> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://buttercms.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Localizing content

> Manage multilingual ButterCMS content. Add locales and publication workflows. Preview drafts and handle missing translations.

<Info>
  For localization architecture and API usage, see [Localization Architecture](../../build-your-app/localization/localization-architecture) and [Fetching Localized Content via API](../../build-your-app/localization/fetching-localized-content-api).
</Info>

## Enabling localization

To set up Localization in your ButterCMS account, navigate to **Settings > Localization** and enter the name and slug for all the Locales you want to set up:

![Setting up locales in ButterCMS](https://cdn.buttercms.com/EWRCJPxTQVCsXTp0jSm3)

### Adding a new locale

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Settings">
    Click on your profile name in the top-left corner, then select **Settings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open localization tab">
    Click on the **Localization** tab in the settings menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add locale details">
    Enter the **Locale Name** (e.g., "Spanish", "French", "German") and the **API Slug** (e.g., "es", "fr", "de").
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save your locale">
    Click **Save** to add the locale to your account.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Setting the default locale

By default, the first Locale you enter will be your **Default Locale**. You can change this anytime by clicking on the radio button for the Locale you want to set as the default:

![Setting the default locale](https://cdn.buttercms.com/JojtWt8kQ86BiTN0HJi2)

<Info>
  The default locale is used when no specific locale is specified in API requests.
</Info>

## Common locale examples

| Language             | Locale Name          | API Slug |
| -------------------- | -------------------- | -------- |
| English (US)         | English              | `en`     |
| Spanish              | Spanish              | `es`     |
| French               | French               | `fr`     |
| German               | German               | `de`     |
| Portuguese (Brazil)  | Portuguese (BR)      | `pt-br`  |
| Japanese             | Japanese             | `ja`     |
| Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Simplified) | `zh-cn`  |
| Arabic               | Arabic               | `ar`     |

<Warning>
  You can change a locale name and slug, but this will affect your API responses. Be careful changing or deleting existing locales.
</Warning>

{/* SOURCE: file_path="knowledge-base/how-to/enabling-localization-and-creating-localized-content.md" section="Contact" */}

## Understanding locale independence

Each locale version of a page or collection item is **independent**. Publishing, editing, or deleting content in one locale does not affect other locales.

## Fetching published localized content

<Tip>
  For API endpoint patterns and code examples in JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, and more, see [Fetching Localized Content via API](../../build-your-app/localization/fetching-localized-content-api).
</Tip>

## Managing publication status across locales

### Status options

Each locale can have one of these statuses:

| Status        | Description                   | Visibility                                   |
| ------------- | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Draft**     | Work in progress              | Only visible with preview mode (`preview=1`) |
| **Scheduled** | Set to publish at future date | Not yet visible                              |
| **Published** | Live and available            | Visible to all via API                       |

### Viewing locale status

In the ButterCMS dashboard, you can see the publication status of each locale:

1. Navigate to **Pages** or **Collections**
2. Select the content item
3. Use the locale dropdown to switch between locales
4. Each locale shows its current status (Draft/Published)