RedNote displays in Chinese by default, but you can switch the entire app to English in about one minute through the Settings menu

RedNote is a Chinese social media app that defaults to Simplified Chinese when you first open it. The language toggle is buried in the app's settings rather than on the main screen, which is why many new users miss it. Once you find it, changing to English affects all menus, buttons, and text throughout the app — though some user-posted content will still appear in Chinese.

The steps below work on both iPhone and Android. The process is the same whether you downloaded RedNote recently or have had it installed for a while.

Key Takeaways

  • Open RedNote and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner to reach your account menu.
  • Look for a settings icon (usually a gear symbol) and tap it to open the full settings list.
  • Scroll down to find "Language" or a similar option, then select English from the available choices.
  • The app will refresh automatically, and all interface text will switch to English within seconds.
  • If you do not see an English option, your version of RedNote may not yet support it in your region.

Step-by-step: Changing RedNote to English on iPhone

Step 1: Open the RedNote app and look at the bottom of your screen. You will see a row of icons. Tap the icon on the far right that looks like a person or head — this is your profile button.

Step 2: Once you are on your profile page, look for a settings icon near the top or bottom of the screen. It usually looks like a gear or three horizontal lines. Tap it.

Step 3: Scroll down through the settings menu. You are looking for an option that says "Language," "语言" (the Chinese characters for language), or something similar. Tap that option.

Step 4: A list of available languages will appear. Tap "English" if it is shown. Some versions of RedNote may also list it as "English (US)" or "English (UK)".

Step 5: The app will refresh automatically. All text, buttons, and menu labels should now display in English. If the app does not refresh on its own, close it completely and reopen it.

Step-by-step: Changing RedNote to English on Android

Step 1: Open RedNote and tap the profile icon at the bottom right of your screen. This takes you to your account page.

Step 2: Look for a settings icon — usually a gear symbol or three stacked lines — and tap it. On Android, this is often located near the top right of your profile page.

Step 3: Scroll down the settings list until you see "Language" or a similar option. Tap it to open the language menu.

Step 4: Select "English" from the list of available languages. The app will process the change and refresh automatically.

Step 5: Once the app reloads, the interface should be in English. If you still see Chinese text, try closing the app completely and reopening it.

What to do if you cannot find the language setting

If you have followed the steps above and cannot locate a language option, your version of RedNote may not support English in your region yet. RedNote rolls out features and language options gradually, so availability varies by country and app version.

Check whether you have the latest version of RedNote installed. Open your device's app store (Apple App Store for iPhone, Google Play Store for Android), search for RedNote, and tap "Update" if an update is available. After updating, repeat the steps above to see if the English language option now appears.

If English still does not appear after updating, the app may not yet support English in your location. In that case, you can continue using the app in Chinese, or check back in a few weeks to see if RedNote has added English support.

Common mistakes that prevent the language change from working

The most common mistake is tapping the wrong icon at the bottom of the screen. RedNote has five icons at the bottom — make sure you are tapping the one on the far right (your profile), not the home icon or search icon.

Another frequent issue is not scrolling far enough down in the settings menu. The language option is not always at the top of the list, so scroll all the way to the bottom to make sure you have seen all available options.

If you change the language but the app still shows Chinese text after a few seconds, force-close the app completely. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, find RedNote, and swipe it up to close it. On Android, go to Settings, tap Apps, find RedNote, and tap "Force Stop." Then reopen the app.

What stays in Chinese even after you change the language

Changing RedNote to English translates all the app's built-in text — buttons, menus, settings labels, and navigation elements. However, content posted by other users will remain in whatever language they posted it in. If someone posts a video caption or comment in Chinese, it will still appear in Chinese in your feed.

RedNote does not include a built-in translation tool for user-generated content, so you will need to use your device's translation features if you want to read posts in Chinese. On iPhone, you can highlight text and tap "Translate" in the menu that appears. On Android, you can use Google Translate or your device's built-in translation feature.

Switching RedNote back to Chinese if you change your mind

If you want to switch back to Chinese after changing to English, the process is identical. Go to your profile, tap settings, find the language option, and select "中文" (Simplified Chinese) or "繁體中文" (Traditional Chinese) from the list. The app will refresh and return to Chinese immediately.

You can switch between languages as many times as you want, and the change takes effect right away each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the language affect my account or posts?

No. Changing RedNote to English only changes how the app displays to you. Your account, posts, and all your data remain exactly the same. Other users will still see your posts in whatever language you posted them in.

Does RedNote have other language options besides English and Chinese?

RedNote's available languages vary by region and app version. Some versions support Spanish, Japanese, or other languages, but English and Chinese are the most commonly available. Check your language menu to see what options are offered in your version.

What if the English option appears but the app does not actually switch to English?

Close the app completely and reopen it. Sometimes the app needs a full restart to apply the language change. If it still does not work after restarting, try uninstalling and reinstalling RedNote, then changing the language immediately after opening it for the first time.

Can I set RedNote to English on one device and Chinese on another?

Yes. Each device's app settings are separate, so you can have RedNote in English on your phone and Chinese on your tablet. The language setting does not sync across devices.

Does changing to English translate videos or audio content?

No. Changing the language only translates the app's interface. Videos, audio, and other media posted by users will remain in their original language. You will need to use your device's translation or captioning features to understand non-English content.