IPHONE
How to switch an iPhone between metric and imperial units
In short
Open Settings, tap General, then Language & Region, then Measurement System, and tap Metric, US or UK. The choice is separate from the region and from the temperature unit, which has its own row.
Well, it is a little strange when your phone gives distances in miles and your head only works in kilometres, or the other way round. You can set the measurement system yourself in Language & Region. Apple lists three systems: metric, US and UK.
4 of 4 steps show a real screenshot from our iPhone 17e.
Steps
- 1
Open Settings and tap General
General is the first row of the group below Battery, after Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- 2
Tap Language & Region
It is just below Keyboard, in the group that starts with AutoFill & Passwords.
- 3
Tap Measurement System
The row shows the current system at the right. Ours, with Region set to Germany, showed Metric.
- 4
Tap Metric, US or UK
The tick moves to your choice. Ours was on Metric.
If you do not see this option
- You only want Celsius or Fahrenheit. Temperature is its own row, just above Measurement System. Ours showed °C. Source: Change the language and region on iPhone
- Search for it. Open Settings, tap the search field at the bottom and type Measurement. Apple notes that the sections in Settings depend on the iPhone model. Source: Find settings on iPhone
If this does not work
- Maps shows the old unit. Apple says the scale in Maps follows this setting. Maps can be a little stubborn about noticing the change while it is open, so close Maps and open it again.
- Dates and numbers did not change. Measurement System only changes units. Date Format and Number Format are separate rows on the same page; ours showed 19.08.26 and 1.234.567,89.
- Weather still shows the old units? The Weather app has its own unit settings. Apple says to open Weather, tap the two buttons it shows in turn, then tap Units. Choose Use system setting for temperature, or set wind, rain, pressure and distance one by one.
- Another app ignores the change? Some apps, such as fitness or sports apps, have their own unit settings. Look in that app's settings or profile page, because the system choice is only a starting point for them.
Good to know
Celsius or Fahrenheit is the row above, Temperature: how to change the region, date format and temperature unit on iPhone.
Apple lists everything that lives on the same Language & Region page: the region, the calendar format, the temperature unit, the measurement system, the first day of the week, the date format, the number format and Live Text. Apple lists each of these as a separate setting.
Maps uses this setting for the scale that appears at the top of a 2D map as you zoom out, according to Apple. For Calculator, Apple's guide has a topic on converting units or currency: convert currency and units in the iPhone Calculator.
About this guide
- Device
- iPhone
- Shown on
- iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 17e)
- App
- Settings
- Path
- Settings › General › Language & Region › Measurement System
- Real screenshots
- 4 of 4 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 3 official, linked below
The screenshots are our own, taken on an iPhone 17e running iOS 27.0.1, in dark mode.
What changed: the screenshots are now our own iPhone 17e on iOS 27.0.1, dark mode, and the wording is checked against those screens.
Sources
Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.Did this guide work for you?
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