How to Change Signal Language Settings

If you’re using Signal and want to switch things up by changing the language it displays in, you’re in the right place. As someone who’s relied on Signal daily for secure chats, I know that tweaking settings like language can feel a bit hidden, especially if you’re new to the app. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to change Signal language settings, share some handy tips, and point you to reliable info from signal.org.

Why Change Signal Language Settings?

First off, you might wonder why you’d want to change the language in Signal at all. Maybe English isn’t your first language, or you want to switch to a regional dialect Signal supports. Or perhaps you’re simply helping out a family member who prefers using Signal in their native tongue.

Signal supports multiple languages, but it defaults to the system language on your phone. This means if your phone is set to French, Signal will generally appear in French. If you want Signal in a different language without messing with your whole phone’s language, you’ll need to take some extra steps.

How to Change Signal Language Settings on Android

Here’s the straightforward (but sometimes surprising) truth about Android: Signal doesn’t have an internal language setting menu. It follows your phone's system language by default. So, to change Signal’s language, you generally have to change your Android system language.

Change Your Android Phone’s Language (Which Changes Signal’s Language)

1. Open Settings on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and tap System (or it might say General management depending on your device).
3. Select Languages & input, then tap Languages.
4. Tap Add a language and choose the language you want Signal to display in.
5. Drag your preferred language to the top of the list to make it the system default.
6. Restart Signal (force close and open again) to see the language change.

Pro tip: Android 13 and newer allow per-app language preferences in your Settings (Settings > Apps > Signal > Language). This is a game-changer if you want Signal in a different language without changing your whole device’s language. Check if your phone supports this handy feature!

What If You Don’t Want to Change Your Phone’s Language?

I get it — sometimes messing with your whole phone’s language is a pain. Before Android 13’s per-app language settings, there wasn’t a way around it. Your best bet was:

• Use Android 13+ per-app language settings if available.
• Or create a dedicated user profile on your phone with the language you want and use Signal there.

It’s a bit of a workaround, but it can be worth it if you want to keep your phone’s language intact.

How to Change Signal Language Settings on iPhone (iOS)

Unlike Android, iOS lets you set the language per app starting with iOS 13. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and find Signal in the app list.
3. Tap Language.
4. Choose your preferred language from the list.
5. Open Signal, and it should now display in that language.

Super handy, right? This way you can keep your iPhone overall in one language but have Signal in another.

Note About Language Support

Signal supports many major languages, but not *every* language under the sun. If you don’t see your preferred language listed, you can check their official site at signal.org for the most up-to-date info on supported languages and localization efforts.

Extra Tips to Make Your Signal Experience Smoother

• Restart Signal after changing language: Sometimes the change doesn’t take effect immediately. Force close the app and reopen it to refresh the interface.
• Update Signal regularly: Signal’s language options improve with updates, so keep your app up-to-date to get new languages or bug fixes.
• Help translate Signal: If your language isn’t supported or could use better translations, Signal has an open translation platform. This is a cool way to contribute back and improve the app for users worldwide. More info is available on signal.org.
• Watch out for minor quirks: Sometimes emoji or system buttons may still appear in your device’s default language despite Signal’s language change. This is normal because they rely on your OS.

Wrapping It Up

Changing Signal language settings isn’t always as obvious as changing a typical app preference because Signal leans heavily on your device’s system settings. But thanks to improvements in iOS and Android 13+, it’s easier than ever to have Signal in the language that works best for you without overhauling your whole phone’s language.

So, whether you’re setting up Signal for yourself, a family member, or just exploring options, start by checking your phone’s language settings and Signal app settings. Don’t forget to peek at signal.org for official guidance and new updates.

And remember: sometimes a quick app restart is all it takes to see your changes. Happy chatting in your preferred language!

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