How to Change the Language in Civilization VI from Russian to English
For a player who has launched Sid Meier’s Civilization VI only to find the menus, unit commands, and Civilopedia entries displayed in Russian, the experience can be disorienting. Whether the language was accidentally changed, the game defaulted to the system’s language, or a non-English version was installed, the solution is a straightforward process of navigating visual patterns and system settings. Changing the language from Russian to English requires either modifying the in-game options menu—using icon recognition rather than text—or adjusting the launch properties of the game through a platform like Steam. With a calm approach and attention to common menu layouts, any player can restore English text and return to building an empire without linguistic barriers.
The most direct method is to change the language inside the game itself. Upon launching Civilization VI in Russian, the main menu will display “ИГРА” (Game), “ЗАГРУЗКА” (Load), “ОПЦИИ” (Options), and “ВЫХОД” (Exit). To proceed, the player should select “ОПЦИИ” (Options), typically the third or fourth item from the bottom. Once inside the options menu, look for a tab or icon that resembles a globe, a speech bubble, or the letters “Язык” (Language). In most versions of the game, this is located on the left-hand side of the options window, often represented by a small flag or an “A” symbol. Clicking this will reveal a dropdown menu displaying the current language—likely “Русский” (Russian). Scrolling through this list, locate “English” (often written in Latin script, making it easy to spot among Cyrillic entries). Select “English,” then confirm by clicking the button at the bottom of the screen. In Russian, this button may read “Применить” (Apply) or “Сохранить” (Save). The interface will then switch to English, and the change will persist across future game sessions.
If the in-game menus are too difficult to navigate due to extensive Cyrillic text, or if the language option is locked during an active match, an alternative and often simpler solution exists through the game launcher. For the vast majority of PC players using Steam, changing the language does not require opening the game at all. In the Steam library, locate Civilization VI, right-click on the game title, and select “Свойства” (Properties) from the context menu—this word may appear in Russian depending on the Steam client’s language, but the gear icon next to the game name is a reliable visual cue. In the Properties window, navigate to the “Язык” (Language) tab, identifiable by a speech-bubble icon. Here, a dropdown menu lists all available languages. Select “English” from the list. Steam will then automatically download any necessary language files (typically a small update of a few megabytes) and set the game to launch in English. This method is highly recommended for users who are uncomfortable navigating the Russian in-game menus.
For players on other platforms, such as the Epic Games Store or a console like the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation, the principle remains similar but requires accessing system-level or platform-specific language settings. On the Epic Games Store, click the profile icon, select “Settings,” scroll to the Civilization VI entry, and change the language from Russian to English. On consoles, the game typically adopts the console’s system language; thus, setting the console’s primary language to English will automatically switch Civilization VI to English upon relaunch. How to Change the Language in Civilization VI
In conclusion, while seeing Civilization VI in Russian can be initially daunting, the process of switching back to English is a matter of methodical menu navigation or a simple adjustment in the game launcher. By recognizing key menu positions—such as the “Options” button and the globe icon for language—or by using Steam’s Properties menu, any player can quickly reverse the change. Once English is restored, the full depth of Civilization VI—from technology trees to diplomatic messages—becomes legible again, allowing the player to focus on guiding their civilization to victory without the barrier of an unfamiliar language.
To change the language in Civilization 6 from Russian to English, follow these steps:
Alternatively, you can also try changing the language settings on your platform:
If you're still having trouble, you can try checking the game's configuration file or reinstalling the game with the desired language settings. Open Civilization 6 and go to the main menu
If none of the above works, you can try checking the Civilization 6 support pages or forums for more information.
Change the line to:
Language = "en_US"
If the line has a semicolon ; at the beginning, remove it. A semicolon means the line is commented out (disabled). Correct examples:
Language = "en_US"Language = "English"| Platform | Fastest Method |
|----------|----------------|
| Steam | Right-click game → Properties → Language → English |
| Epic Games | Library → Options → Select English |
| In-game | Main menu → Gear icon → Last tab → Language dropdown |
| Manual | Edit AppOptions.txt → change ru_RU to en_US | Alternatively, you can also try changing the language
Once completed, all menus, tooltips, Civilopedia entries, and UI text will appear in English.
End of paper.
Launch the game again. It should now be in English.
You will now see a row of tabs at the top of the window. The default tab is usually “Графика” (Graphics). Click the tab all the way to the right: it should say "ЯЗЫК" (Language).