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How do I change the browser language in Firefox 4?

  • 9 replies
  • 1353 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by mandingus

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I upgraded to the beta version of Firefox 4.0, and my browser language automatically changed from English to German. How do I switch it back?

It seems that the option to change the browser language under Options > Advanced > went away with Firefox 4.0.; at least I don't see it anymore.

Firefox allows you to select your prefered language to view a website under Options > Content, but this has no effect on the browser language.

Please advise.

I upgraded to the beta version of Firefox 4.0, and my browser language automatically changed from English to German. How do I switch it back? It seems that the option to change the browser language under ''Options'' > ''Advanced'' > went away with Firefox 4.0.; at least I don't see it anymore. Firefox allows you to select your prefered language to view a website under ''Options'' > ''Content'', but this has no effect on the browser language. Please advise.

All Replies (9)

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You can find all Firefox version here:

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Thanks for your help and for pointing me to a solution. However, this means a reinstallation of the browser in a different language. Isn't there a way to change the language setting after Firefox 4.0 has been installed?

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You can install en-US language pack:

Set the pref "general.useragent.locale" to the name of the preferred language XPI file (e.g. "en-US" or "en-GB") on the about:config page.
You can open the about:config page via the location bar, like you open a web site. Use the Filter bar at the top of that page to quickly locate the pref.

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Very helpful. Thanks!

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You're welcome

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I had the same problem! for me, the best solution is the following:

1) go to http://kb.mozillazine.org/Language_packs here you find an actual link to the language packs in any language, for firefox 4. They are in fact files called "xpi" (add-ons for firefox), to be found at http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/latest/win32/xpi/ (but this could change at a later point in time...).

2) click on the laguage pack you like (in the file list as above described), it will be installed immediately by firefox.

3) type about:config in your browser address bar, and go to "general.useragent.locale" (you can type this in the "filter" bar that you see there). Edit the value to the language shortcode you just downloaded, if this isn't done yet (eg: "en-GB" for british english, instead of "de-DE" for german!)


  • Take care when editing the about:config file! This could damage your firefox installation.
  • This solution takes just five minutes instead of 20-60 to download and reinstall Firefox in another language from scratch. Also, in case you have already other settings done, this could extend to several hours...

Modified by horia_m

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I use English and Spanish 50% - 50% Do I have to go through all that every 5 minutes??

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You only need language packs if you need to change the language of the user interface.

If it is about spell checking then all you need to do is to install the dictionaries that you need.

You can look here for dictionaries:

See also:

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I am using firefox 5 and the incredible amount of info i read on the subject was actually utterly useless and pointless.

I solved my firefox language woes by SIMPLY COPYING OVER THE OMNI.JAR file in the firefox directory.

- Installed the "other language" version in a different pc. - copied the "different version" omni.jar file over my version of firefox. - firefox now runs in english in my pc.