iPhone (iOS) · Accessibility
Change Language and Region Settings on iPhone
Language & Region controls which language iOS displays system-wide, plus region-specific formatting for calendars, number separators, measurement units, and temperature — separate settings that don't have to match each other.
How to open Language & Region
- Open Settings → General → Language & Region.
- Tap 'iPhone Language' to change the primary system language, then confirm the change.
- Tap 'Region' to adjust date formats, measurement units, and calendar conventions.
- Add an 'Other Languages' entry if you want a secondary language available for specific apps or keyboards.
What you should know
- iPhone Language sets the primary language used throughout Settings, system apps, and most third-party apps.
- Region affects date formats, the calendar system, number formatting, currency, and default measurement units independently of language.
- Additional languages can be added so specific apps or keyboards can use a different language than the main system language.
- Temperature Unit and the calendar type (like Gregorian or Buddhist) can each be overridden separately from the general Region setting.
Changing the primary iPhone Language requires a short restart-like re-launch of the Settings app and can temporarily rename menus you're used to, which is expected, not a glitch.
Why it matters
Language and Region settings affect far more than the words on screen — they determine whether measurements show in miles or kilometers, how dates are formatted in Mail and Calendar, and which calendar system is used for date calculations. Getting Region wrong after moving or traveling can cause subtle but confusing issues, like a delivery date appearing swapped between day and month. Because language and region are independent settings, understanding that distinction avoids the common mistake of trying to fix a formatting problem by changing the language, or vice versa.
Best practices
- Set Region to match where you actually live day-to-day, even if you keep your iPhone Language set to something else, so dates and units stay locally relevant.
- Add a second language under 'Other Languages' instead of switching your primary iPhone Language back and forth if you regularly need both for different apps.
- Double check Region after returning from extended travel, since some carriers or Wi-Fi networks can prompt a temporary region suggestion.
- Review the Calendar type setting specifically if you rely on a non-Gregorian calendar for religious or cultural dates.
Common problems and fixes
- Dates appear with the day and month seemingly swapped
- Check Settings → General → Language & Region → Region, since date order (day-first vs. month-first) is controlled by Region, not Language.
- Changing the iPhone Language causes some app names or menus to look unfamiliar
- This is expected right after a language change — give apps a moment to relaunch in the new language, and check each app's own language override if one still shows the old language.
- Measurement units (miles, temperature) don't match your expectations
- Adjust the specific Measurement Units and Temperature settings under Language & Region → Region, which can be set independently from the general region format.
- A single app keeps displaying in a different language than the rest of the system
- Check that app's own in-app language setting first, since some apps manage their own language preference separately from Settings → Language & Region.
Tips and tricks
- Use 'Other Languages' to keep a secondary keyboard and language ready for messaging bilingual contacts without switching your entire system language.
- Preview the exact date and number formatting a Region will use right on the Region selection screen before confirming the change.
Frequently asked questions
Can my iPhone display one language while using another region's date formats?
Yes, Language and Region are independent settings, so you can, for example, keep the display language in English while using a different region's date, currency, and measurement conventions.
Does changing my iPhone Language delete any apps or data?
No, changing the language only affects how text is displayed system-wide; your apps, photos, and data remain completely unaffected.
Will changing Region affect what's available in the App Store or Apple Music?
No, this Region setting under Language & Region is a display and formatting preference; your App Store storefront country is a separate setting tied to your Apple Account.
Related settings
- KeyboardKeyboard settings let you add languages and layouts, configure autocorrect and predictive text, and connect a physical Bluetooth or Magic Keyboard for a more traditional typing experience.
- Accessibility SettingsAccessibility settings on iPhone include VoiceOver screen reading, Zoom magnification, Voice Control, and many vision, hearing, mobility, and cognitive features.
- General & AboutThe About screen lists identifying and technical details about your iPhone — name, iOS version, model and serial numbers, storage capacity, and carrier information — that support staff and other apps often need.
More Accessibility guides for iPhone (iOS)
- VoiceOverVoiceOver is iOS's gesture-based screen reader that describes aloud everything on screen — text, buttons, images — letting blind and low-vision users navigate the entire iPhone by touch and sound instead of sight.
- MagnifierMagnifier uses the iPhone's camera to magnify nearby text, objects, or your surroundings in real time, with added tools like Detection Mode for identifying people, doors, and objects for users with low vision.
- Voice ControlVoice Control lets you navigate and operate nearly all of iOS — opening apps, tapping buttons, dictating text, scrolling — entirely by speaking commands, built for users who can't or prefer not to use touch input.
- Switch ControlSwitch Control lets people operate iPhone using one or more adaptive switches, the screen, or a camera instead of direct touch, scanning through items on screen until the desired one is selected.
- AssistiveTouchAssistiveTouch places a customizable floating button on screen that opens a menu for performing gestures, hardware button actions, and multitasking without needing to touch the physical buttons or use multi-finger gestures.
- Sound RecognitionSound Recognition uses on-device listening to identify sounds like alarms, doorbells, sirens, car horns, or a crying baby, and sends a notification when one is detected nearby.