macOS · Accessibility
Set Language & Region Preferences on Mac
Language & Region settings control which language macOS and your apps display in, plus regional formatting for dates, times, numbers, currency, and the calendar system used system-wide. You can also set different preferred languages per individual app.
How to open Language & Region
- Open System Settings → General → Language & Region.
- Click the + under Preferred Languages to add another language, or drag existing ones to reorder priority.
- Choose your Region to set default date, number, and currency formatting.
- Scroll to 'Apps' to set a different language for a specific app if needed.
What you should know
- Add multiple preferred languages and drag them into priority order for apps that support more than one.
- Region determines default formatting for dates, currency symbols, measurement units, and the first day of the week.
- Calendar type can be changed independently from Gregorian to Japanese, Buddhist, or other supported systems.
- Individual apps can be assigned a different display language than the rest of the system under 'Apps' at the bottom of the pane.
Changing your primary language requires signing out and back in (or restarting) for the change to fully apply across all open apps.
Why it matters
For anyone bilingual, working across countries, or collaborating with international teams, getting language priority and regional formatting right avoids constant friction — misread dates (is 03/04 March 4th or April 3rd?) are a classic source of real scheduling mistakes. Per-app language overrides matter for people who want, say, a work app to match a colleague's language while everything else stays in their preferred one. Because so many apps and system dialogs read directly from this setting, it's one of the more foundational personalization choices on a shared or multilingual Mac.
Best practices
- Order your Preferred Languages list with the language you want interfaces to default to at the very top.
- Set Region independently of language if your date, currency, or unit conventions differ from your interface language's typical country.
- Use per-app language overrides sparingly, only for the specific apps where it genuinely helps, since it can get confusing with too many exceptions.
- Restart affected apps (or the Mac) after a language change instead of assuming it applied instantly everywhere.
Common problems and fixes
- Dates or numbers display in an unexpected format after changing Region.
- Some apps cache formatting on launch — quit and reopen the affected app, or restart the Mac, to force it to pick up the new Region setting.
- An app still displays in the wrong language after adding a new Preferred Language.
- Check whether that specific app is listed under the 'Apps' section with its own override, since a per-app setting takes priority over the system-wide Preferred Languages order.
- Keyboard input doesn't match the newly added language.
- Adding a Preferred Language doesn't automatically add its keyboard layout — add the corresponding input source separately under Keyboard → Input Sources.
Tips and tricks
- Hold down the language priority list order in mind when troubleshooting an app that shows mixed languages, since it usually falls back to the next language down the list for untranslated strings.
- Use the calendar type option if you work with a non-Gregorian calendar system regularly, rather than converting dates manually.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Mac in one language but format dates the way another country does?
Yes, Language and Region are independent settings — set your preferred display language in Preferred Languages and choose formatting conventions separately under Region.
Do all apps support multiple languages the same way?
No, support varies — many Apple and popular third-party apps follow your Preferred Languages list automatically, while others only ever display in one language regardless of this setting.
Will changing my language delete any of my files or settings?
No, changing Language & Region only affects display and formatting; it doesn't touch your files, though some apps may need a restart to reflect the change.
Related settings
- Accessibility SettingsAccessibility settings on Mac include VoiceOver screen reading, Zoom for magnification, Voice Control, and many vision, hearing, and mobility features to make macOS easier to use.
- KeyboardKeyboard settings control key repeat speed, modifier key behavior, text input sources, and Dictation — plus Touch Bar customization on supported MacBook Pro models. It's also where you add languages and manage keyboard shortcuts across the system.
- Date & TimeDate & Time settings keep your Mac's clock accurate by syncing automatically with a network time server, or let you set the date, time, and time zone manually when automatic detection isn't appropriate.
More Accessibility guides for macOS
- VoiceOverVoiceOver is macOS's built-in screen reader, describing aloud what's on screen — windows, buttons, text, and images — so you can use the entire Mac without seeing the display. It works through keyboard commands and gestures rather than a mouse.
- ZoomZoom is macOS's built-in screen magnifier, letting you enlarge everything on the display using keyboard shortcuts, trackpad gestures, or the mouse scroll wheel, without needing a separate magnifying app. It works independently of display resolution settings.
- Voice ControlVoice Control lets you operate your entire Mac — clicking, typing, opening apps, and navigating menus — using only spoken commands, with all speech processing done on-device for privacy. It's built for people who can't use a traditional mouse and keyboard, but works for anyone who wants hands-free control.
- Switch ControlSwitch Control lets you operate your entire Mac using one or more adaptive switches, a game controller, or the keyboard instead of a mouse and trackpad, by scanning through onscreen items and selecting with a button press.
- CaptionsCaptions settings control how closed captions and subtitles appear across macOS, including text style, background, and size, and let you require captions whenever available in supported media.
- Sound RecognitionSound Recognition uses on-device listening to detect sounds such as a doorbell, smoke alarm, or crying baby, and shows a notification on screen so people who are deaf or hard of hearing do not miss them.