How to Change Your Default Language on Gmail

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: May 22, 2024 Tested

Google services support over 130 languages for users' convenience. You can change Gmail's default displayed language from within Gmail's settings, or you can change the default displayed language for your entire Google account from your account settings. Please note that you will need a computer to change your default language; the Gmail app doesn't have the option to do so.

Quick Steps

Open your Gmail settings by clicking the cogwheel icon next to your profile picture.
Select See all settings.
Locate the "Language" section in the General tab.
Select a new language in the "Gmail display language" dropdown.
Click Save Changes to apply your settings change.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Changing Gmail's Default Language

Download Article

You will need a preexisting Gmail account in order to do so.

Advertisement
You can find it in the upper right-hand corner of your screen.
Settings is the third option up from the bottom of the menu.^{[1]
X
Research source}
This is the first item in the "General" tab of the Settings menu.
This is the first bar that displays on the page; Gmail's current language should show up here.
Make sure your choice is accurate before continuing.
This option is at the bottom of the page. Your default language for your Gmail account has now been changed! You may have to refresh your browser for these changes to appear.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Changing Your Google Account's Default Language

Download Article

2
Go to "My Account". Click the link provided.
- You can also access your account on Chrome by clicking the three-by-three grid of dots in the toolbar on a new tab, then clicking "My Account".
You'll need to use your default Gmail address and password.
This will take you to the Language and Input menu.^{[2]
X
Research source}
This will take you to the Language menu.
6
Click the pencil-shaped icon next to your current language. This will take you to a menu with all of Google's supported languages.
- You can also click "Add Another Language" at the bottom of the screen to add a secondary "understood" language.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
Your default language for all Google services under your account name has now been changed! You may have to refresh your browser for these changes to appear.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

If you want to immerse yourself in a foreign language in order to maximize your understanding thereof, changing your default language is a good place to start.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Changing your account's language to one with a complex alphabet that you don't understand (e.g., Chinese or Russian) will make changing it back difficult.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0