Steam lets you change the desktop client language from Steam Settings on Windows, Linux, SteamOS, or Preferences on macOS. Third-party games can use their own language setting, so changing the client does not guarantee that every game changes too.
Open the desktop Steam client and sign in to the account you use for the client and installed games.
2
Open Steam settings
Select Steam in the top menu. Choose Settings on Windows, Linux, or SteamOS, or Preferences on macOS.
3
Open Interface
Select the Interface section so you change the Steam client language rather than a game’s individual language setting.
4
Choose a client language
Select the language you want from the language menu. Choose only a language you can read well enough to return to this setting if needed.
5
Confirm and restart Steam
Confirm the selection, then choose Restart Steam when Steam offers the restart. Let the client close and reopen before checking the result.
6
Check the client result
After Steam restarts, confirm that the menu and store interface use the selected language.
7
Set a game language separately when needed
For a supported game, open Library, right-click the game, choose Properties, then Language and select an available language. Steam may download language files before the game can use it.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
If a third-party game remains in its previous language, check that game’s Properties and store page. Steam says third-party titles can use an independent language setting or support only certain languages.
If the new language is difficult to navigate, return to Steam Settings or Preferences, Interface, and select a familiar language before changing any game files or launch options.
ⓘ Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows, macOS, Linux, SteamOS.
Valve documents the desktop client path on Windows, macOS, Linux, and SteamOS, plus the separate per-game language control and its third-party limitation.
