How to Change Gmail Language on Desktop and Mobile

Changing the display language in Gmail adjusts the interface text—menus, buttons, and settings—to the language you prefer. This guide walks you through the steps on both desktop (web browser) and mobile (Android and iOS) apps, and covers what to do if the change doesn’t take effect.

What You’ll Need

• A Gmail account (personal or work).
• Access to the Gmail website on a computer, or the Gmail app on your phone/tablet.
• For mobile, the latest version of the Gmail app is recommended (but not required).

Step-by-Step

On Desktop (Web Browser)

1. Open Gmail in your preferred web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) and sign in if you haven’t already.
2. Click the gear icon (⚙�) in the top-right corner. This opens the Quick Settings panel.
3. In the Quick Settings panel, click “See all settings” at the top. This opens the full Settings page.
4. Click the “General” tab (it should be the first tab).
5. Scroll down to the “Language” section. It’s usually near the bottom of the General tab.
6. Click the “Language” drop-down menu. It currently shows your current language (e.g., “English (US)”).
7. Select your desired language from the list. You can scroll or type to search. For example, select “Español” for Spanish.
8. Click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page. Gmail will reload and display in the new language.

On Mobile (Android & iOS)

The Gmail app for Android and iOS does not have its own language setting. Instead, it follows the language set on your device. To change Gmail’s language on mobile, you’ll change your device’s language (or add a secondary language).

For Android:

1. Open your device’s Settings app (the gear icon).
2. Tap “System” (or “General Management” on some Samsung devices).
3. Tap “Languages & input” (or “Language and input”).
4. Tap “Languages” (or “Language”).
5. Tap “Add language” and choose your desired language from the list. If you want to make it the primary language, press and hold the language name and drag it to the top of the list.
6. Return to your home screen and open Gmail. The app should now display in the selected language.

For iOS (iPhone/iPad):

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap “General”.
3. Tap “Language & Region”.
4. Tap “iPhone Language” (or “iPad Language”).
5. Select your desired language from the list.
6. Tap “Done” (or “Change to [Language]”). The device will confirm and may restart.
7. Open Gmail. The app will now be in the new language.

Note: If you only want Gmail to be in a different language than the rest of your phone, you can add the language as a secondary one and then reorder it to the top. However, this will affect all apps that support that language. There is no way to set a per-app language in Gmail on mobile.

Common Mistakes

• Changing the wrong setting: On desktop, some users accidentally change the “Language” in the Google Account settings instead of Gmail settings. The Gmail language setting is specifically within Gmail’s own Settings page.
• Not saving changes: On desktop, if you close the settings tab without clicking “Save Changes,” your selection is lost.
• Expecting mobile Gmail to have its own language option: Many users search for a language setting inside the Gmail app and don’t find it because it doesn’t exist. Remember, it follows the device language.
• Changing the wrong device language: On mobile, if you change the language but Gmail still shows the old one, you might have changed the keyboard language or the region format, not the display language.

Tips

• Use the search box: On desktop, the language drop-down has a search feature. Type the language name to find it faster.
• Preview before saving: On desktop, you can click the language name to see a preview of the interface in that language before you save.
• Use the “Gmail display language” for emails: The language setting affects the interface, not the language of your emails. You can still write and receive emails in any language.
• For work or school accounts: If you use Gmail with a work or school account, the administrator may restrict language changes. If you can’t change it, contact your IT admin.

Troubleshooting

• The change doesn’t stick after saving: Clear your browser’s cache and cookies, then reload Gmail. Sometimes cached files keep the old language.
• The mobile app still shows the old language: Force-stop the Gmail app (on Android: Settings > Apps > Gmail > Force Stop; on iOS: swipe up from the bottom and swipe the Gmail app away) and reopen it. If that doesn’t work, restart your phone.
• Gmail shows a mix of languages: Some parts of the interface (like help articles or certain buttons) might not be fully translated. This is normal and not a bug.
• You can’t find the language setting: On desktop, make sure you’re in the “General” tab. The language section is near the bottom, so scroll down fully.
• The language option is greyed out: This is common on managed accounts (school or work). The admin has locked the language. You’ll need to ask them to change it for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the language affect my emails?

No. The language setting only changes the interface (menus, buttons, settings). Your emails remain exactly as you wrote them.

Can I have Gmail in two languages at once?

On desktop, you can only select one display language. On mobile, you can add multiple device languages, and Gmail will use the first one that it fully supports.

I changed the language, but some words are still in English. Why?

Some terms (like product names or technical terms) may not be translated, or the translation might be incomplete. This is normal.

Does changing the language on mobile affect other apps?

Yes, because it changes the device language. All apps that support that language will switch to it.

How do I change the language for just the Gmail app on Android?

There’s no per-app language setting in Gmail. You must change the device language. However, you can add a secondary language and reorder it, but that will affect all apps.

I changed the language on desktop, but it reverted back. What should I do?

Check if you’re signed in with the correct Google Account. Also, try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then sign out and sign back in.

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