Android 13 could gain Panlingual feature for per-app language settings

Android has pretty solid language support already, but it turns out that Google might be working on a handy language feature for a future version of the mobile platform.

Android Police reports that Google is working on a so-called Panlingual feature for Android 13, citing a “trusted” source. It’s believed that this will allow you to change languages and associated settings on a per-app basis. The outlet gives the example of someone using Spanish for social media apps but using English for the Android interface and other apps on the device.

Aside from the aforementioned example, this could also be handy for people who use a language other than their native tongue for work purposes. So you could have your work apps in English and your Android UI and personal apps in your home language.

The feature, which is tipped to be available via the app info screen or Settings > Language & input > app languages, is apparently still in the early stages of development. Furthermore, Android Police asserts that the feature is dependent on the apps having integrated language localization options already, although the outlet suggests that Android 12’s translation API could potentially be used instead.

Here’s hoping the Panlingual feature isn’t the only per-app setting coming to Android 13, as the likes of Samsung and Xiaomi have offered useful per-app volume controls in recent times. So hopefully Google follows OEMs in adopting this feature too.