To change the language in Google Drive on a computer, click the Settings gear, choose Settings, and under Language click Change language settings. Then click the pencil next to your preferred language, pick a new one, and save.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to change Google Drive language on a computer, on Android, and on iPhone or iPad, how a single Google Doc’s language works, and what to check when the change won’t stick.
Change the language in Google Drive on a computer
I did this in the demo Drive I use for Bluebird Landscaping Co., a made-up landscaping company in Austin. It’s a personal Gmail account.
Open Google Drive and click the Settings gear at the top right. In the menu, click Settings.
You land on the General tab. Scroll past Offline, Preview cards, and Sounds to the Language section, then click Change language settings.
Drive then opens the Language page of your Google Account.
This isn’t a Drive-only setting. It’s your account language, so it also changes Gmail, Docs, and your other Google services on the web.
I tested a personal account, so if you use Drive for work, it helps to know how personal and business Google accounts differ.
Click the pencil next to your Preferred Language. In the Change your primary language box, type the language you want. I typed Españ and got Español as a suggestion.
Select your language and click Save. Google recommends closing and reopening your browser afterward, so do that before you check Drive again.
Change the Drive app language on Android or iPhone
The Drive app doesn’t have its own language menu. Google says the web setting above changes Google services on the web only, and mobile apps follow the language set on your device.
On Android, open your phone’s Settings app, go to System > Languages & input > Languages, add a language, and drag it to the top. If you don’t see System, look under Personal.
On iPhone or iPad, change the device language in the Settings app. Google points to Apple’s support site for the exact steps.
Your device language then carries over to the Drive app, just like it does when you print from Google Drive on iPhone or use any other app.
Heads up: Changing your phone’s language switches every app on it, not just Drive. If you only want Drive on the web in another language, use the computer steps instead.
Other language changes people look for
Change the language of one Google Doc
This is separate from the Drive language. In Google Docs on a computer, click File > Language and pick the language you need. Google calls this your typing language for that document.
It’s handy when you edit a document in Google Drive for a Spanish-speaking client.
It doesn’t translate what you’ve already written. For that, use Tools > Translate document, which opens a translated copy in a new window.
Google Docs on an iPad
The Docs app on an iPad follows your iPad’s language, the same as Drive. Google says to translate a document, open it in Google Docs on a computer. To type in another script, use your keyboard app, like Gboard.
Add a second language without switching
On the same Language page, Other Languages lists languages you understand. My demo account shows Hindi with an “Added for you” label, because Google may add languages you use often. You can keep one with Save or remove it with Delete.
When the language change doesn’t work
Work through these in order, from quickest to most involved.
- Restart the browser. Close every window and reopen it, as Google suggests after a change.
- Clear cache and cookies. If your account still doesn’t match the language you picked, Google says to clear your browser’s cache and cookies and set the language again. Here’s how to clear the cache in Google Drive. Clearing cookies also signs you out of other sites.
- Check which account you changed. If you’re signed in to several Google accounts, the setting only applies to the one you edited. My demo Drive is the fourth account in my browser (/u/3/ in the address), so I make sure that account’s picture is showing before I change anything.
- Look at your phone. If Drive on the web is right but the app isn’t, the app is following your device language.
Signed in to the wrong account on your phone? You can sign out of Google Drive on iPhone and sign back in with the right one.
A few more Drive settings worth a look
- change your profile picture on Google Drive
- stop Google Drive notifications
- Google Drive vs Google Docs
- sort files in Google Drive
Quick answers
Does changing the Google Drive language change Gmail too?
Yes. On a computer, the Drive language is your Google Account language, so Gmail, Docs, and your other Google services on the web switch with it.
How do I change Google Drive from Spanish to English?
The menus are in Spanish, but the layout is the same: Settings gear, the first menu item, then the button in the Language section. Click the pencil, search for English, select it, and save.
How do I change the language on Google Docs on an iPad?
The Docs app uses your iPad’s language, so change it in the iPad’s Settings app. To change a single document’s typing language, use File > Language in Google Docs on a computer.
Why is my Google Drive still in the old language?
Close and reopen your browser, then clear your cache and cookies and set the language again. Make sure you changed the account you are actually using. Details are in Google Account Help: Change language.
I am Carissa Gudinoa, a technology buff, and Office online and Apple expert with over 9 years of experience. I am passionate about helping others get the most out of their Apple devices. I have written extensively about Apple products and technologies. I am committed to providing my clients with the best possible service and am always up-to-date on the latest Apple products and features. I also write extensively on other software available for use at minimal cost or free. This includes Word Online, Outlook Online, Excel Online, and other Office online programs… Check out more.