How to Change the Language of a Live Session in LiveClass
LiveClass allows hosts to set the default interface language for a live session. Attendees can also change the language of the room to their preferred language without affecting what other participants see.
This guide explains how to set a session's default language, change your individual language preference, and understand how LiveClass determines the language displayed in a room.
Set the Default Language for a Live Session (Hosts)
Hosts can choose the interface language when creating a session or update it later.
When Creating a New Session
Step 1: Open the Session Creation Page
Navigate to your LiveClass dashboard and select the option to '+ Create a New Session'. On the session creation screen, locate 'Interface Language' below the date and time fields.
Step 2: Select a Language
Choose your preferred language from the dropdown list. Complete the remaining session details and select 'Create Session'.
For an Existing Session
To change the default language of an existing session:
Step 1: Open the Session
Navigate to your LiveClass dashboard and open the session you want to update. Select 'Edit' on the session page.
Step 2: Change the Interface Language
Locate the 'Interface language' field and choose a language from the dropdown.
You can also select 'Not set (each attendee's own language)' to let LiveClass determine the starting language for each attendee. Select 'Save changes' to apply the updated language setting.
For a Permanent Room
You can also configure the interface language for a permanent room.
When creating a room: Choose a language under Interface language in the New permanent room form, then select Create room.
For an existing room: Open the room's Room settings, update Interface language, and select Save.
Classes started from that permanent room use its configured interface language.
Change the Language of a Live Room for Yourself (Hosts and Attendees)
Anyone in a live session can change the room's interface language for their own screen, regardless of their role.
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Room Settings
Join the live session and select the 'Settings' (gear) icon in the controls at the bottom of the room.
Step 2: Open the Personal Tab
In the Settings panel, select the 'Personal' tab. Under the Personal tab, select 'Display' and locate the 'Interface language' field.
Step 3: Choose Your Preferred Language
Select your preferred language from the dropdown list. The room interface switches to the selected language immediately.
Important:
Your language selection affects only your own screen. Other participants continue seeing their selected languages.
Your preference is remembered in the current browser and reused in later sessions that start in the same language.
If another session starts in a different language, LiveClass uses that session's language instead.
Changing the interface language does not change captions. Captions continue using the language selected under 'I Speak'.
Understand the Default Language Options
When you change your language in a live room, the first option in the dropdown lets you return to the room's starting language.
| Option | What it means |
|---|---|
| Session default (Language) | Returns to the language configured by the host for the session. |
| Automatic (Language) | Returns to the automatically determined starting language when the session has no specific interface language. |
The language shown in brackets indicates the language that will be applied.
Understand How LiveClass Determines the Room Language
LiveClass determines the language displayed on the join screen and in the live room using the following priority:
Attendee's choice: The interface language the attendee selects inside the room.
Session Interface language: The language configured by the host for the session.
Platform language: The language passed by the platform the attendee joined from, such as a learning platform.
Browser language: The attendee's browser language, if supported.
Workspace language: The language configured by the team owner or admin.
English: Used when none of the above options is available.
Note: If the session's Interface language is set to Not set (each attendee's own language), LiveClass determines the starting language separately for each attendee.
For recordings and livestreams, interface text uses the session's Interface language. If it isn't set, LiveClass uses the Workspace language, followed by English.
Understand Language Settings for the Whiteboard
The whiteboard does not have a separate language setting.
Its buttons and labels automatically follow the live room's interface language. When you change the room language, the whiteboard interface changes accordingly.
However, the whiteboard layout and toolbars remain the same across languages, including right-to-left languages. Text written on the whiteboard retains its own direction.
Use Right-to-Left Languages in a Live Room
When you select a right-to-left (RTL) language, such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Urdu (where supported), LiveClass automatically mirrors the room layout.
Panels, menus, and controls move to the opposite side of the screen to support the selected language.
Some elements retain their original direction for readability:
Whiteboard: The board and its toolbars keep the same layout in every language. Text written on the board retains its own direction.
User-generated content: Chat messages, Q&A, polls, agenda items, document page titles, waiting room messages, and session titles retain the direction in which they were written.
Numbers and codes: Timers, web addresses, and file sizes remain left-to-right.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I switch back to English if I can't read the room's current language?
Select the gear icon in the bottom controls of the live room.
On the Personal tab, select Display (the section with the monitor icon). Under Interface language, choose English. English always appears in its English name, regardless of the currently selected language.
2. Why are some parts of the room still in English after changing the language?
This can happen for a few reasons:
Some interface text may not have been translated yet. Untranslated text appears in English rather than showing as blank.
Content written by participants, such as session titles, chat messages, Q&A, polls, and documents, is not automatically translated.
LiveClass adds new translations over time. Reload the page to access the latest translations.
3. I set my dashboard language to French, but my live session opened in English. Why?
Your dashboard language does not determine the language used in live rooms.
LiveClass uses the session's Interface language first. If it isn't set, the room follows the language passed by the platform you joined from, your browser language, your team's Workspace language, or English.
You can change the language for yourself under Settings → Personal → Display → Interface language.
4. My browser is set to German, but the live room opens in English. Why?
The session's Interface language takes priority over your browser language.
If the host has configured English as the session language, everyone starts in English unless they change their individual language preference inside the room.
5. Does changing my room language affect other attendees?
No. Changing the interface language inside the room affects only your own screen.
If you want everyone to start in a different language, the host must update the session's Interface language.
6. Does changing the interface language also change captions?
No. Captions use the language selected under I Speak. Changing the room's interface language does not affect your caption language.
