How To Change Your Language Settings on YouTube (Desktop, App & More)

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Update your language settings in seconds

Written by Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: September 18, 2025 Fact Checked

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Mobile App

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Computer Browser

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Smart TV/Streaming Device/Console

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Changing a Video’s Subtitles

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Video

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Q&A

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Warnings

Need to view YouTube in another language? No problem! This wikiHow article teaches you how to change the language of the text on YouTube. Just remember that changing the YouTube language will not alter user-entered text, such as comments or video descriptions; it also won’t affect the audio of any videos. Follow along as we help you personalize YouTube to fit your linguistic needs!

Quick Steps to Change YouTube’s Language Settings

On YouTube.com, click your profile icon.
Select “Language” near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
Select a language to use on YouTube, and the page will refresh.
On the mobile app, tap your profile icon → Settings → General → App language instead.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Changing YouTube’s Language in the Mobile App

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In the mobile app, you’ll see your profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen (rather than the top on a computer browser). Keep in mind that the YouTube mobile app follows your device’s language settings; however, if you aren’t sure where to find the language settings, the YouTube app can direct you right to them (following these instructions).^{[1]
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The Settings icon looks like a black and white gear; you’ll find it in the top-right corner of the screen. Once you tap the Settings icon, a menu will open. General is the first item on the menu, under Account.^{[2]
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Tap App Language and select your language of choice. When you tap “App Language” in the menu, it’ll automatically redirect you to your device’s language settings (since you can’t actually change language settings within the app). Choose your preferred language from the available list in your device’s settings—you’ll see that change reflected in the YouTube app when you reopen it!
- You can also follow these steps to change YouTube’s language when you’re using the mobile website. Instead of redirecting you, you’ll be able to select a language on YouTube (since you’re not using the app).
- This wikiHow article can help you change your iPhone or iPad's language settings.
- This wikiHow article can help you change your Android's language settings.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Changing YouTube’s Language on a Computer

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1
Open YouTube and click your profile icon. Go to www.youtube.com in your preferred web browser. This will open your YouTube home page if you're already signed in. You’ll see your profile icon in the top-right corner of the YouTube home page. A drop-down menu will appear when you select it.^{[4]
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- If you aren't signed in, click Sign in in the top-right corner of the page, then enter your email address and password.
- If you cannot read the current language you have set for YouTube, you can manually translate the page to find the appropriate text.
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Click Language at the bottom of the drop-down menu. You’ll see your current language listed next to “Language” by default. Clicking the Language option will open a full pop-up menu of all available language settings.^{[5]
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- If you don't see this option, click the gear-shaped icon and find the "Language" setting on the following page.
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Select a language. Click the language you want to use with YouTube. Doing so will refresh the page and apply your selected language to all site text.
- Some web users claim that YouTube resets their language settings whenever they close and reopen the site. If you are experiencing this issue, try changing your language settings on Google Chrome. Because Google owns YouTube, these settings should transfer across the two platforms.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Changing YouTube’s Language on a Smart TV/Streaming Device/Console

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Navigate to the gear icon at the bottom of the sidebar on the left side of the YouTube app.
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Navigate to the "Language" section. It's the first option under the Language & Location subheading.
- You can also select “Location” to change the recognized location on your device.
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Click on your current language and select a new one. Click the language you want to use with YouTube. Doing so will refresh the app and apply your selected language across all text on YouTube.
- To change a video's subtitle language, tap the CC icon and select your desired language, or click Auto-translate to pull up a full list of YouTube's available languages.^{[6]
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  - Note that auto-translated subtitles are only translations of the English version, and may therefore include a few errors.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Changing the Subtitle Language on YouTube Videos

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Choose the video you want to watch; in the video player, you’ll see a gear icon representing the Settings menu. Click or tap on the gear icon to open the Settings menu.
A list of languages will appear.
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Find your desired language and select it. Alternatively, select Auto-translate to find YouTube’s full list of languages.
- YouTube can auto-translate its English subtitles into any language, but the translations may not be perfect, as the text has not been written in your chosen language.
- If you see a dedicated option for your desired language, click that one instead. These subtitles will likely be an improvement over YouTube's auto-translations.

Community Q&A

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Question

I changed my language and it took me to a blank page. Nothing is happening. What happened?

Community Answer

It may have just glitched out, try to refresh the page. If you can't, check your anti-virus software (if you don't have one, get one ASAP because this might be a symptom of a virus). It could be possible it's just lagging though, if refreshing doesn't help, close out the page (and any others you may have open) and start over.

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Question

How do I change my YouTube settings to English?

Community Answer

Click Choose Your Language. Then you should refresh the page.

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Question

how can i change the youtube comments in english from tamil

Cory Stillman

Community Answer

You cannot translate user-entered text through YouTube. You may try to use your browser's built-in translator to translate all text on the webpage, but note that these translations may be imperfect.

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