Changing the interface language is one of the most common tasks when launching a smartphone for the first time or purchasing a device brought from another country. Often, users purchase gadgets on global markets, where the default language is Chinese or another unfamiliar language, and are faced with the need to quickly navigate the menu without understanding the text. You can switch the system to English in a couple of minutes, knowing the location of the icons and the basic logic of the menu.
The process of changing the language to Android is unified for most versions of the operating system, from early releases to modern ones. Android 14 i Android 15. However, skin manufacturers such as Samsung, Xiaomi or Huaweimay slightly change the menu structure or section names. In this article, we will analyze a universal algorithm of actions that will help you configure the device regardless of the brand.
It is important to understand that changing the system language automatically changes the keyboard layout and the format for displaying dates, time and currency. If you plan to use your phone to work with international services or learn a language, the correct choice of regional settings will be the foundation for comfortable use of the gadget.
The standard path through the system settings
The most reliable way to change the language is to use the main settings menu. Even if the interface is currently displayed in an unfamiliar language, you can navigate by the icons and visual arrangement of elements. Open the application Settings, which usually looks like a gray or white gear.
In the menu that opens, you need to scroll down the list to the section responsible for general system parameters. In pure Android this section is often called System and is indicated by an icon with the letter "i" in a circle or a silhouette of a smartphone. In shells from Samsung look for an icon with three sliders, and in Xiaomi an icon with three dots or nuts.
After entering the desired section, look for an item related to language. Visually, it is often accompanied by a globe icon or the letter "A". In the standard version Android the path looks like this: System → Language & input. If you see a list of hieroglyphs or incomprehensible symbols, focus on the position of the item: it is usually located in the top third of the list of subsections.
By clicking on the desired item, you will be taken to the language selection menu. The currently active language is displayed here in bold or color. Your task is to find English (or English (United States)) in the list and click on it. The system will instantly apply the changes, and the entire interface will switch to the selected language.
If you cannot find the section you need, try using the search bar at the top of the settings menu. Enter the word "Language" in Latin letters, even if the interface is in a different language - the search often understands English queries.
Features of changing the language on different shells
Smartphone manufacturers often modify the standard interface Android, adding their own functions and changing the menu structure. This can be confusing for a user who is used to the .stock version of the system. Let's look at the key differences in popular shells so that you can quickly find your bearings.
In devices Samsung with a shell One UI language settings are placed in a separate large section. You need to find an item with an icon of the letter "A" and an inscription (in the desired language) at the very top or in the tab General Management. The path usually looks like General Management → Language. It is also convenient to change the region here, which affects the operation of the voice assistant. Here the logic is slightly different: the language settings section is located in the category Bixby.
Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi And Poco use shell MIUI or new HyperOS. The logic here is slightly different: the language settings section is in the category Additional Settings (Advanced), which is indicated by three dots. Path: Additional Settings → Languages & input. If the phone is new and the language is Chinese, look for the item in the second block of the menu.
Devices from Huawei and Honor with a shell EMUI or MagicOS have a section System & updateswhere language settings are hidden. The icon often looks like a planet or globe. It is important to note that some Chinese firmware versions may not have the default English language, which requires more complex manipulations.
⚠️ Attention: In some custom firmware or heavily reduced versions of the system for the Chinese domestic market, the language change item may be hidden or inactive. In this case, a standard change through the menu is impossible without flashing.
Setting the language when you turn it on for the first time devices
If you have just unpacked a new smartphone or performed a factory reset, the system will prompt you to select a language on the very first welcome screen (Master Init). This is the easiest part to set up, as you don't have to navigate deep menus.
The welcome screen usually contains a list of languages with radio buttons for selection. Scroll the list to English and click on the appropriate button. After that, click the continue button (often a right arrow or check mark). All subsequent setup steps, such as connecting to Wi-Fi and logging into your account Googlewill be in English.
Sometimes the list of languages on the start screen is limited. If you don't see English, look for the "More languages" button or the globe icon in the corner of the screen. Clicking on it will reveal a full list of available localizations, including regional options such as English (UK) or English (Australia).
It is important to complete the initial setup completely before installing third-party applications. This ensures that system services and pre-installed software will immediately start working in the correct language environment, avoiding localization conflicts in the future.
Managing the priority of languages in the list
Modern versions Android allow you to store several languages in memory simultaneously and switch between them or use them in a different order. This is useful for multilingual users or those who are learning a foreign language and want to see part of the interface with duplicate information.
To set the priority, go to the language selection menu (Settings → System → Languages & input). You will see a list of added languages. Opposite each language there is a “three horizontal lines” icon (hamburger menu) or a drag icon.
Hold this icon and drag the desired language (for example, English) to the top position of the list. The language that comes first becomes the main interface language. The remaining languages from the list can be used by applications for automatic content translation or spell-checking.
You can also delete unnecessary languages in this menu. To do this, click on the trash icon or minus icon next to the language you want to remove from the list. This will help clear the menu and speed up the operation of predictive text input algorithms.
☑️ Checking the language settings
Problems with the lack of English language
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where there are simply no Englishin the list of available languages. This is typical for the so-called “Chinese versions” of smartphones (China ROM), which come only with Chinese and sometimes English, but in a stripped-down form, or without services Google.
In such cases, the standard settings menu will not help. The only workable solution is often to install a third-party locale changer application, such as MoreLocale 2. However, for it to work, you may need superuser rights (Root) or a connection to the computer via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
The command to force a language change via ADB is as follows. You will need to connect your phone to your PC in USB debugging mode and enter the command in the terminal:
adb shell pm grant jp.co.c_lis.ccl.morelocale android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATIONAfter executing the command, you can launch the application on your phone and select any language from the extended list, including full English. Be careful: using such methods on banking applications or games with strict system integrity checks may lead to account blocking.
⚠️ Attention: Installing unofficial firmware or using ADB commands to change the language may void the warranty. Make sure your model supports global firmware before taking drastic steps.
The influence of language on the operation of applications and services
Changing the system language affects not only the settings menu, but also the operation of most installed applications. Many apps automatically adjust to the system language. If you switch your phone to English, applications like Telegram, WhatsApp or YouTube will also switch to the English interface.
However, some applications have their own independent language settings. For example, in messenger Telegram you can set the interface language separately from the system one. To do this, you need to go to Settings → Language inside the application itself and select the desired option, ignoring the phone settings.
Search engines and voice assistants also depend on language settings. Google Assistant will use the selected language for speech recognition and displaying search results. If you plan to use the assistant in Russian, but the phone interface is in English, you will need to configure multilingual support in the parameters of the assistant itself.
The table below shows how changing the system language affects various components of the device:
| System component | Reaction to language change | Can be changed separately? |
|---|---|---|
| System menu | Instant translation of all items | No |
| Keyboard (Gboard) | Change tips and dictionary | Yes, in the keyboard settings |
| Third-party applications | Automatic transition (if supported) | Often yes, within the application |
| Google Assistant | Change the response language and queries | Yes, multi-language support |
What should I do if, after changing the language, dates are displayed incorrectly?
This depends on the selected region. If you selected English (US), the dates will be in MM/DD/YYYY format. For the DD.MM.YYYY format, select English (UK) or change the region in the date and time settings.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to make the system be in English, and the keyboard print only in Russian?
Yes, this is possible. The system language and input language are independent. After switching the system to English, go to the keyboard settings (Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard), select your keyboard and add the Russian layout. You can switch between input languages by swiping on the spacebar or a special button.
Why did the language reset to Chinese after updating Android?
This is rare, but it happens when installing global updates on devices with Chinese firmware if the language priority was configured incorrectly. The system could perceive the update as a reset of region settings. You just need to go into the settings again and set English to first place in the list of priorities.
Does changing the language affect the speed of the phone?
No, changing the interface language does not affect processor performance or RAM speed. This is a purely cosmetic change to the display of text strings. The only minimal impact is a slightly larger load on the font when displaying complex hieroglyphs compared to the Latin alphabet, but this is invisible to the user.
How can I return the Russian language if I accidentally set it to English and cannot find the settings?
The settings icon (gear) does not change. Go to Settings, then look for the section System ("i" icon or sliders). Next, select Languages & input (globe icon or letter "A"). Click on the first item Languages and select Russian from the list.
Correct setting of language and region is critical for the correct operation of voice search, maps and recommendation algorithms in applications.