YouTube supports dozens of languages. If you prefer using Google's popular video-sharing platform in a language other than English, you can make that happen on both its web and mobile apps.
Below, you'll find out what you must do to change the default YouTube language on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone. You'll also learn how to change your YouTube location and why you may want to do that.
How to Change Your YouTube Language on Desktop
The YouTube web app, which you can access using any browser on Windows and macOS, features a dedicated option that allows you to change the default language on-the-fly.
You don't even have to change your YouTube language to one that you understand—changing it to a language you're interested in can even help you learn a new language.
Switching to another language in YouTube impacts user interface elements such as buttons, options, menus, etc. However, video titles and descriptions will continue to show up in their original (uploaded) language.
Here's how to get started:
- Open YouTube in your web browser.
- Click your profile picture in the top-right of the window.
- Select Language.
- Pick the language that you want.
- Wait briefly, and YouTube should refresh and show up in the language you just selected.
How to Change Your YouTube Language on the Mobile App
Changing the default YouTube language on mobile isn't as convenient as on desktop. YouTube's Android and iOS apps reflect the system language. So, you must change the system language itself to use the app in a different language.
How to Change Your YouTube Language on Android
The steps below may not appear the same on every Android device, but here's a rundown of what the process may look like:
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Scroll down and tap System.
- Tap Language & Input. 3 Images
- Tap Language and pick another language. If the language you want is not available, select Add Language to add another language before switching to it.
- Open the YouTube app. It should now match the system language.
How to Change Your YouTube Language on iPhone
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap General.
- Select Language & Region. 3 Images
- Tap iPhone Language and pick the language that you want.
- Open the YouTube app, and it should show up in the system language.
How to Change Your YouTube Language on Mobile Web
If you don't want to change your Android or iOS device's language, you should look into using the mobile web version of YouTube instead. It allows you to change the language similarly to how you do it on your desktop device.
Related: How to Watch YouTube in Picture-in-Picture Mode on Desktop and Mobile
- Open YouTube in your mobile web browser and sign in.
- Tap your profile picture on the top-right of the screen.
- Tap Settings > Account.
- Select Language and pick the language that you want. 3 Images
How to Change Your YouTube Location
Changing the default language on YouTube will not impact the trending videos or recommendations you receive. If you want that to change as well, preferably to the region of the language you just selected, you can do that by changing your YouTube location on desktop and mobile.
How to Change Your YouTube Location on Desktop
- Open YouTube, and select your profile picture from the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select Location.
- Pick the location you want.
How to Change Your YouTube Location on Mobile Apps
- Open the YouTube app on your Android or iPhone.
- Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Location. 3 Images
- Pick a location and exit the Settings screen.
How to Change Your YouTube Location on Mobile Web
- Open YouTube in your mobile web browser.
- Tap your profile portrait to the top-right of the screen.
- Tap Settings > Accounts.
- Select Location and pick a location. 3 Images
Become a Globe-Trotter on YouTube
Changing the default language on your desktop device is ridiculously easy, but the process is more complicated on mobile; use YouTube's mobile web app if that's an issue.
Additionally, don't forget to change your YouTube location if you want to receive recommendations and trending videos from the country or region related to your chosen language.
