When you’re setting up a new Chromebook, you’ll be asked to change your preferred language on one of the setup screens. But what if you change your mind later on? Or maybe once you give out your Chromebook, how do you change the current language in Chrome OS?
Your preferred language is what Settings and App menu options are based on. Note that this won’t translate web pages or email or whatever you type in your text editor. If you wish to change the web content-language, scroll to the end of this article. For this section, we are changing the device’s language.
Changing your preferred language is very easy on Chromebook. Simply go to Settings, then on the left panel, scroll down to Advanced section. Collapse it to reveal Language and inputs options. Click on it, and then click on Languages.
You should now be able to see your current device’s language. In my case, it’s English (United States). Click on the Change button on the right to change to a different language pack.
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A dropdown selection of supported languages shows up. When you select your preferred language, click on confirm and restart. This will reboot your Chromebook and restart with your new language selection.
Add or remove web content languages
Now that we have changed your device’s preferred language which essentially appears in settings and menus, you can change or add a preferred language for web content when it is available. To do that, go to Settings again > Advanced > Languages, and then under “Web content languages,” select Add languages. A dropdown of supported languages will appear. Select your preferred language and restart your Chromebook.
That’s how you can change your Chromebook’s device and web content language.
About David Okwii
David Okwii is the Editor-in-Chief of Dignited.com and a seasoned tech enthusiast whose journey began in the early 2000s. He started blogging while at university, diving deep into mobile apps, smartphone reviews, and operating systems—from testing Linux distros to tweaking Windows machines. David also explores Chromebooks, experiments with Raspberry Pi projects, and brings hands-on curiosity to every review. With vast experience in Uganda’s tech ecosystem and deep knowledge of Africa’s startup landscape, he offers informed, grounded perspectives on consumer technology. When he's not writing or tinkering, David enjoys connecting with nature and exploring the outdoors.