How to change the language on Android 11: system, keyboard and applications

Changing the language on a smartphone may be needed in a variety of situations: from moving to another country to the need to work with foreign applications. Despite its apparent simplicity, the process has several nuances, especially when it comes to multilingual devices or non-standard firmware. In this article, we will look at all the possible ways to change the language - from basic system settings to fine-tuning individual applications and the keyboard. Android 11 may be needed in a variety of situations: from moving to another country to the need to work with foreign applications. Despite its apparent simplicity, the process has several nuances, especially when it comes to multilingual devices or non-standard firmware. In this article, we will look at all the possible ways to change the language - from basic system settings to fine-tuning individual applications and the keyboard.

It is important to understand that Android 11 (code name Red Velvet Cake) retained many interface elements from previous versions, but also made changes to the language settings section. For example, it now becomes possible to prioritize languages ​​for automatic switching depending on the context. In addition, some manufacturers (for example Samsung, Xiaomi or Huawei) modify the standard interface, which can complicate the search for the necessary options.

If you encounter a problem where the language is reset after a reboot or some applications ignore system settings, do not rush to reset your phone to factory settings. In 90% of cases, the solution lies on the surface, and we will consider it in detail.

1. How to change the main system language on Android 11

The main system language determines the interface of menus, notifications and most built-in applications (for example, Settings, Phone or Messages). To change it:

1. Open the application Settings (gear icon in the application menu).
2. Scroll down and select section System (on some devices - Advanced or General settings).
3. Click Language and input (or Language and keyboard y Xiaomi).
4. Select the first item - Languages (can be called System language).
5. In the list of available languages, tap on the one you need (for example, Russian or English (United States)).
6. Confirm your choice by clicking Done or Apply.

If the desired language is not in the list, you will have to add it manually:

• 🌍 Click Add language (usually a button at the bottom of the screen).
• 🔍 Enter the name of the language in the search bar (for example, Ukrainian or Español).
• ✅ Select the desired option from the drop-down list (pay attention to regional options, for example English (UK) and English (US) differ in spelling).

On devices with shells MIUI (Xiaomi), One UI (Samsung) or EMUI (Huawei) the path to the settings may be different. For example, on Samsung Galaxy you need to go to Settings → General controls → Language and input → Language. If you can’t find the option, use the search bar at the top of the menu Settings . request language.

2. Why does the language reset after a reboot?

One of common problems on Android 11 — automatic language reset to factory settings after a system reboot or update. This happens for several reasons:

• 📱 SIM card region mismatch: if your operator is tied to another country (for example, SIM from T-Mobile US in a phone with a Russian language), the system may reset the settings.
• 🔄 Error in the firmware: some custom or beta versions of Android have bugs with saving language preferences.
• 🛠️ Application conflict: apps like Google App or Samsung Experience may override the settings.

To fix the problem:

1. Check whether Region in the settings matches the selected language. To do this, go to Settings → System → Date and time → Region.
2. Disable automatic region detection by SIM card (if such an option is in your firmware).
3. Update the system to the latest stable version via Settings → System → System update.
4. If the problem persists, reset the application settings: Settings → Applications → Three dots (menu) → Reset application preferences.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices Huawei and Honor s EMUI 11 resetting the language may be related to security policies. If the phone is linked to an account Huawei ID of another region, the system will force the language of that region to be set. The solution is to create a new account or change the region in the profile settings.

3. How to change the keyboard language (Gboard, Samsung Keyboard and others)

The system language and the keyboard language are configured separately. For example, you can use Russian in the interface, but type on English or even Chinese. For the standard keyboard Gboard (from Google) the instructions are as follows:

1. Open any text input field (for example, in Messages) so that the keyboard appears.
2. Click on the icon ⚙️ (gear) or 🌐 (globe) on the keyboard panel.
3. Select Languages (or Language).
4. Click Add a keyboard and select the desired language from list.
5. To switch between languages while typing, swipe left or right (in Space left or right (in Gboard) or tap the globe icon.

For the keyboard Samsung Keyboard (on devices Galaxy):

• 📱 Go to Settings → General management → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
• 🔤 Select Samsung Keyboard → Languages and types.
• ➕ Click Manage input languages and add the ones you need.

If the desired language is not in the list (for example, Tatar or Kazakh), you can add it through third-party keyboards like SwiftKey or Multiling O KeyboardInstall them from Google Play, then activate it. settings:

Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard → Managing keyboards

⚠️ Attention: On supported keyboards Swype (wired input) gesture recognition language and key language may differ. For example, you type in English, but Swype recognition works in Russian. To fix this, go to the keyboard settings and synchronize the languages for both modes.

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Starting from Android 10, Google has added the ability to set a custom language for each application. This function is also preserved in Android 11, but does not work with all apps. Here's how to use it:

1. Open Settings → Applications.
2. Select the desired application (for example, Instagram or Facebook).
3. Click Language (the option will appear only if the application supports this function).
4. Select a language from the list. If there is no option, the application uses the system language.

Some applications (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp) ignore system settings and have their own language switch in their menu. To find it:

• 💬 In Telegram: Settings → Language.
• 📱 In WhatsApp: ⋮ (menu) → Settings → Chat → Application language.
• 🎵 Q Spotify: the language can only be changed through the account settings on the website.

On devices with root access, you can force change the language for any application via an ADB command, even if it does not support this function natively. For example, to set the Russian language for TikTok, do:

adb shell pm set-app-links --package com.zhiliaoapp.musically 1
adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$AppLocaleSettingsActivity

After that, select TikTok in the list and install the desired language. Please note: this method requires USB debugging to be enabled and may not work on all firmwares.

5. Solving problems with missing languages

Sometimes the desired language is not in the list of available ones, even if it is supported by Android. This can happen for the following reasons:

• 📌 Firmware for a specific region: for example, Samsung Galaxypurchased from UAEmay not have Russian the language.
• 🔧 Custom firmware: unofficial assemblies (for example, LineageOS) may have a truncated list of languages.
• 📱 Manufacturer restrictions: some brands (for example, Oppo or Vivo) block languages for certain models.

To add a missing language:

1. Install the language pack manually:
   • Download an APK with a language pack (for example, MoreLocale 2 from Google Play).
   • Install and select the desired language through the app.

adb shell cmd locale add-locale ru-RU
adb shell cmd locale set-locale ru-RU

⚠️ Attention: Installing language packs from unverified sources may lead to system failures or security vulnerabilities. Always check the hashes. downloaded files and use official repositories like APKMirror.

If you use Xiaomi with firmware for China, then to add Russian or English language, you will have to unlock the bootloader and install the global version MIUIInstructions for unlocking can be found on the forum XDA Developers, but remember that this will void the warranty.

6. How to reset all language settings to factory settings

If, after experimenting with languages, the system becomes unstable (for example, some menus are displayed in a mixture of languages or errors occur when entering), you can return everything to its original state:

1. Open Settings → System → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset settings applications (this will not delete your data, but will return default settings for all apps, including languages).
3. Confirm the action by entering a PIN code or pattern.

If the problem is deeper (for example, system fonts or encodings are lost), perform soft reset:

• 🔄 Go to Settings → System → Reset settings → Delete all data (factory reset).
• ⚠️ Attention: this will delete all applications, photos and files from the internal memory! First make a backup via Settings → Google → Backup.
• 📱 After the reset, the phone will turn on with the language that was installed during the first setup (usually the language of the region of purchase).

On devices Samsung there is an additional option Reset interface settingsthat returns only the appearance to factory settings and languages, without affecting the data. To find it:

Settings → General management → Reset → Reset interface settings

7. Features of changing the language on different brands

Smartphone manufacturers often modify the standard one by adding their own skins and menus. This also affects the language settings: Android 11, adding your own skins and menus. This also affects the language settings. Let's look at the key differences:

On devices Realme and Oppo (shell ColorOS) changing the language may be blocked if the phone was purchased in India or China. In this case, only flashing to the global version of the software will help. For Nokia (pure Android) and Motorola the process is no different from standard.

If you use foldable device (for example, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 or Huawei Mate X), please note that the language may be reset when switching between the internal and external screen. This is a known bug Android 11 for foldable smartphones, which is fixed in newer versions.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Settings → System → Language and input → Language → English (United States)

adb shell am start -a android.settings.LOCALE_SETTINGS