WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion active users. WhatsApp Web allows users to access their WhatsApp account through a web browser on their computer. However, many users have found that when accessing WhatsApp Web, the interface is not in English, even if their phone’s WhatsApp app is in English.
WhatsApp Web interface depends on phone’s language settings
The main reason why WhatsApp Web may not be in English is that the language displayed depends on the language settings configured on the user’s phone. WhatsApp Web simply mirrors the language that is set on the user’s mobile device.
So if your phone’s WhatsApp app is configured to use a language other than English, that language will also be reflected when you access WhatsApp Web on your computer. For example, if your phone’s WhatsApp is set to use Spanish, WhatsApp Web will launch in Spanish as well.
Steps to change language on WhatsApp mobile app
To change the language on WhatsApp Web to English, you first need to change the language setting on your phone’s WhatsApp application:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone
- Go to Settings
- Tap on Language
- Select English as your language
This will configure your phone’s WhatsApp app to use English. The updated language settings should then be reflected on WhatsApp Web the next time you access it.
WhatsApp Web uses phone’s locale settings
In addition to checking the language configured within WhatsApp, WhatsApp Web also looks at the locale/language settings on your phone’s operating system.
So even if you have changed your WhatsApp language to English, if your phone’s system locale is set to another language, this may override the WhatsApp language and cause WhatsApp Web to still display in a different language.
How to change phone’s system language
To ensure your phone’s system language is set to English:
- On Android phones, go to Settings > System > Languages & input > Languages and set your preferred language to English.
- On iPhones, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and set Region to United States and Language to English.
Changing your phone system’s locale to English United States should force WhatsApp Web to be in English.
Connecting phone to WhatsApp Web uses phone’s default language
WhatsApp Web functions by connecting to your phone in order to mirror your chats and messages. The process of linking your phone to initialize WhatsApp Web will use your device’s default language settings.
So if your phone is primarily set to use a language other than English, WhatsApp Web will default to that language when you first connect your phone. You will then need to manually change the language as outlined in the previous sections.
Browser or OS language settings may override WhatsApp Web
In some cases, the browser or operating system language on your computer may take precedence over the language settings from your phone when accessing WhatsApp Web.
For example, if your computer’s browser or OS is configured to use Spanish, WhatsApp Web may launch in Spanish even if your phone is set to English.
How to prioritize WhatsApp Web language
To prevent browser or OS language settings from overriding WhatsApp Web:
- On Windows, change your Display Language to English United States.
- On Mac, go to System Preferences > Language & Region and drag English to top of the list.
- In Chrome/Firefox browser, change language setting to English United States.
This will give preference to English when accessing WhatsApp Web.
Using a VPN or proxy can affect WhatsApp Web language
If you access WhatsApp Web while connected to a VPN or proxy service, the location settings of the VPN/proxy may override your phone and computer’s language and cause WhatsApp Web to display in a different language.
Many VPNs and proxies have servers in various international locations. Connecting through a server in a non-English speaking country can force WhatsApp Web to show that country’s language.
Solutions when using a VPN/proxy
- Connect to a VPN/proxy server located in an English speaking country.
- Change the VPN/proxy language settings to English.
- Temporarily disconnect from the VPN/proxy when accessing WhatsApp Web.
This will prevent the VPN/proxy language from overriding your local language settings.
Internet network or Wi-Fi region settings may impact language
The network you are connected to can also influence the language shown on WhatsApp Web in some situations:
- Public Wi-Fi networks sometimes configure languages based on the country/region.
- Corporate networks may force specific language settings.
- School/university networks set language based on location.
If the network has a predefined locale that is different than your phone or computer settings, it can cause WhatsApp Web to display in that network’s language.
Solutions for network language issues
- Use a personal Wi-Fi network or cellular data instead of public Wi-Fi.
- Try using a VPN to override network language configurations.
- Change the language on the router/access point if possible.
Web browser extensions can affect language
Browser extensions like Google Translate and Grammarly sometimes have options to translate pages or content into other languages.
If such an extension is enabled in your web browser, it could detect WhatsApp Web’s interface in English and automatically translate it to another language.
Fixing browser extension language issues
- Disable any translational or language related extensions.
- Clear extension caches and data.
- Check extension language settings and change to English.
- Try using WhatsApp Web in incognito/private browsing mode.
This will prevent extensions from processing and altering WhatsApp Web’s interface language.
WhatsApp Web language is not syncing properly
In some instances, making language changes on your phone or computer may not properly sync to WhatsApp Web due to technical issues:
- Browser cache may need to be cleared after changing languages.
- Closing and reopening WhatsApp app may be required.
- It can take some time for new language settings to propagate.
- Logging out and back into WhatsApp Web may help.
- Restarting your phone or computer can refresh language settings.
If you have already changed languages but WhatsApp Web still does not display English, trying the troubleshooting steps above may help force a refresh of the language settings.
WhatsApp Web language settings are not accessible
Unlike the mobile app, WhatsApp Web does not have the ability to directly change the interface language within the app. The language can only be changed indirectly by modifying related settings on your phone or computer.
This lack of direct access to language settings within WhatsApp Web itself can make troubleshooting language issues more difficult compared to the mobile app.
Workarounds for changing WhatsApp Web language
- Change language on phone WhatsApp first, before accessing WhatsApp Web.
- Alter system language on computer before launching WhatsApp Web.
- Use browser language settings to set language preferences.
While not ideal, these indirect methods are necessary when the WhatsApp Web interface itself does not have changeable language options.
WhatsApp Web uses browser language if phone is offline
If your phone is offline or has no internet connection, WhatsApp Web is unable to sync language settings from your phone when loading.
In this situation, it will default to using the language configured in your web browser instead.
So if your browser is set to a language other than English, WhatsApp Web will show in that language if unable to fetch your phone’s language settings.
Avoiding offline language issues
- Ensure phone has internet connection when accessing WhatsApp Web.
- Set primary browser language to English.
- Change WhatsApp Web language each time if launching without phone connectivity.
By preventing offline usage or setting backup English language options, you can avoid this issue of WhatsApp Web defaulting to an undesired language.
WhatsApp Web language gets mixed on multi-user devices
On shared computers or other multi-user devices, the various language preferences of different users can sometimes clash and cause unintended language settings on WhatsApp Web.
For example, if User A accesses WhatsApp Web in Spanish, and later User B accesses WhatsApp Web in English on same computer, User A may still see Spanish on next use.
Avoiding language mix-ups on shared devices
- Use separate user accounts on shared computers to isolate WhatsApp Web sessions.
- Clear browser caches/data after each WhatsApp Web use.
- Launch private/incognito browser windows for WhatsApp Web.
Taking these steps can prevent the language settings from one user inadvertently carrying over to other users on shared computers.
Conclusion
In summary, WhatsApp Web displaying in an unexpected language is usually caused by language configurations on your phone, computer, network, browser, or extensions overriding your preferred language of English.
By methodically checking each element and setting the appropriate languages to English, you can isolate the source of the incorrect language setting and rectify the issue, allowing WhatsApp Web to display in your desired language of English.