How to Change Language on YouTube: PC, Android, and iPhone

YouTube automatically determines the interface language based on your IP address and device system settings. If you use a VPN, have moved to another country, or are accessing from someone else's device, the interface might appear in an unfamiliar language. You can change it in a few clicks, but the process differs depending on the platform.

Interface Language vs. Content Language — What's the Difference?

Before changing settings, it's important to understand that YouTube has two different language settings, and they work independently of each other.

Interface language is the language of buttons, menus, labels, and system messages of the platform itself. This is what you change when YouTube suddenly switches to English or another language.

Content language is a setting that tells the YouTube algorithm which videos to recommend first. If you set the content language to English, your feed will be filled with English-language videos. This does not affect the interface.

The language of the videos themselves and subtitles is a separate story. The creator records videos in their own language, and this does not depend on either of these settings.

How to Change Language on YouTube on a Computer

The process is the same for all browsers and operating systems.

Click on your avatar in the top right corner → in the dropdown menu, select "Language" → choose the desired language from the list. The page will automatically reload with the new interface language.

Just below the "Language" option, you'll find "Content language" — set it according to the language of videos you want to see in recommendations.

Changing Language Without Authorization

If you are not logged into your Google account, you can change the language through the same menu — the icon in the top right corner, "Language" option. However, without authorization, the setting will not be saved: the next time you open YouTube, it will again determine the language by IP. To save your choice, log into your account.

How to Change Language on YouTube on Android

The YouTube mobile app does not have a separate language setting — the app uses the language set in the phone's system.

On Android 13 and newer, a language setting for individual apps has appeared. This means you can set YouTube to English without changing the phone's system language:

"Settings" → "System" → "Languages & input" → "App languages" → select YouTube → choose the language.

On Android 12 and older, there is no such setting. YouTube's language can only be changed through the phone's system language: "Settings" → "System" → "Languages & input" → "Languages" → add the desired language and move it to the top of the list.

Alternative for older Android versions: open YouTube not in the app, but through a browser (Chrome, Firefox) — there, the language can be changed through the avatar menu regardless of the system language.

How to Change Language on YouTube on iPhone (iOS)

The YouTube app on iOS also does not have a separate language setting — the language is taken from the system.

Starting with iOS 13, you can set a separate language for a specific app: "Settings" → find YouTube in the app list → "Language" → select the desired one.

This is one of the few cases where iOS is more convenient than older Android versions — the language setting for a separate app appeared here earlier.

If this option is not available, you need to change the system language: "Settings" → "General" → "Language & Region" → "iPhone Language."

How to Change Subtitle Language on YouTube

Subtitles are configured separately for each video and do not depend on the interface language.

While playing a video, click on the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the player → "Subtitles" → select a language from the available options. If the creator has added subtitles in several languages, they will be in the list. If there are no subtitles, YouTube will offer automatically generated ones (quality depends on the language and clarity of speech).

To have subtitles automatically enabled in the desired language for every video, go to YouTube settings: avatar → "Settings" → "Playback and performance" → enable automatic subtitles and select a default language.

Common Issues with Language Change

Language Does Not Change or Resets

If the language resets after each time you open YouTube, you are most likely not authorized, or your browser has cookies cleared upon closing. Log into your Google account and disable auto-clearing for youtube.com.

YouTube Switched to English by Itself

This most often happens when a VPN is enabled: YouTube detects a new IP and automatically substitutes the language of the country the VPN is simulating. Change the language through the avatar menu — this setting will override auto-detection.

Interface in One Language, Recommendations in Another

This is normal if the content language and interface language are set differently. Go to the avatar menu → "Content language" and set it to the same language as the interface.

No "Language" Option in the Phone Menu

This means you are using the YouTube mobile app — this option is not present by design. Open YouTube in your phone's browser (not the app) or change the language through your device's system settings.

Recommendations

If you frequently switch between several languages or use a VPN, it's most convenient to use YouTube through a browser on a PC: the language can be changed in two clicks and does not depend on system settings.

On a phone with Android 13+ or iOS 13+, use the language setting for a separate app — then YouTube will be in the desired language, and other apps will remain untouched.

FAQ

If I change the language on YouTube, will the video language change?

No. The interface language is only for the platform's buttons and menus. The language of the videos themselves depends on the creator and cannot be changed through settings.

Why is there no language setting in the YouTube mobile app?

By developer decision: the mobile app uses the phone's system language. A separate language setting for the app appeared in Android 13+ and iOS 13+ in the system settings.

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