To change the language on my phone back to English, open the Settings app (the grey gear icon), then follow the icon-based steps below for your device type.
Before you start: learn to spot these key icons
These three icons appear on nearly every smartphone and will be your lifeline for navigating without reading the menu text. The gear or cogwheel icon always opens the Settings app. The globe icon marks language-related menus. The two horizontal lines icon lets you drag items to reorder them, you will use this to move English to the top of the language list.
Switch your iPhone back to English
- Open the Settings app by tapping the grey gear icon.
- Scroll down and tap “General”, this is typically the 7th option down after your Apple ID and has a cogwheel icon.
- Tap “Language & Region”, this is in the same group as “Date & Time” and is typically the 12th choice down if navigating by icons.
- Tap “iPhone Language” or “Add Language”.
- Select “English” from the list.
- A pop-up will ask you to confirm; tap “Change to English” (or the equivalent in the current language). Your phone will restart and switch to English.
Switch your Android phone back to English
- Scroll down and tap “System”, this option is often near the bottom of the Settings page and may have an “i” icon next to it if the language is unknown. On Samsung devices, the path is 'General management' instead of 'System'.
- Tap “Languages & input” (often next to a globe-shaped icon).
- Tap “Add a language” (or “Add language”) and select “English” from the list.
- To set English as the default, drag it to the top of the “Language preferences” list using the two horizontal lines icon next to it. Your phone will immediately switch to English.
What to do if you're still stuck
If the steps above don’t work, focus on icon recognition. Look for any screen that shows a globe icon, that is always the language settings. If you see an app displaying a different language than the system, that app has its own separate language settings; open that app’s in-app settings (usually a gear icon inside the app) and look for a globe or language option. If the language change is not fully applied, resulting in a mix of languages, try restarting your device and going through the language change process again. If you cannot find your desired language, your phone's software may not support it; you may need to update your phone's software to gain access to additional language options. If you accidentally change the language and cannot understand the new language, look for visual cues, buttons, or icons that you recognize in your phone's settings to navigate back to the language settings. As a final resort, you can use a dedicated “phone troubleshooting and reset” guide to restore your phone to factory settings without losing your data, but do not attempt a factory reset directly, it will erase everything. As a last resort if you cannot navigate the settings at all, you can perform a factory reset, but this will erase all data on your phone, so it's crucial to back up your data beforehand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I navigate the Settings menu when I can’t read any of the words?
Ignore the text entirely and look only for the grey gear icon to open Settings. From there, count the rows of options by position: on iPhone, “General” is the 7th row down; on Android, “System” is near the bottom. Use the globe icon to find language menus.
Why is English not showing up in the language list?
Your phone’s software may not support English if it is a regional model or if the operating system is outdated. Check for a software update in the Settings menu (look for a gear icon with an “i” or a circular arrow icon), install it, then return to the language list.
Will changing the system language change the language inside my apps?
Not always. Many apps have their own language settings separate from the system.
I dragged English to the top but nothing changed. What now?
On some Android versions, you must also tap a “Done” or checkmark button after reordering the list. Look for a checkmark icon or a button at the top or bottom of the screen and tap it to apply the change.
Can I change the language without seeing the screen at all?
Yes. If you know the exact number of taps and swipes, you can do it blindly. For iPhone: tap the gear icon (first icon on the home screen), scroll down 7 taps, tap the 7th option, scroll down 5 more taps, tap the 12th option, then tap the first option, scroll to “English”, and confirm. For Android: tap gear, scroll to bottom, tap “System” (usually the last option), tap “Languages & input” (globe icon), tap “Add language”, find “English”, and drag it to the top.
I no longer see the English language option in my phone's settings. What should I do?
It could be due to a software update or manufacturer customization; you may need to reset your phone's settings to factory defaults to regain access, but this will erase all data.
