iPhone XR: How to Change Language

To change the language on your iPhone XR, open the Settings app, tap General, then Language & Region, and select iPhone Language to choose your preferred language. This setting instantly changes the system language for menus, notifications, and built-in apps. The iPhone XR, like all modern iPhones, supports dozens of languages, and you can even set a secondary language for apps that offer localization.

Why Change the Language on Your iPhone XR?

People change their iPhone’s language for many reasons. You might have bought a used iPhone XR that was set to a different language, or you’re learning a new language and want to immerse yourself. Maybe you prefer your native language for clarity, or you need to switch to English to troubleshoot an issue with a support representative. The iPhone XR runs iOS, and the language setting is deeply integrated—it affects not just the system menus but also the default keyboard, date formats, and even Siri’s voice and responses.

Step-by-Step: Changing the System Language

Here’s exactly how to change the main language on your iPhone XR (works on iOS 12 through the latest iOS versions):

Unlock your iPhone and go to the Settings app (the gray gear icon).
Scroll down and tap General.
Tap Language & Region.
Tap iPhone Language (it’s at the top of the screen).
Choose your desired language from the list. You can search or scroll—the list is alphabetical by the language’s own name (e.g., “Deutsch” for German, “Français” for French).
Tap Done (top-right corner).
Confirm by tapping Change to [Language] when the pop-up appears. The iPhone will briefly show a progress wheel and then restart the home screen with the new language.

If you don’t see the language you want, make sure you’ve updated to the latest iOS version, as new languages are sometimes added in updates.

Adding a Secondary Language (For Apps and Bilingual Use)

Your iPhone XR can also have a secondary language. This is useful if you speak two languages and want certain apps to appear in one language while the system uses another. To add one:

Go to Settings > General > Language & Region.
Tap Other Languages (or “Add Language” on newer iOS versions).
Pick the language. A prompt will ask which language you want as the primary—choose your main language.
The secondary language will be used by apps that support it; if an app doesn’t support either, it will fall back to the primary language.

This is a great way to keep your phone in English but have a banking app in Spanish, for example, if that app offers Spanish localization.

How Changing Language Affects Other Settings

When you change the iPhone language, several other things change automatically:

Keyboard: The default keyboard layout may change to match the new language (e.g., switching to French adds accented characters). Your existing keyboards remain, but the new language’s keyboard is added.
Siri: Siri’s voice and language will change to the new language if it’s supported. You can adjust Siri’s language separately in Settings > Siri & Search.
Date & Time Format: The region may also change if you choose a language that is strongly tied to a region (e.g., choosing “English (UK)” will change date format to day/month/year). You can manually override the region in the same menu.
App Names: Some Apple apps like Calendar, Mail, and Settings will show localized names (e.g., “Réglages” for Settings in French).

If you only want to change the language for a single app, you can’t do that directly on iOS. You’d need to change the system language, but you can use the secondary language trick to make most apps follow the system while a few stay in your primary language.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Sometimes changing the language doesn’t go smoothly. Here are typical issues and solutions:

I don’t see the language in the list. Make sure your iOS is updated. Some languages are added in later versions. Also, check if the language is available for the iPhone XR—it supports all languages that iOS supports, which is over 40.
The language changed but some apps are still in English. That’s normal. Third-party apps need to provide their own translations. If an app doesn’t support the new language, it will show the developer’s default language, often English.
I changed the language and now I can’t find Settings. If you switched to a language you can’t read, look for the gray gear icon—it’s the same icon regardless of language. Tap it, then look for “General” (often a gear icon inside a list) and then “Language & Region.” You can also use Siri (if you know how to say “Settings” in the new language) or ask someone for help.
My keyboard is now in a different layout. You can add back your preferred keyboard by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard.

Comparing iPhone XR Language Settings to Other iPhones

The process is identical on all iPhones running iOS 12 or later, including the iPhone X, XS, 11, 12, 13, and SE models. The iPhone XR, released in 2018, is fully supported up to the latest iOS (as of this writing, iOS 17). There is no hardware limitation—the language setting is purely software. So if you’ve followed the steps on another iPhone, you’ll find the same menus on the XR.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the language delete my data or apps?

No. Changing the language only affects the display language. Your photos, messages, contacts, and installed apps remain exactly where they are. It’s a safe operation and can be reversed anytime by following the same steps.

Can I have different languages for the iPhone and for Siri?

Yes. Siri’s language is independent. Go to Settings > Siri & Search > Language and choose a different language. This is handy if you want Siri to respond in English while your phone is in Spanish, for example.

Why is my iPhone XR showing a language I don’t understand after an update?

This can happen if the update was downloaded from a specific region or if the device was previously set to a language that was later removed. To fix it, go to Settings (gear icon), then General, then Language & Region, and select your preferred language.

Does changing the language affect the keyboard or autocorrect?

Yes. The system adds a keyboard for the new language, and autocorrect will use that language’s dictionary. You can switch between keyboards by tapping the globe icon on the keyboard. If you want to keep your old keyboard, you can add it back in Keyboard settings.

Can I change the language on a locked iPhone XR?

No. You need to unlock the iPhone and have access to the Settings app. If the iPhone is activation-locked (iCloud), you cannot change the language until you enter the correct Apple ID and password.

Will changing the language affect my cellular data or Wi-Fi?

No. Language is purely a display setting. It does not affect network settings, but the names of some network options may change (e.g., “Wi-Fi” might become “WLAN” in some languages). Your connections remain intact.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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