Change your iPad's language in Settings
To change the language your iPad displays, open Settings on your home screen, then tap General. Scroll down and tap Language & Region. At the top, you'll see iPad Language — tap it to see a list of available languages. Select the language you want, and your iPad will restart to apply the change.
The entire interface — menus, buttons, app names, system messages — will switch to your chosen language. This affects the operating system itself, not individual apps. Some apps may still display in their own language settings, which you can change separately within each app.
If you don't see your preferred language in the list, it may not be supported on your iPad model or iOS version. Older iPad models sometimes have fewer language options than newer ones.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, tap General, then Language & Region to find the language option for your entire iPad.
- Your iPad will restart when you switch languages, so save any open work before making the change.
- Changing the iPad language is different from changing the language for individual apps, which have their own settings.
- If you need a language that isn't listed, check whether your iPad model and iOS version support it by visiting Apple's website.
What happens when you change the language
When you select a new language, your iPad will restart automatically. This takes about one to two minutes. During the restart, you may see a loading screen or Apple logo. Don't turn off your iPad during this time.
After the restart, everything on your screen will be in the new language — the Settings app, the home screen, notifications, and system prompts. Your files, photos, and personal data remain unchanged. Only the words and labels change.
If you change your mind, you can switch back to your original language the same way. Go to Settings, General, Language & Region, tap iPad Language, and select your previous choice.
Changing language for individual apps
Some apps let you set their own language separately from your iPad's system language. This is useful if you want your iPad in English but a specific app in Spanish, for example. Not all apps offer this feature — it depends on what the app developer included.
To change an app's language, open that app and look for Settings or Preferences, usually found in a menu icon (three horizontal lines) or gear icon. Look for a Language or Localization option. If the app doesn't have its own language setting, it will display in whatever language your iPad is set to.
Checking your current iOS version
If you're having trouble finding the Language & Region option, your iPad may be running an older version of iOS. Newer iPads and recent iOS updates moved this setting to the location described above, but older versions sometimes placed it differently.
To check your iOS version, open Settings and tap General. Look for About and tap it. You'll see your iOS version listed as a number like 17.2 or 16.5. If your version is older than iOS 13, the language setting may be in a slightly different location, though the process is similar.
Troubleshooting language changes that don't stick
If you change the language but it reverts back after a restart, your iPad may have a software issue. First, try changing the language again and wait for the restart to complete fully — don't interrupt it by pressing buttons or closing apps.
If it still reverts, restart your iPad manually. Press and hold the top button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears. Slide it to turn off your iPad, wait 30 seconds, then press the top button again to turn it back on. Once it's fully restarted, try changing the language one more time.
If the language still won't change after a manual restart, the issue may require a factory reset, which erases all data. Before doing this, back up your iPad to iCloud or a computer using Finder. Contact Apple Support for guidance on whether a reset is necessary.
Regional settings separate from language
In the same Language & Region menu, you'll also see Region as a separate option. This controls things like date format, time format, and currency display — not the language itself. You can have your iPad in English (language) but set to France (region), which would show dates in the French format.
For most people, setting the region to match your location makes sense, but it's not required. If you prefer a different date or time format, you can change the region independently of the language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the language delete my files or photos?
No. Changing the language only changes the words and labels on your screen. All your photos, documents, messages, and personal data stay exactly as they are. You can switch languages back and forth without losing anything.
Can I have different languages for different users on the same iPad?
If your iPad has multiple user accounts set up through Family Sharing, each account can have its own language setting. Each person logs in with their own account, and their language preference appears when they use the iPad. If your iPad has only one account, everyone sees the same language.
What if I can't find the language I want?
Not all languages are supported on every iPad model. Newer iPads support more languages than older ones. Check Apple's official language support list on their website to see whether your iPad model supports your language. If it does but you still don't see it, try updating your iPad to the latest iOS version, which sometimes adds language options.
Does changing the iPad language change the keyboard layout too?
Usually yes. When you change the system language, the keyboard layout typically switches to match. However, you can add multiple keyboard layouts in Settings under General, Keyboard, Keyboards. This lets you type in different languages even if your iPad's display language stays the same.
How long does it take to change the language?
The actual change takes less than a minute, but your iPad needs to restart, which adds one to two minutes. The restart is automatic — you don't need to do anything except wait for your iPad to finish restarting before using it again.