What Languages Are Available in Minecraft? Java vs. Bedrock

Minecraft supports many display languages, including English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian. The exact choices depend on whether you play Java Edition or Bedrock Edition, and Bedrock options may also vary by platform and game build. Check the language menu for the version you plan to use instead of relying on older totals such as “119 for Java and 19 for Bedrock.”

The key distinction is that the language setting translates Minecraft’s built-in interface. It does not translate every message or sign created by other players.

Which languages are available?

Java Edition

Java has the broader language selector, with widely used translations and regional variants. Examples include English (United States and United Kingdom), Spanish (Spain and Mexico), French (France and Canada), and Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal), along with German, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The selector also includes less widely spoken languages. Mojang’s official notes show that this catalog changes over time: Java 1.21.1 added Tzotzil and Belarusian in Latin script, and Java 1.21.5 added Kyrgyz.

In Java 1.21.11, Mojang added a search box to the language screen, which makes a long list easier to browse. The labels shown in your installed version are the best guide to what that release supports.

Bedrock Edition

Bedrock has a smaller built-in selection, and its language catalog does not match Java option for option. As a reference for localization coverage, Microsoft’s current Bedrock creator documentation lists 29 locale codes for language files used by skin packs. The locale names include:

• English (United States and United Kingdom)
• Spanish (Spain and Mexico), French (France and Canada), and Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal)
• Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
• German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Dutch
• Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Greek, Finnish, Hungarian, Indonesian, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Slovak, Swedish, Turkish, and Ukrainian

This creator list describes locales supported in Bedrock language files; it is not a promise that every phone, console, or PC build exposes every locale as a player-facing menu choice. The language picker on your device is definitive. If a specific language is essential, confirm it in the exact edition and platform before buying or choosing a device.

Why do online lists give different totals?

Language counts depend on what a source counts: full game-interface translations, regional versions, experimental snapshots, creator resource-pack locales, or community-made packs. They also age when updates add languages. For example, the Java 1.21.1 and 1.21.5 release notes record new language support, while the 1.21.11 notes describe the newer search field. Those are version-specific changes, not a single permanent total shared by both editions.

For that reason, treat an old Java-versus-Bedrock number as historical, not as a buying guarantee.

How to check or change the game language

Java Edition

1. Open Minecraft and go to Options from the title screen (or open Options from the pause menu).
2. Select Language.
3. Scroll the list or use the search field, then choose the language you want.
4. Select Done to return to the game options.

Bedrock Edition

1. Open Minecraft’s main menu and choose Settings.
2. Open Language, browse the available choices, and select one.
3. Return to the game and check the menus. The exact location or available choices can differ slightly between platform builds.

What changes when you switch languages?

The setting changes built-in interface text such as menu labels, inventory names, tooltips, and system messages when translations are available. It does not rewrite text that someone placed or typed into a world. Signs, books, player chat, server instructions, and custom content may remain in the language in which their author wrote them.

Your language choice also does not translate another player’s messages or automatically find a server where everyone uses the same language. For multiplayer, check the server’s description and community before joining.

Before you choose an edition

Confirm the platform and edition first, then check its language menu for the exact language and regional variant you need. If you already own the game, use the in-game selector rather than a third-party language-count chart. If you are choosing between Java and Bedrock, remember that Java generally offers more options, while Bedrock is the cross-platform edition; neither setting guarantees that player-written world text will be translated.

Official references

• Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.1 release notes, including Tzotzil and Belarusian (Latin) language support.
• Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.5 release notes, including Kyrgyz language support.
• Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.11 release notes, which document the language search box.
• Microsoft Bedrock creator documentation for skin-pack language locale codes.