When you install WordPress, the language will be set to English (US) by default.

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If you install WordPress through a software, like Softaculous, you can choose the language before the installation, but in case you forgot or something, I’m going to show you how to easily change it from inside your Dashboard.

This is possible if you have WordPress v4.0 or above, which you should.

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This will change the default language of your WordPress Dashboard, and, if your theme is using some of WordPress’ default files and functions (e.g. comments, sidebar, etc.), it will also translate those, as you’ll see below.

Click here if you want to jump straight to the video tutorial.

Changing the language in WordPress

In order to do this, you’ll have to:

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1. Log into WordPress.

2. Go to Settings -> General.

WordPress Settings General

3. Once there, scroll down to Site Language, click on the drop-down menu, select your language, and press Save Changes.

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change language in wordpress

I’m going to choose French for our example.

WordPress in French language

As you can see, my Dashboard is in French now. Now let’s see what happened on the Twenty Fifteen theme.

Twenty Fifteen theme in French

Since the theme is using some of WordPress’ default files and functions, the sidebar/widgets and comments also got translated!

That’s it! Now you know the quick and simple way to change the language in WordPress!

Video tutorial (HD)

That’s a wrap

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