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How to Change Steam Language on Desktop & Mobile

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How to Change Steam Language on Desktop & Mobile

This guide shows you how to change the display language for Steam on both the desktop client and the mobile app. You’ll learn the exact menu paths for Windows, Mac, Linux, and the Steam Mobile app, plus what to do if the change doesn’t stick or you can’t find the option.

What You’ll Need

  • Access to your Steam account (you’ll need to log in if you aren’t already).
  • For desktop: the Steam client installed on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
  • For mobile: the Steam app installed on iOS or Android (version 3.0 or newer).
  • An internet connection – the language files are downloaded when you switch.

Step-by-Step

Change Steam Language on Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)

  1. Open the Steam client on your computer and log in if prompted.
  2. In the top-left corner, click Steam (Windows) or the Steam menu in the menu bar (Mac).
  3. From the drop-down menu, select Settings (Windows/Linux) or Preferences (macOS).
  4. In the Settings/Preferences window, click the Interface tab on the left side.
  5. Look for the Language drop-down menu near the top of the window. It shows the current display language.
  6. Click the drop-down and choose your preferred language from the list (e.g., Español, Deutsch, 日本�, etc.).
  7. Click OK (Windows/Linux) or Close (Mac) to apply the change.
  8. A dialog box will appear asking if you want to restart Steam to apply the new language. Click Restart Steam.
  9. Steam will close and reopen in the new language. If it doesn’t restart automatically, manually relaunch the Steam client.

Change Steam Language on Mobile (iOS and Android)

The Steam mobile app follows your phone’s system language by default. To change it to a different language than your phone’s, you need to adjust a setting inside the app.

  1. Open the Steam app on your phone or tablet.
  2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner to open the side navigation.
  3. Scroll down and tap Settings (gear icon).
  4. In the Settings menu, look for Language or App Language.
  5. Tap it and select the language you want from the list.
  6. The app will immediately switch to the new language. No restart is needed, but you may need to close and reopen the app if it doesn’t update right away.

Common Mistakes

  • Changing the wrong setting: On desktop, some users change the language in the Steam store’s preferences instead of the client’s Interface settings. The store language is separate – use the Interface tab for the whole client.
  • Not restarting Steam: The new language won’t fully apply until you restart the desktop client. Always click “Restart Steam” when prompted.
  • On mobile, changing the phone’s language instead: The Steam app follows your system language. If you change your phone’s language, the app will change too, but that’s not the same as setting the app language directly.
  • Selecting a language that isn’t fully supported: Some languages may be partially translated. If you see a mix of English and your chosen language, that’s normal for less-common languages.

Tips

  • If you want the Steam client to match your system language, you can set it to “English” or choose the option that says “Default” (if available) to follow the OS language.
  • On desktop, you can also change the language of the Steam store and community separately. Go to the Store tab, click on your profile name, then Preferences > Language to set the store language independently.
  • For game-specific languages, remember that changing Steam’s language does not change the language of every game. Many games have their own language settings in-game or in their properties (right-click the game > Properties > Language).
  • If you use Steam on multiple devices, you’ll need to change the language on each device separately – it’s not synced.

Troubleshooting

  • Steam doesn’t restart after clicking “Restart Steam”: If the client closes but doesn’t reopen, just launch Steam manually from your desktop shortcut or Start menu. The new language should be active when it opens.
  • The language didn’t change after restart: Make sure you clicked OK or Close before restarting. If you just closed the window without saving, the change won’t apply. Go back and repeat the steps.
  • Can’t find the Language option on mobile: If you’re on an older version of the Steam app, the setting might be under Settings > General or Preferences. Update the app to the latest version from your app store to see the current layout.
  • The app is in a language you don’t understand: If you accidentally set it to an unknown language, you can still navigate by the icons. On mobile, go to the menu (three lines), look for the gear icon (Settings), then find the language option (usually the first or second item with a globe icon). On desktop, go to Steam > Settings (gear icon) > Interface – the language drop-down is the first option.
  • Steam shows garbled text or boxes: This usually means the language files didn’t download correctly. Restart Steam, and if that fails, verify the integrity of the Steam client files (Steam > Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache, then restart).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the language of individual games on Steam?

Yes. Right-click a game in your library, select Properties, go to the Language tab, and choose the language for that game. Not all games support multiple languages – it depends on what the developer offers.

Will changing Steam’s language affect my game saves or achievements?

No. Language settings only affect the display text in the Steam client and (for some games) the in-game text. Your saves, achievements, and progress are completely unaffected.

Does the Steam mobile app support all the same languages as the desktop client?

Most major languages are supported on both, but the mobile app may have fewer options. If a language isn’t listed in the app, it’s not available for the mobile interface.

How do I change the language back to English if I can’t read the current language?

On desktop, go to Steam (or the menu with the Steam logo) > Settings (gear icon) > Interface – the first drop-down is the language. Select “English” and restart. On mobile, tap the menu icon, then the gear icon, then the first option (usually a globe icon) to select English.

Why does my Steam client show a mix of languages after switching?

Some community-created content, like user reviews or workshop items, may remain in the original language. Also, certain menus or error messages might not be fully translated for less-common languages. This is normal.

Can I change the language without restarting Steam?

No, the desktop client requires a restart to apply the new language. The mobile app does not require a restart – it changes instantly.

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