So FACEBOOK randomly changed to a different language and now you can’t figure out how to change it back?? Or you’re trying to switch languages but the setting won’t save and keeps reverting to the wrong one…
What the hell is this?!
And the frustrating part? You can’t even READ the settings menu to find the language option because everything is in Spanish or French or whatever language Facebook randomly decided to use 🙁
I’m not gonna lie, Facebook’s language settings are confusing and glitchy, especially when you accidentally change it and can’t navigate back.
How to Change Facebook Language (Step by Step)
First, let’s get your Facebook back to the right language. Even if you can’t read the menu, you can follow these steps visually.
On iPhone/Android App
Open the Facebook app → tap Menu (three horizontal lines, bottom right on iPhone, top right on Android) → scroll down and tap the gear icon (Settings & Privacy) → tap Settings → scroll down to find Language or Language and Region (usually has a globe icon 🌍) → tap Language for Facebook or App Language → select your language from the list → tap Save or it saves automatically.
Look for the gear icon and globe symbol…
Even if everything is in a foreign language, the icons stay the same. The gear ⚙️ is settings, the globe 🌍 is language. Navigate by icons not words deadass.
On Desktop/Browser
Go to facebook.com → click the down arrow (top right corner) → click Settings & Privacy (gear icon) → click Settings → look for Language and Region in the left sidebar → click Edit next to “Facebook language” → select your language → click Save Changes.
If you can’t find it in the sidebar, just go directly to: facebook.com/settings?tab=language – this URL takes you straight to language settings regardless of what language Facebook is currently in.
Direct link works every time…
Why Language Settings Won’t Save
Sometimes you change the language but Facebook immediately reverts back to the wrong one. Or the setting just doesn’t stick no matter how many times you change it.
Common reasons:
- Browser language conflicts – Your browser’s language setting overrides Facebook
- Phone language conflicts – Facebook follows your device language
- Cache is corrupted – Old language data cached, new setting won’t load
- Facebook detects VPN location – Thinks you’re in a different country
- Cookie issues – Browser cookies storing wrong language preference
Let’s fix these bet.
Check Your Device/Browser Language
Facebook sometimes auto-detects your device or browser language and forces that on you.
iPhone: Go to Settings → General → Language & Region → make sure your preferred language is at the top of the list.
Android: Go to Settings → System → Languages & input → Languages → make sure your preferred language is #1.
Desktop Browser: In Chrome, go to Settings → Languages → make sure your preferred language is at the top. In Firefox, go to Settings → Language → set your preferred language.
After fixing your device/browser language, go back to Facebook and change the language setting again. It should stick this time.
Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Cached data can lock Facebook into the wrong language even after you change settings.
Chrome: Three dots (top right) → Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data → select Cached images and files and Cookies → choose All time → Clear data.
Firefox: Menu → Settings → Privacy & Security → scroll to Cookies and Site Data → Clear Data → check both boxes → Clear.
Safari: Safari menu → Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data → Remove All.
After clearing cache, log back into Facebook and set your language. The fresh cache should save it properly for real.
Clear Facebook App Cache (Android)
On Android, you can clear the Facebook app’s cache without deleting the whole app. Similar to clearing storage when Facebook takes up too much space.
Go to Settings → Apps → Facebook → Storage → tap Clear Cache (NOT Clear Data).
Open Facebook again and change the language setting. The corrupted cache is gone so the new setting should save.
iPhone doesn’t have cache clearing…
On iPhone, you have to delete and reinstall the app to clear cache (explained below).
Turn Off VPN
If you’re using a VPN, Facebook might detect that you’re connecting from a different country and auto-set the language for that region.
Turn off your VPN temporarily → change Facebook’s language setting → turn VPN back on.
Once the language is set correctly, the VPN shouldn’t affect it anymore. But if it keeps reverting? You might need to keep VPN off while using Facebook lowkey.
Delete and Reinstall Facebook App
When nothing else works, a fresh install resets all language settings.
iPhone – Offload: Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Facebook → Offload App → Reinstall App.
Full delete: Long-press Facebook app → Remove App → Delete App → reinstall from App Store/Play Store.
Log back in and set your language. Fresh installs eliminate corrupted settings that prevent language changes from sticking fr fr.
Use Facebook in a Different Browser
If Facebook’s language won’t change in one browser, try a different one. Sometimes browser-specific bugs lock the language setting.
If you use Chrome, try Firefox or Safari. Log into Facebook there and change the language. See if it sticks in the new browser.
If it works in the new browser? The old browser has corrupted Facebook data. Clear that browser’s cache completely or just switch browsers permanently.
What If You Can’t Find Language Settings?
Okay so Facebook is in a language you DON’T READ AT ALL and you can’t navigate the menus… what the fuck do you do?
Use the direct URL: Go to facebook.com/settings?tab=language – this takes you straight to language settings no matter what language Facebook is in. Change it there no cap.
Use Google Translate on the page. In Chrome, right-click the page → Translate to English. Now you can read the menus and find the language setting.
Ask a friend who speaks that language. Send them a screenshot and they can tell you which buttons to click. Not ideal but it works when you’re completely lost.
Why Facebook Randomly Changes Language
Sometimes Facebook switches languages WITHOUT you changing anything. Why does this happen?
You traveled or used VPN. Facebook detected a new location and auto-switched to that country’s language thinking it’s being helpful. It’s not helpful, it’s annoying as shit.
Browser language changed. Maybe you installed a language pack or changed your system language and Facebook followed that change.
Someone else used your account. If you share a device or someone logged into your Facebook, they might’ve changed the language. If you’re having unauthorized access issues, change your password.
Facebook glitch. Sometimes Facebook just bugs out and randomly changes language for no reason. It’s rare but happens. If you’re also having Facebook not loading properly, it might be related to server issues.
How to Prevent Language From Changing Again
Once you get it back to the right language, make sure your device and browser languages match what you want Facebook to use.
Keep your phone/computer language consistent. Don’t have your device in one language and expect Facebook to be in another – they’ll conflict.
Don’t use VPNs that auto-switch locations. Stick to one VPN server location so Facebook doesn’t think you’re traveling constantly.
Check language settings after updates. Sometimes Facebook app updates reset language preferences. Check it after updating and if your Facebook notifications aren’t working after an update, that’s another sign settings got reset.
Final Thoughts
Facebook’s language settings break because of device conflicts, cache issues, VPNs, and Facebook’s auto-detection being overly aggressive. But changing it through Settings → Language, clearing cache, and making sure your device language matches usually fixes it.
It’s so annoying…
If you can’t find the setting because you can’t read the menu? Use the direct URL facebook.com/settings?tab=language or translate the page with Google Translate.
And honestly, Facebook should add a language selector to the LOGIN screen so people can fix it BEFORE logging in. Having to navigate foreign menus while logged in is terrible UX design for real.
If this helped you change Facebook back to your language, share it with anyone else stuck reading Facebook in Spanish/French/whatever… because this is super common and Facebook’s help is useless when you can’t even read it!!
