Original topic:

Samsung S24/S25 phone wrongly using eSIM location instead of phone's Language setting for Galaxy Store/Member apps

(Topic created: 10-29-2025 05:39 PM)
978 Views
WayOWestS
Cosmic Ray
Options
Galaxy S25

On a recent trip to Europe (away from my home US cell area), I purchased a 30-day French (Orange) eSIM that was useable across all of Europe--that includes areas where Dutch, German, Austrian and Hungarian are the native languages. The Samsung Galaxy Store app & Member's app on my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra running Android16 (and spouse's S24 Ultra, also running Android16) switched its language from English to French, ignoring the "English" Language setting on my phone, so I couldn't read either app's info. There's no app-specific Language setting for the Samsung Store or Member's app.
..
I noticed and reported this issue to Samsung, saying that they should use the user-set Language setting on the phone instead of using the eSIM's country. They responded:
..
"Since you are in the European region and using a SIM card from that region, the language set on the app is the provider's language.
The app uses the default system language and the SIM card language.
Furthermore, there is no language setting specific to the Galaxy Store app."
..
That may be what Samsung is doing now with its Galaxy Store and Member's apps, but it's OBJECTIVELY WRONG to do. I don't speak French. If I was traveling in South America I don't speak Spanish or Portuguese, and if I was traveling in China I don't speak Mandarin or Cantonese. But I might purchase a local eSIM for reliable & inexpensive cellular access in those cases also. And if a French speaking/Spanish speaking/Mandarin speaking person was traveling in the USA and purchased an eSIM, he/she shouldn't have English forced on them by the Samsung apps.
..
Samsung is an international company selling its phones to international users -- act like it! You should be using the phone's Language setting for the Samsung apps, *not* a SIM location! Other non-Samsung apps used the Default Language setting and continued to work correctly in my set language.

23 Replies
Robin621k
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy S25
First world problems.
Mujibar
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy S25
Makes sense, though. Even if it is based on predominant language for the SIM location, there should at least be a way to change language in the apps.
Robin621k
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy S25
Easily solved using a VPN.
As I did when I was in Spain 6 months ago.

I still posted from Spain in the Members app by turning on my VPN.
Mujibar
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy S25
That'll work
WayOWestS
Cosmic Ray
Options
Galaxy S25

VPN didn't work. I used a VPN to my personal home in the USA (I'm running WireGuard on my Android phone + home router), but the Samsung Galaxy Store still displayed everything in French. Again, using the eSIM location.

WayOWestS
Cosmic Ray
Options
Galaxy S25

Yes, most of the things we deal with on our Samsung devices are "first world problems." Doesn't mean Samsung has to compound them by being stupid.

Robin621k
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy S25
When you go to the Galaxy Store and Members app using a SIM from another country you will be in the app for that geographical region.
nullandvoid
Cosmic Ray
Options
Galaxy S25

I was going to suggest a VPN.  I always use one when I travel, as I cannot  get to certain U.S. websites or use certain apps, if it is not showing a U.S. IP address

Robin621k
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy S25
They will come back with the obligatory, I shouldn't have too