How to Change LinkedIn Language

Ever find your LinkedIn feed showing up in a language you don’t speak or wondered how to connect with international clients in their native tongue? You're in the right place. This guide is a complete walkthrough for changing your LinkedIn display language and creating a secondary profile in another language, giving you full control over how you see the platform and how the world sees you.

Why Your LinkedIn Language Setting Matters

Adjusting your language on LinkedIn isn't just a simple preference tweak, it's a strategic move. For professionals and brands aiming for international reach, presenting your profile in multiple languages can be a game-changer. It signals cultural awareness and an eagerness to connect on a deeper level. It also makes your profile more discoverable to recruiters and partners searching in languages other than your primary one. On a more practical level, sometimes the platform just gets stuck in the wrong language due to a browser setting or a simple glitch. Knowing how to quickly fix it can save you a lot of frustration.

Display Language vs. Profile Language: What's the Difference?

Before we jump into the steps, it's important to understand the two main language settings on LinkedIn:

• Display Language: This is the language of the LinkedIn interface itself - the menus, buttons, and navigation text you see. Changing it makes the platform easier for you to use.
• Profile Language: This allows you to create versions of your personal or business profile in different languages. This is public-facing and helps others see your information in their preferred language.

We’ll cover how to manage both, starting with the simplest change: the display language.

How to Change Your LinkedIn Display Language (Desktop)

If your LinkedIn is suddenly in Spanish or you'd simply prefer to navigate it in your native language, changing the display setting is straightforward. The desktop website gives you direct control over this. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown.

Step 1: Access Your "Me" Menu

Log in to LinkedIn and look for your profile picture in the top navigation bar. It's usually labeled "Me." Click on it to open a dropdown menu.

Step 2: Select "Language"

In the dropdown, you’ll see an option simply labeled "Language." Click on it. Fun fact: even if your profile is currently shown in a language you don’t recognize, the "Language" link is often located in the same spot, under "Settings &, Privacy."

Step 3: Choose Your Preferred Language

A new page will load, displaying a list of all the languages LinkedIn supports. Find your desired language in the list and click on it. LinkedIn will immediately refresh the page, and all the interface text will now appear in your selected language.

That's it! This changes the navigation and menu text. Keep in mind, this does not translate content posted by other people. Your news feed, with posts and articles from your network, will still appear in whatever language people originally wrote them in.

How to Change Your LinkedIn Language on Mobile (iOS &, Android)

Here’s where things get a little different. Unlike the desktop version, you cannot change the display language directly within the LinkedIn mobile app. The app automatically adopts the primary language of your phone or tablet's operating system. So, to change the app's language, you need to change your device’s language setting.

Heads-up: This will change the language for your entire phone, including menus, other apps, and your keyboard. If you’re comfortable with that, here's how to do it.

For iOS (iPhone/iPad):

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap General.
3. Select Language &, Region.
4. Tap on your current language ("iPhone Language").
5. From the list, select the language you want to use. Your device will ask you to confirm your choice.

Once you confirm, your iPhone will take a moment to apply the change. When it's done, open the LinkedIn app, and it will now be displayed in that new language.

For Android:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and tap on System (or "General Management" on some Samsung devices).
3. Tap Languages &, input, then tap Languages.
4. Tap Add a language and select your desired language from the list.
5. To make it your primary language, drag it to the top of the list.

Once you’ve set the new language, the LinkedIn app - along with the rest of your phone - will switch over.

Going Global: How to Create a Profile in Another Language

This is where social media marketing gets powerful. Creating a secondary language profile is one of LinkedIn’s best features for attracting a global audience. When someone’s display language matches one of your secondary profiles, LinkedIn automatically shows them that version. For instance, if your primary profile is in English and you have a secondary profile in French, a user browsing LinkedIn in French will see your French profile by default.

This is excellent for anyone in international sales, recruitment, marketing, or who is looking for work in another country. It shows you’ve made an extra effort to connect and removes communication barriers.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a New Profile Language

Step 1: Go to Your Profile Page

Navigate to your main LinkedIn profile page by clicking the "Me" icon and selecting "View Profile."

Step 2: Find the Language Option

On the right-hand side of your profile, underneath your contact information and public URL, you'll see a button labeled "Add profile in another language." Click it.

Step 3: Select the Language and Translate Your Headline

A popup window will appear. First, choose the language for your new profile from the dropdown list. Next, you’ll need to translate your core profile field - your Professional Headline. LinkedIn also asks you to translate your first and last name if there are common variations in that language (though you can usually leave this the same).

When you're ready, click "Create profile."

Step 4: Translate the Rest of Your Profile

LinkedIn will now show you your profile with blank sections for your About summary and your various Experience entries. It might copy over dates and company names, but the descriptions will be empty. Go through and manually translate your entire profile into the new language. Click "Save" on each section as you complete it.

A Quick Tip on Translation

While AI tools like Google Translate are useful for grasping the basics, they can produce awkward or unprofessional phrasing. For the best impression, consider these options:

• Ask a native speaker: If you have a friend or colleague fluent in the language, ask them to review your translations.
• Hire a freelancer: For a few dollars on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, you can get a professional-quality translation of your profile. This is often a worthwhile investment.
• Keep it professional: Avoid overly casual language or idioms that don't translate well. Keep your tone consistent with your primary profile.

Managing Your Multi-Language Profiles

Once you’ve created a secondary profile, you can easily switch between them, make edits, or delete them if needed.

Switching and Editing

On your profile page, you'll now see a language button in the upper right. It will display the current language you're viewing (e.g., "English"). Click it to see a list of your other profiles. Select any language to view and edit that version of your profile.

Deleting a Secondary Profile

If you no longer need a language profile, click the "X" next to it in the language dropdown menu on your profile page. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm, and once you approve, that language version will be permanently removed. Don't worry, your primary profile will not be affected.

Taking a few moments to tailor your LinkedIn presence for a global audience can open up doors you never knew were there. By making yourself accessible and understood across cultures, you’re well on your way to building a stronger, more inclusive professional brand on the world's largest networking platform.

Final Thoughts

Changing your LinkedIn language, whether for personal navigation or creating a public-facing profile for a global audience, is a simple skill that unlocks big opportunities. By following these steps, you can tailor your LinkedIn experience precisely to your needs and make meaningful connections across borders and languages.

Juggling different languages and campaigns across multiple social platforms can quickly become a full-time job. When we built Postbase, we were focused on that exact challenge - how to deliver targeted, consistent content across all your channels without the chaos. With a visual calendar and tools that let you customize posts for each platform, you can maintain that polished global brand presence on LinkedIn, and everywhere else, in a fraction of the time.