Change the Language in Android

Android supports multiple languages, which can be useful for people who know more than one language. It's not so useful when you order an Android device from China and the operating system is in Chinese when you get it. Luckily, switching languages in Android is a snap. You can also change your keyboard language, as well as the language used for voice searching.

Steps

Changing the Display Language

  1. Open the Settings app. If your Android device is in another language, look for the Gear icon in the App Drawer.
  2. Select the "Language & input" option. If your Android device is in another language, look for the "A" surrounded by a box.[1]
  3. Select the "Language" option. If your Android device is in another language, this will always be the first option in the "Language & input" menu.
  4. Select your language. The language selection will display each of the available languages in their native format. Tap the language you want to switch instantly.
  5. Set your spell checker language settings. Android includes a spell checker that's separate from your keyboard's. If you have this enabled, you may need to adjust the language it uses.
    • Tap the Settings button to the left of the "Spell checker" box, beneath the "Language" option.
    • Tap the Globe button next to your spell checker. This will open a list of languages. Select "Use system language" from the top of the list to use the same language you set earlier.
  6. Use your device in the new language. All of your system menus and apps should be displayed in the new language. Note that it is up to the app developer to support displaying multiple languages, so not all apps correctly translate.

Changing the Input Language

  1. Open the Settings app and select "Language & input". Your keyboard may be using a different language than your display language. You can change your keyboard language from the "Language & input" menu.
  2. Tap the Settings button next to your active keyboard. You may have multiple keyboards listed here. Your default keyboard will be displayed underneath the "Default" option.
    • The Settings button looks like three sliders.
    • Tap the "Languages" option. This will open a list of languages.
  3. Select the language you want to type in. You can check the "Use system language" option, or scroll through the list and manually select a language. You can't manually select a language if you use the system language.
    • If the keyboard doesn't support the language that you want, you may need to install another keyboard from the Google Play Store. Search for "your language keyboard".
  4. Add the text correction dictionary. If you choose an input language that you haven't used before, you may have to download the text correction dictionary for it.
    • Tap the "Text correction" option in your keyboard's Settings menu.
    • Tap the "Add-on dictionaries" button.
    • Tap the dictionary that you want to install, then tap the "Install" button that appears.
  5. Switch between languages while typing. If you have multiple input languages installed, you can switch between them on your keyboard. Look for the Globe button on your keyboard to switch between your installed language.[2]
    • The exact process for switching languages will vary depending on the keyboard you are using. SwiftKey, for example, will allow you to type in all of your enabled languages without having to switch between them. For other keyboards, you may have to long-press the space bar.

Changing the Google Now Language

  1. Open the Google Settings app. You'll find this in your App Drawer if you use the Google Now app.
  2. Select "Search & Now". This will open the Settings menu for the Google Search and Google Now app.
  3. Tap "Voice". This will load the options for the voice commands with Google Now.
  4. Tap the "Languages" option. This can be found at the top of the list.
  5. Check the boxes for the languages you want to use. You can select as many languages as you'd like. Tap "Save" when you are finished.
    • To set a default language when you have multiple languages selected, press and hold the language you want to be default.
    • Your default language will be the spoken language that Google Now uses as well (if it is supported).



Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://liliputing.com/2013/02/how-to-change-the-language-on-android-tablets-chinese-english-etc.html
  2. ↑ http://www.pinyinjoe.com/other-os/android-ime-switching-and-settings.htm
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