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The correct method depends on where you use Gmail: on a desktop, change the language inside Gmail; on Android 14 or later, try Gmail’s app-language setting; on older Android phones and all iPhones or iPads, Gmail follows the device language. These settings change menus and buttons—not the wording of messages you receive.
Choose the setting you actually need
“Change Gmail language” can mean several different things:
- Gmail interface: Changes labels such as Inbox, Compose, Settings and menu commands.
- Google Account web language: Sets the preferred language for Google services in a browser.
- Mobile device or app language: Controls Gmail’s mobile interface according to your operating system and version.
- Message translation: Converts the text of one email without changing Gmail’s menus.
- Input tools: Lets you type with another script or language; it does not translate the interface.
Use the platform instructions below for the interface language you want to change.
Change Gmail language on a desktop computer
Gmail’s desktop language control changes Gmail’s web interface without changing every application on your Windows, Mac or Chromebook.
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- Open Gmail in a desktop browser.
- Click the Settings gear in the upper-right corner.
- Choose See all settings.
- In the Language section, open the language drop-down.
- Select your preferred language.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page.
- Click Save Changes.
Gmail should reload in the selected language. Selecting a language without saving does not apply the change.
Change Gmail language on Android
Android’s available controls depend on the operating-system version, the phone manufacturer and whether Gmail supports the selected language.
Android 14 and newer: change Gmail only
- Open your phone’s Settings app.
- Tap System.
- Tap Languages.
- Tap App Languages.
- Select Gmail.
- Choose the language you want.
Google documents this app-specific route for Android 14 and later, but not every device, Gmail release or language exposes the option. If Gmail is absent from App Languages, use the system-language method below or update Android and Gmail first. Menu names can also vary by manufacturer. See Google’s Android instructions.
Older Android: change the system language
- Open Settings.
- Tap System.
- Tap Languages & input.
- Tap Languages.
- Tap Add a language and select the language.
- Move it to the top of the language list.
This fallback changes the phone’s system language and can change other apps and system menus as well as Gmail. Apps set to follow the system default generally use the first supported language in the device list.
Change Gmail language on an iPhone or iPad
Google’s official iOS method changes the device language; Gmail for iPhone and iPad does not provide the same independent language picker as desktop Gmail.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Language & Region.
- Tap Add Language.
- Select the language.
- Tap Done and follow the prompt to make it the device’s primary language.
The change can affect iOS menus and other supported apps, not just Gmail. Review the device-wide impact before confirming. Google’s current steps are listed in its iPhone and iPad help.
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Change Google’s language for web services
If Gmail on a computer still uses the wrong language, or other Google websites do too, check your Google Account’s web-language preference. Go to myaccount.google.com/language, sign in, click or tap Edit in the language section, search for the language, select it, and confirm with Select. You can add another language as well.
This setting applies to Google services on the web. It is not a universal replacement for the Android or iOS device-language controls used by mobile apps. Google notes that some languages are unavailable for some products; when a primary language is not offered, it may ask you to choose an alternate language. See Google Account language help.
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When Gmail stays in the old language
| What you see | What to check |
|---|---|
| Desktop Gmail did not change | Return to Settings → See all settings → Language, select the language again and click Save Changes. Then reload Gmail. |
| The page still shows mixed languages | Sign out and back in. Check the Google Account web-language setting, especially if other Google sites show the wrong language. |
| Google’s web language will not stick | Clear the browser’s cache and cookies, then sign in again. This can remove saved settings for other websites, so save anything important first. Google recommends this step for language changes that do not take effect. |
| Gmail is missing from Android App Languages | Verify that the phone runs Android 14 or later, update Android and Gmail, and check whether the selected language is supported. Otherwise use the system-language fallback. |
| iPhone Gmail did not refresh | Confirm the new language is the device’s primary language, close and reopen Gmail, and restart the device if necessary. The official iOS route remains device-wide rather than Gmail-only. |
| The desired language is not listed | That language may not be available for Gmail or another Google product. Choose an available alternative; localization can differ between products and features. |
If you only want to translate an email
Changing the interface does not translate incoming messages. To translate an individual message, open it and choose More → Translate message, then select another target language if needed. This feature is separate from Gmail’s interface setting and is documented for supported Google Accounts; Google says it does not extend to messages in IMAP accounts. See the desktop translation instructions and Android translation instructions.
If you want to type in another language
On desktop Gmail, input tools are configured separately from the interface language:
- Open Settings → See all settings.
- In Language, enable input tools.
- Click Edit tools and select the tools you need.
- Click OK, then Save Changes.
- In the inbox, use the input-tool selector near the top-right to choose a tool while composing.
Google documents this browser setup separately and does not provide the same setup through the Gmail mobile app. Input tools help you enter another script; they do not translate existing mail or change Gmail’s menus.
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