How to Change Default Language & Timezone on Rooted Android Devices

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Warning: Modifying system files can lead to data loss or a bricked device. Proceed at your own risk. Always back up critical files.

Prerequisites

  1. Root access on your device.
  2. A root-enabled file explorer (e.g., Solid Explorer, ES File Explorer, Mt Manager, Root explorer, or Mixplorer).

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Backup the Original build.prop File

  • Open your root file explorer.
  • Navigate to: /system/build.prop.
  • Copy this file to your internal storage/SD card as a backup.

2. Edit the build.prop File

  1. Copy the original build.prop from /system/ to a writable location (e.g., /Downloads/).

  2. Open the copied file in a text editor (e.g., QuickEdit).

    • To Change Default Language:
      Locate the line:

      ro.product.locale=[current-locale]

      Replace it with your desired language code (e.g., for English-US):

      ro.product.locale=en-US

      Other examples: he-IL (Hebrew-Israel), fr-FR (French-France).

    • To Change Default Timezone:
      Locate the line:

      persist.sys.timezone=[current-timezone]

      Replace it with your desired timezone (e.g., New York, USA):

      persist.sys.timezone=America/New_York

      Other examples: Asia/Jerusalem, Europe/London.

  3. Save the modified file.

3. Replace the Original build.prop

  1. Remount the /system partition as writable (most root explorers do this automatically).
  2. Copy your edited build.prop back to /system/, overwriting the original.
  3. Set file permissions to rw-r--r-- (644):
    • Long-press the file → Properties → Set permissions.

4. Reboot Your Device

  • Restart your device for changes to take effect.

Troubleshooting

  • Bootloop? Restore your backup via TWRP/Custom Recovery or use ADB.
  • Permission Errors? Ensure /system is mounted as writable and permissions are set correctly.

Notes

  • Not all devices use ro.product.locale; some may use ro.product.locale.language and ro.product.locale.region. Adjust accordingly.
  • For non-root methods, use apps like Language Settings or Timezone Changer (requires ADB).

Enjoy your new system language and timezone! :sparkles:

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