It can be frustrating when you log into Facebook and find that the language has been changed to something other than English. There are a few common reasons why your Facebook language may not be set to English and some steps you can take to change it back.
Quick Overview
Here is a quick overview of some of the main reasons your Facebook language may not be English and how to change it back:
- You have Facebook set to the wrong language in your account settings. Go to Settings -> Language and change it back to English.
- Your browser or device language is set to something other than English. Change your browser/device language to English.
- You’re logging in from a different country where English is not the main language. Facebook may default to that country’s language. Change it in Settings.
- Someone else accessed your account and changed the language. Log them out and change it back to English in your Settings.
- There’s a technical glitch. Try fully logging out and logging back in or clearing your browser cookies/cache.
Facebook Account Language Setting
The most common reason your Facebook language is showing up as something other than English is because your Facebook account language setting has been changed. Here’s how to check and change your Facebook account language setting:
- Click on the down arrow at the top right of any Facebook page.
- Select “Settings” from the drop down menu.
- On the Settings page, click “Language” on the left sidebar.
- Under “Facebook language” click “Edit” and select “English” from the list.
- Scroll down and click “Save Changes”.
This will set your Facebook account language to English. The next time you log in, everything should display in English.
Changing Back to English on Mobile
If you’re accessing Facebook on your mobile device, the steps are very similar:
- Tap the three line “hamburger” menu icon at the top right.
- Select “Settings & Privacy” then “Settings”.
- Tap “Language”.
- Under “App Language” select “English”.
- Tap “Close” to save the changes.
This will change the language setting on your mobile Facebook app to English.
Browser or Device Language Settings
Another possibility is that your browser or device language settings are set to use a language other than English. Facebook may detect this and automatically switch to match.
Try changing your browser or device language to English. For example, in Chrome you can go to Settings > Languages and change your default language. On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and set your preferred language to English.
In most cases, if your browser/device settings are set to English, your Facebook language will also default to English.
Common Facebook Languages
Here are some of the most common language options you may see Facebook displayed in if it’s not English:
| Language | Code |
|---|---|
| Spanish | es |
| French | fr |
| German | de |
| Italian | it |
| Portuguese | pt |
If you see Facebook in one of these languages, it likely got set based on your location or browser settings.
Logging in From Another Country
When you log into Facebook from another country, it will often default to that country’s language. For example, if you travel to France and log in, you may find Facebook in French.
This automatic localization is meant to provide the best user experience for the country you are currently in. However, it can be surprising if you’re used to English and suddenly Facebook changes.
The good news is you can still change it back to English, even when logging in from another country:
- Click on the down arrow at the top right.
- Select the Settings cog icon.
- Choose “English” under Facebook language.
- Click Save Changes.
This will override the location-based language setting and change it back to English for you.
Using a VPN
An alternative is to use a VPN service to access Facebook. Connecting through a VPN will mask your location and make it appear you are accessing from an English-speaking country like the USA or UK.
Once on VPN, simply refresh Facebook and it should now display in English by default, regardless of which country you are actually in.
Someone Changed Your Language
In some cases, the Facebook language may have been changed by someone else accessing your account. For example:
- A friend or family member used your computer or device already logged into Facebook.
- You let someone else briefly use or check something on your Facebook account.
- Your account was compromised by a hacker or malicious program.
If someone else accessed your account, they may have intentionally or accidentally changed the language setting.
When this happens, you just need to log them out and change it back:
- Click the down arrow > Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Under “Security and Login” click “See More”.
- Under “Where You’re Logged In” click “Log Out of All Sessions”.
- Log back into your account and change the language to English in Settings.
Logging out all other sessions will ensure no one else is accessing your account. You can then set the language back to English.
Enabling Login Approvals
To help prevent unauthorized access in the future, it’s also a good idea to enable login approvals. This requires someone to enter a code from your phone whenever they try to access your Facebook account from a new device.
To turn on login approvals:
- Go to Settings > Security and Login.
- Under “Use Two-Factor Authentication” click “Edit”.
- Toggle on “Require a Code to Access My Account from Unknown Browsers”.
With login approvals enabled, your account will be much more secure.
Troubleshooting Tips
In some cases, the Facebook language may get stuck in a foreign language even after changing your settings. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Log Out and Back In: Try fully logging out of Facebook and then logging back in. This will reload the language settings.
- Clear Cache & Cookies: Clear your browser history, cookies and cache then re-load Facebook.
- Try Incognito/Private Mode: Access Facebook in an incognito or private browser window. This doesn’t use saved language settings.
- Update Facebook App: If on mobile, make sure you have the latest version of the Facebook app installed.
- Change Devices: Try accessing your account from a different device or browser. This can bypass any saved settings.
In most cases, simply logging out and back in or clearing your browsing data should resolve any issues with the language sticking. But if not, try some of the other troubleshooting tips above.
Contacting Facebook Support
If you still can’t get your Facebook language changed back to English, you can contact Facebook support:
- Go to the Facebook Help Center and search for “Facebook in other language”.
- Click “My Facebook is in a language I don’t understand”.
- Choose the “Need more help” option.
- Select “Report a Problem” to start a support ticket.
Explain the issue you’re having and what troubleshooting you’ve already tried. The Facebook support team can then further investigate and help resolve the problem.
Other Support Options
You can also try to reach Facebook support through the following channels:
| Support Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Live chat | Available on the Facebook Help Center site when logged into your account. |
| Facebook Groups | Post in the official Facebook Help Community group. |
| Tweet @FacebookSupport for help. | |
| Phone | Call Facebook support at 1-650-543-4800. |
The fastest way to get help is often through Facebook’s live chat support. But you can also try the other channels if needed.
Preventing Future Language Issues
To help prevent your Facebook language from inadvertently changing again in the future, here are some tips:
- Enable login approvals to prevent unauthorized account access.
- Log out fully after using Facebook on shared or public devices.
- Be cautious when traveling and using Facebook from other countries.
- Double check your language setting if anything looks different.
- Add a secondary email or phone number for account recovery.
Catching a wrong language early and being proactive about security can help avoid bigger issues down the road. Knowing how to change your language setting back is also useful.
Conclusion
A Facebook language unexpectedly changing can certainly be annoying. But in most cases it only takes a few steps to switch it back to English in your account settings or browser.
Some common causes include account settings changes, browser/device language detection, logging in from other countries, or unauthorized access. Troubleshooting tips like clearing cookies, trying incognito mode, and reinstalling the app can help.
Overall, understanding why your Facebook language may change and how to change it back gives you the control to customize your experience.