Looking for search results in a specific language? Wish Google Docs or Maps used a different interface language? Find out here how to change the language on Google, both for search and for Google products such as Google Maps.
First, Dandelion Tires
Tires are made from petrochemicals, of course, latex or—dandelion sap.
During a time of both high demand for and a marked shortage of latex in the middle of the 20th Century, many a country looked for alternatives to the rubber tree; some found one in the dandelion’s latexy sap; none were reportedly as successful, though, as Russia.
So, for a high yield of taraxacum kok-saghyz, perhaps we should try a search in Russian?
How to Change the Language for Google Search
On the Desktop
Time needed: 2 minutes
To change the language used for Google search:
- Go to the Google search home page.
From search results: On a Google search results page, click the Settings gear icon and select Languages from the menu that appears, then continue with step 5.
- Select Settings in the bottom navigation bar.
Localized: If your language setting for the Google search interface is set to a language other than English, the link to settings will appear in that language, of course; the link below still works, though.
- Select Search settings from the menu that has appeared.
- Go to Other settings.
- Choose Language and region.
Language settings in English: Open Language and region to open Google language settings in English.
- Now click Results language filter.
- Select all languages in which you want to get search results from Google so they appear checked.
Finding: You can use the search field to look for languages, both in English and in their native tongue.
Browsing: Languages are sorted by their native name in the list. - Click Confirm.
- Optional: Change your Google Search region; see below.
Why pick the region to change the language on Google: The search region influences heavily what results you see, as Google prefers to show locally relevant information in the language associated with the region.
On a Mobile Device
To change the language for search results on a mobile device:
- Tap Settings on the Google home page in a mobile browser.
- Select Search settings from the menu.
- Go to the Other settings tab.
- Follow the Language and region link under Language.
- Tap Results language filter.
- Select all desired language so they appear checked.
Remove: Tap any checked language to remove it from the filter. - Tap Confirm.
Change the Google Region to Influence Search Results Language
On the Desktop and a mobile device
To set the region for Google Search in a desktop browser:
- Go to Google Language and region settings (see above).
- Open Results region under Results language and region.
- Select all regions you want to use (or prefer) for search results so they are checked.
More: Click Show more to see all regions.
Your location: With Current Region picked, Google will derive region settings from your IP address or possibly device location. - Click Confirm.
Change the Language and Region for a Specific Search on Google
To change the language of search results for just one search:
- Open Google Advanced Search.
Start with a search: From Google search results, click the Settings gear icon, then select Advanced search from the menu that pops up. - Choose the desired language for results under language: in the Then narrow your results by… section.
Just one: Here, you can pick just one language; for multiple languages, combine any language with a region. - Now pick the region for search results under region:.
- Type your search terms in the Find pages with… section.
Default Google search experience: For the Google default, enter your term under all these words.
How to Change the Interface Language for Google (Search, Maps, etc.)
Gmail has its own language: How to Change the Interface Language in Gmail
On the Desktop
To change the language used for Google search and other services in a desktop browser:
- Open Google languages settings in your browser.
- Choose the language you want to use across Google under Which language should Google products use?.
Language for search results: Changing the interface language will also automatically adapt the language for search results; see above for changing it (again).
On a Mobile Device
To change the interface language for Google using a mobile device:
- Go to Google Search Settings in your mobile browser.
- Pick the desired language under Language in Google products.
In Google Apps for iOS
Google apps for iPhone and iPad use the default iOS language; you can also pick specific languages for apps (say, Gmail or Google Maps) in iOS preferences.
In Google Apps for Android
Google’s Android apps use the topmost system language they support for the interface.
(How to change the language for Google search updated March 2024)