps need to be designed to support multiple languages. If an app hasn’t been translated into your chosen language, it will likely default to English or the developer’s original language.

• App-Specific Settings: Some apps, especially those dealing with content or communication, might have their own independent language settings. Check within the app’s settings menu.

• Regional Settings: The language displayed in an app can also be influenced by your device’s region settings, especially for apps dealing with dates, times, or currencies.

FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered

Here are 12 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to provide additional valuable information for the readers:

1. How do I change the language on my Samsung keyboard?

The keyboard language is usually tied to the system language. However, you can often customize keyboard languages separately. Go to Settings > General management > Language and input > On-screen keyboard. Select your keyboard (e.g., Samsung Keyboard or Gboard) and then “Languages.” You can then add and manage keyboard languages independently.

2. Can I change the language for a single app without changing the entire system language?

Yes, starting with Android 13, you can change the language for individual apps. Go to Settings > Apps > [Choose App] > Language. If the app supports this feature, you’ll be able to select your preferred language for that specific app.

3. What if my language is not listed in the available options?

Unfortunately, if your language is not listed, your Samsung device doesn’t officially support it. You might be able to find third-party apps or custom ROMs that offer wider language support, but these solutions are often more complex and may void your warranty.

4. Will changing the language delete my data?

No, changing the language will not delete your data. It only affects the display language of the operating system and supported apps.

5. How do I switch back to English (or another language) if I accidentally changed it to something I don’t understand?

The icons and layout of the Settings app remain the same regardless of the language. Use the visual cues to navigate to Settings (gear icon) > General Management > Language and select your preferred language. If you’re completely lost, use Google Translate on another device to translate the menu options.

6. Why are some parts of my phone still in English after changing the language?

This can happen for a few reasons: the app may not support your chosen language, some system components might not be fully translated, or the app might be pulling language information from your Google account settings.

7. Can I change the language on my Samsung Smart TV?

Yes, the process is similar to a phone. Navigate to Settings on your TV, usually found on the home screen. Look for options like “General” or “System,” and then find “Language” settings.

8. How do I change the language on my Samsung Galaxy Watch?

On your Galaxy Watch, go to Settings > General > Language and input > Language. Then, select your preferred language from the list.

9. Does changing the language affect the voice assistant (Bixby)?

Yes, changing the system language generally affects the voice assistant’s language. You might need to reconfigure Bixby or Google Assistant to recognize your voice in the new language.

10. What is the difference between “Language” and “Region”?

“Language” determines the display language of the system and apps. “Region” affects settings like date and time formats, currency symbols, and regional content. They are often related, but you can set them independently.

11. How do I add multiple languages to my Samsung keyboard?

Go to Settings > General management > Language and input > On-screen keyboard > [Choose Keyboard] > Languages. You can add multiple languages here. Then, while typing, you can usually switch between languages by tapping a globe icon or swiping on the spacebar.

12. I changed the language, but the date and time are still incorrect. How do I fix this?

Go to Settings > General management > Date and time. Ensure that “Automatic date and time” is enabled. If not, manually set the correct date and time. You may also need to adjust the time zone. The “Region” setting can also influence the date and time format.