LocalASOASO glossary
Locale (App Store metadata)
A locale is one language version of your App Store metadata, identified by a code such as en-US or pt-BR. In App Store Connect you add a locale to write a separate name, subtitle, keywords and description for that language.
Updated
How many are there
App Store Connect supports 50 metadata languages and locales. That is far fewer than the number of countries, so one locale is shown in many storefronts. The full list with codes is in the App Store locale codes tool.
Reading the codes
Many languages have one code, but some are split by region:
| Language | Code |
|---|---|
| English (U.S.) | en-US |
| English (U.K.) | en-GB |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | pt-BR |
| Portuguese (Portugal) | pt-PT |
| Spanish (Mexico) | es-MX |
| Spanish (Spain) | es-ES |
| Chinese (Simplified) | zh-Hans |
| Chinese (Traditional) | zh-Hant |
Pick the regional version that matches the people you want to reach. Spanish keywords chosen for Spain are not automatically the best for Mexico.
Fallback
The primary language is the default for metadata shown when localized metadata is not provided for a country or region, and you can change it. If no locale matches a user's language, the next most relevant one is used. This is why a missing locale is not an error, only a missed localization opportunity.
Locale versus storefront
A locale describes language. A storefront describes a place. Switzerland is one storefront but needs several locales.
Next step
Plan which locales to add with the App Store localization guide and see what fields each locale holds in App Store Connect.
See primary language and localization fallback.
Sources
- Apple: developer.apple.com/documentation/appstoreconnectapi/managing-metadata-in-your-app-by-using-locale-shortcodes (checked November 1, 2026)
- Apple: developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information/app-information#primary-language (checked November 1, 2026)
- Apple: developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/manage-app-information/localize-app-information (checked November 1, 2026)
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