How-To

How to Change the Language in Google Docs

By Ben Stockton

Published December 23, 2022

Do you want to change the language you’re using in your Google Docs document? There are two methods you can try. This guide explains how.

Google Docs isn’t just for writing in English. It supports more than 100 different languages, allowing you to switch between them with ease.

You might be working on a collaborative project with international colleagues. More likely, you simply want to access Google Docs in your preferred language. You can also use Google Docs to translate documents (or parts of a document) from one language to another.

Whatever the reason, it’s easy to change language in Google Docs. You can follow the steps below to get started.

Things to Consider Before Changing Language in Google Docs

Before changing your language in Google Docs, you should consider some important points that might impact your next steps.

• Changing language doesn’t translate existing text. If you change the language in a Google Docs document, it won’t make any existing text change with it. You’ll need to translate it afterward.
• Make sure the language is the same for all users. Collaboratively, it’s always a good idea to make sure a team working on a document is on the same page (so to speak). If you change the language, make sure that everyone else working on the document is aware and knows to use it.
• Changing the language in Google Docs only changes it for that document. If you want the language to apply to all the documents you create, you’ll need to change the default typing language in your Google Docs settings (accessible via Google Drive).

If you’re ready to proceed, follow the steps below.

How to Change the Typing Language for a Single Document in Google Docs

You can change the typing language for a single Google Docs document. This is the language that you use as you type. It’s also used for certain formatting rules, spelling and grammar checks, and more.

By changing it in the document itself, the setting won’t apply to the rest of the documents you create.

To change typing language for a single document in Google Docs:

1. Open an existing Google Docs document or create a new one.
2. To change the language, go to File > Language.
3. Select a new language from the options provided.
   
4. The change will apply immediately to your document. If you choose a non-Latin language (such as Hindi), you’ll see the Input Tools icon on the toolbar.
   This will offer you additional tools for your chosen language. This includes the ability to draw different characters, depending on your language.

How to Change the Default Typing Language in Google Docs

Google Docs allows you to change your default language for all documents you create. To change this setting, you’ll need to access your settings in Google Drive.

The settings will apply to all Google Docs apps, including Docs, Slides, and Sheets. It will also apply to other Google apps, including Gmail.

However, it doesn’t work retrospectively. This means that any documents you’ve created previously will continue to use the original language. You’ll need to manually change the language in that document using the steps we’ve outlined above.

To change the default typing language in Google Docs:

1. Open the Google Drive website and sign in.
2. Click the Settings icon in the top right and select Settings from the drop-down menu.
   
3. Next, click Change Language Settings.
   
4. Click the Edit icon next to your current default language in the Preferred language section.
   
5. Search for and select a language (and regional locale) you want to use on the pop-up Add Language box.
6. Click Select to confirm.
   
7. If you want to add a language (but not a new default one), click Add another language instead and follow the same instructions to add it to your account.

Your new default language settings will update across your Google account. When you create a new document, the typing language (and menu items) will appear in that language.

How to Translate Text in Google Docs

Changing your language in Google Docs won’t convert you’ve already written text to another language. You can do this directly if you want to translate text in Google Docs.

You can only translate an entire document. If you want to translate sections of it, you’ll need to copy that text and use Google’s online translation tools to translate it first. You can then copy it back into your

To translate text in Google Docs:

1. Open the Google Docs document containing the text you want to translate.
2. Go to Tools > Translate document.
   
3. In the Translate document pop-up, enter a new name for the translated document in the New document title box.
4. Use the drop-down menu to choose the language you want to translate into. For example, select French from the menu if you want to translate your document into French.
5. Click Translate to translate the document.
   

Google Docs will open the new and translated document in a new tab. You can then review the translated text and make further changes.

Making Google Docs Work For You

Thanks to the steps above, you can quickly change language in a Google Docs document. If you only need to change languages once, it’s probably best to use the translation tool. Otherwise, you can set your default typing language to one of over 100 different options.

Want to see how two different documents compare to one another? You can use Google Docs to compare documents with ease.

You can also use search functions in Google Docs to track down words, numbers, symbols, and other types of content in a long document. It’s also possible to insert a video into a Google Docs document alongside any text and images you insert.