If you see Chinese characters in Japanese text on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac

If English is selected as your primary language, you might see Chinese characters instead of Japanese characters in documents, menus, messages, or filenames. 

Use the steps below to add Japanese as a preferred language on your device. If Japanese isn't set as a preferred language, you might see Chinese characters instead of Japanese in iOS 8 or later and OS X Mavericks or later.

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Add Japanese as a preferred language:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region.
  2. Tap Other Languages.
  3. Select Japanese.
    Language screen
  4. Tap Done, then tap Keep English.
    Keep English screen

Apps, websites, menus, and other items use the first language in the list that they support. You can drag the languages up or down the list to change the order. Tap Edit, then tap 

Language & Region screen

 

Mac

Add Japanese as a preferred language:

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
  2. Click Language & Region.
  3. Under Preferred languages, click the Add button (+).
  4. Select Japanese.
    Select a preferred language dialog
  5. Click Add.

Apps, websites, menus, and other items use the first language in the list that they support. You can drag the languages up or down the list to change the order.

Language & Region window

Last Modified: