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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesDuolingo uses two different language settings: the language you are learning and the language used for the app’s buttons, menus, and instructions. Changing one does not always change the other, so it helps to know whether you want to add a new course, switch between existing courses, or adjust the app interface.
You can change or add a learning language from both the mobile app and the web version, and your existing course progress is usually saved when you switch. If a language does not appear, it may depend on your base language, device settings, app version, or whether that course is available on your platform.
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How Duolingo Handles Course Language vs. App Language
Duolingo uses two different language settings that are easy to mix up: the course language and the app interface language. The course language is the language you are learning, such as Spanish, French, Japanese, or German. The app interface language is the language used for menus, buttons, settings, notifications, and instructions inside Duolingo.
For example, if you choose Spanish for English speakers, your lessons teach Spanish and the s, prompts, and translations are based on English. In that case, English is the base language for the course, while Spanish is the target language. If you later choose French for Spanish speakers, the course teaches French using Spanish as the base language, which can also change parts of the Duolingo experience to Spanish while you are using that course.
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This means changing what you are learning does not always change the entire app interface in the same way. On Duolingo, many course-related screens follow the base language of the active course. If your active course is designed for English speakers, lesson prompts and course navigation usually appear in English. If your active course is designed for speakers of another language, you may see lesson text, course names, and some surrounding content in that base language.
| Setting | What it controls | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Learning language | The language you study in lessons | Learning Italian |
| Base language | The language Duolingo uses to teach the course | Italian for English speakers |
| Interface language | Menus, settings, buttons, and some app text | Home, Profile, Settings, Continue |
Duolingo courses are offered in specific language pairs, not just individual languages. So “German” is not a single universal course; there may be a German course for English speakers, a German course for Spanish speakers, or other combinations depending on availability. This is also a language may appear in one account setup or base language but not another. If you cannot find the course you want, you may need to change the “I speak” language or add a course from a different base language.
Your account can contain mulle courses at the same time, and you can switch between them without deleting the others. Switching from Spanish to Japanese, for instance, changes the active course you see on the home screen, but your Spanish progress remains saved. The main thing to watch is the base language attached to each course, because selecting a course for speakers of another language can make Duolingo feel as if the app language changed, even though you only switched learning paths.
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How to Change or Add a Learning Language on Mobile
On the Duolingo mobile app, changing your learning language usually means adding a new course or switching to another course already connected to your account. This is different from changing the app’s display language: if you add “Spanish for English speakers,” you are changing what you study, not necessarily the language used in menus, buttons, or settings. The steps are similar on iPhone, iPad, and Android, though icon placement can vary slightly by app version.
How to add a new language course
- Open the Duolingo app and make sure you are signed in to the correct account.
- Tap the flag icon near the top of the screen. This shows your current course.
- Select Add course, + Course, or a similar option.
- Browse the available languages and tap the language you want to learn.
- If Duolingo asks what language you speak, choose the base language for the course, such as English, Spanish, French, or another available option.
- Choose whether to start from the beginning or take a placement test, if offered.
After you add the course, Duolingo takes you to its learning path. If you selected a language you have studied before on the same account, the app may restore your existing course progress instead of starting over. If the course is new to your account, you will begin at the first available unit unless a placement test lets you skip ahead.
How to switch between languages you already added
To move between courses, tap the flag icon at the top of the app and choose another flag from your course list. For example, if you are studying Spanish and Japanese, tapping the flag lets you jump from one course to the other without deleting either one. Your streak, hearts, gems, and account settings remain tied to your Duolingo account, while lesson progress is tracked separately for each course.
If you do not see the flag icon, open the Home tab first, then look at the top-left or top area of the screen. On some versions, you may need to tap your profile picture or the current course name to find the course switcher. Updating the app from the App Store or Google Play can also restore missing navigation options if your interface looks different from current Duolingo instructions.
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- Check the base language: Some courses are only available from certain interface or source languages. For instance, a course may exist for Spanish speakers but not for English speakers.
- Search under another “I speak” language: When adding a course, change the language you speak to see a different catalog.
- Try the web version: Some course-selection screens are easier to navigate at duolingo.com, especially when looking for courses from non-English base languages.
- Update the app: An outdated app can show an incomplete course list or fail to load available options.
Adding mulle learning languages on mobile is safe: it does not erase your existing course. The main thing to watch is the course pair, such as “French for English speakers” versus “French for Spanish speakers,” because those are treated as separate courses with separate progress.
How to Change or Add a Learning Language on Desktop
On the desktop version of Duolingo, changing or adding a learning language is done from the course selector in your account. This is different from changing the website display language: you are choosing a new course, such as Spanish for English speakers, French for English speakers, or English for Spanish speakers. Each course is tied to a base language, so the available options may change depending on what language you are learning from.
To add a new course on Duolingo web, go to duolingo.com and sign in to your account. In the top navigation bar, click the flag icon next to your current course. This opens a menu showing your active courses. Select Add a new course or a similar option, then choose the language you want to learn. If Duolingo asks what language you already know, select the appropriate base language, because this controls which courses appear. After choosing a course, Duolingo may place you at the beginning or offer a placement test if one is available.
- Open duolingo.com in a desktop browser and log in.
- Click the flag icon in the top bar.
- Choose Add a new course.
- Select the language you want to learn and confirm your base language if prompted.
- Start from the first unit or take the placement option if Duolingo offers one.
If you already have mulle courses, switching between them is even faster. Click the flag icon and choose another course from the list. Duolingo will load that course’s path, daily quests, XP activities, and lessons. Your other courses remain attached to your account, so switching from German to Japanese, for example, does not delete your German progress. You can return to any active course from the same flag menu.
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When a course does not appear on desktop
If the language you want is missing, it usually means Duolingo does not offer that course for your current base language. For example, a course may be available for English speakers but not for speakers of another language. Try changing the “I speak” or base-language option on the course selection screen, then search again. You can also compare availability on the mobile app, since newly released or updated course menus may not look identical across platforms. If the option still does not appear, clear your browser cache, disable extensions that affect page display, or try another browser before assuming the course is unavailable.
How to Change the Duolingo Interface Language
The Duolingo interface language is the language used for menus, buttons, instructions, notifications, and some account screens. It is separate from the language you are learning. For example, you can learn Spanish from English while the Duolingo app itself appears in English, or you can use a Spanish interface while taking an English course for Spanish speakers.
In many cases, Duolingo chooses the interface language automatically based on your device, browser, or selected course base language. If you add a course such as “French for English speakers,” the app will usually keep English as the main interface language. If you add “English for Spanish speakers,” parts of Duolingo may switch to Spanish because the course is designed for Spanish-speaking learners.
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Change the interface language on mobile
On iPhone, iPad, and Android, the most reliable way to change Duolingo’s interface language is to change the app language through your device settings, when that option is available. The exact labels vary slightly by device and operating system version.
- Close the Duolingo app.
- Open your phone or tablet’s Settings.
- Find Duolingo in the app list, or open your system’s Language or Apps settings.
- Look for an App Language, Preferred Language, or similar option.
- Select the language you want Duolingo to use.
- Reopen Duolingo and check whether the menus and account screens have changed.
If you do not see a per-app language setting, change your device’s main language instead. On iOS, this is usually under Settings > General > Language & Region. On Android, it is usually under Settings > System > Languages, though Samsung, Pixel, and other Android devices may organize the menu differently. After changing the device language, fully restart Duolingo.
Change the interface language on desktop
On the web version, Duolingo usually follows your browser language, account context, and course language. To influence the display language, start by changing your browser’s preferred language, then reload Duolingo.
- In Chrome, open Settings > Languages and move your preferred language to the top.
- In Edge, open Settings > Languages and set your preferred display or content language.
- In Firefox, open Settings > General > Language and choose the language used to display pages.
- In Safari, change the language in your Mac’s System Settings > General > Language & Region.
After updating your browser or system language, sign out of Duolingo, close the browser tab, open Duolingo again, and sign back in. If the interface still appears in the old language, clear the browser cache for Duolingo or try a private window to check whether cached settings are causing the issue.
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Using a course to change the base language
Duolingo does not always provide a single universal “interface language” switch inside account settings. Instead, the base language of your active course can affect the language used across lessons and some screens. To change that context, add or switch to a course made for speakers of the language you want to use. For example, choosing an English course for Spanish speakers may make lesson instructions and course-related text appear in Spanish.
If only part of the interface changes, that is normal. Some navigation labels may follow your device or browser language, while course instructions follow the course’s base language. To get the most consistent result, set your device or browser language and choose a course with the same base language where possible.
What Happens to Your Progress When You Switch Languages
Switching languages on Duolingo does not usually erase your progress. Each course has its own separate progress record, so your Spanish course, French course, Japanese course, or any other course you start is tracked independently. If you move from learning Spanish to learning German, your Spanish path, XP, completed units, streak activity, and achievements remain tied to your account. You can return to that course later and continue from where you left off.
Adding a new learning language creates a separate course rather than replacing the one you already use. For example, if you are learning French from English and then add Italian from English, both courses stay available in your course list. When you switch between them, Duolingo changes the active course shown on the Home tab, but it does not reset the inactive course. This is useful if you want to study mulle languages at the same time or pause one language while focusing on another.
What stays the same
- Your account: You keep the same profile, username, subscription status, friends, leagues, and general account settings.
- Your streak: Your streak is account-wide, so completing a lesson in any active course can keep it going.
- Your XP: XP remains on your account, although daily and course-specific activity may appear differently depending on where you view it.
- Completed lessons: Finished units and levels remain saved for the course where you earned them.
- Course access: Courses you added earlier normally remain available from the language or course switcher.
What changes when you switch
The main thing that changes is the course content displayed on your learning path. Duolingo will show the lessons, units, exercises, stories, and practice options for the newly selected course. If the course uses a different base language, the menus, lesson prompts, and s may also appear in that base language. For instance, switching from “Spanish for English speakers” to “Spanish for French speakers” is not just a display change; it is a different course with separate progress.
Placement can also vary. If you start a new course, Duolingo may begin you at the first unit or offer a placement test so you can skip ahead. Passing a placement test can unlock later material, but it does not transfer completed lessons from another course. Progress is linked to the exact course pair, such as “German from English” versus “German from Spanish.”
| Action | Effect on Progress |
|---|---|
| Switch to another course already on your account | Your previous course progress is saved and can be resumed later. |
| Add a brand-new language course | A new progress path starts for that course. |
| Change the interface or base language | The app language may change, but course progress remains separate by course. |
| Remove a course from settings | That course progress may be deleted from your account and may not be recoverable. |
Be careful with removing a course rather than simply switching away from it. Switching is temporary and safe; removing is a stronger action that can clear that course’s saved path from your profile. If you only want to study a different language for a while, use the course switcher instead of deleting the old course.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting Missing Languages or Display Issues
If you cannot find a language course in Duolingo, the most common cause is that you are browsing courses from the wrong base language. Duolingo’s course catalog depends on the language you already speak, such as “Spanish for English speakers” or “English for Spanish speakers.” A course may exist on Duolingo, but not from your current interface or base language. For example, if your account is set to learn from English, you may see a different list than someone learning from French, Spanish, or Portuguese.
To check this, open the course picker and look for wording such as “I speak…”, “Courses for English speakers”, or a flag/language selector near the top of the course list. Change the base language to the one you want to learn from, then review the available courses again. On desktop, this is often easier to see from the language selection page. On mobile, you may need to tap Add course or the flag icon before the full list appears.
Common fixes when a language is missing
- Update the Duolingo app: Older app versions may not show the newest course list or may have display bugs.
- Check Duolingo on the web: Visit Duolingo in a browser and compare the available courses with the mobile app.
- Change the “I speak” language: Some courses are only available from specific base languages.
- Log out and back in: This can refresh your account settings and course list.
- Clear cache or reinstall the app: On Android, clearing the app cache can help. On iPhone, reinstalling the app may resolve stuck display settings.
- Check your region or device settings: Rarely, app store region, device language, or keyboard settings can affect what is displayed.
If the Duolingo interface appears in a language you do not understand, try using the website instead of the app so you can navigate more easily with browser translation if needed. Open your profile or settings, look for the interface language option, and switch it back to your preferred language. If the app menus are unreadable, another option is to add a course that teaches from your preferred language; this may prompt Duolingo to adjust parts of the interface around that base language.
Display problems can also happen when Duolingo syncs slowly between devices. If you changed a language on your phone but still see the old course or interface on desktop, refresh the page, close and reopen the app, and make sure you are signed into the same account on both devices. If lessons, crowns, units, XP, or streak information look wrong after switching courses, check the flag icon or course menu first; you may simply be viewing a different course. Your progress is stored separately for each course, so returning to the previous course should bring back its path and completed lessons.
When none of these steps work, the course may not currently be offered for your chosen base language, or Duolingo may be testing a different layout for your account. In that case, use the closest available base language if you can, check again from desktop, or contact Duolingo support with your account email, device type, app version, screenshots, and the exact language pair you expected to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my Duolingo progress if I switch to another language course?
No, switching courses does not delete your progress in other courses. Your XP, streak, crowns or path progress, and completed lessons remain tied to each course. You can switch back to a previous course from the language/course selector and continue where you left off.
How do I add a new language on Duolingo without replacing my current one?
On mobile, tap the flag icon, choose “Add a course,” and select the language you want to learn. On desktop, click the flag or language menu near the top of the page and choose a new course. Duolingo adds the new course alongside your existing ones, so you can move between them whenever you want.
Why can’t I find the language I want to learn on Duolingo?
Some courses are only available from certain starting languages, such as English, Spanish, or French. If the language is missing, change the “I speak” or base language and check the course list again. You may also need to use the website instead of the app, update the app, or confirm that Duolingo currently offers that course.
Can I change the Duolingo app interface language separately from the course I’m learning?
In many cases, Duolingo’s interface language follows the base language of your active course, not a separate app-wide setting. For example, if you choose a course for Spanish speakers, menus and instructions may appear in Spanish. To change the interface language, switch to a course that uses your preferred base language or adjust your device/browser language where supported.
Why did Duolingo’s menus change language after I added a new course?
This usually happens because you selected a course taught from a different base language. For example, adding “English for Spanish speakers” can make parts of Duolingo appear in Spanish. Switch back to a course taught from your preferred language, or add the same target language from a different base language if it is available.
Bottom Line
Changing the language on Duolingo depends on what you want to change: your course language or the app interface. You can add or switch learning languages from the course menu on mobile or web, while interface language options may depend on your device settings, Duolingo settings, and which base language your course uses.
Your progress usually stays saved for each course, so switching languages does not erase what you have already completed. If a language is missing, check whether it is offered from your current base language, try the web version, update the app, or add the course from a different “I speak” language.
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