diff --git a/configuration.c b/configuration.c
index f19821b680..0299c28002 100644
--- a/configuration.c
+++ b/configuration.c
@@ -1754,7 +1754,7 @@ static struct config_uint_setting *populate_settings_uint(settings_t *settings,
    SETTING_UINT("netplay_share_analog",         &settings->uints.netplay_share_analog,  true, netplay_share_analog, false);
 #endif
 #ifdef HAVE_LANGEXTRA
-   SETTING_UINT("user_language",                msg_hash_get_uint(MSG_HASH_USER_LANGUAGE), true, RETRO_LANGUAGE_ENGLISH, false);
+   SETTING_UINT("user_language",                msg_hash_get_uint(MSG_HASH_USER_LANGUAGE), true, def_user_language, false);
 #endif
    SETTING_UINT("bundle_assets_extract_version_current", &settings->uints.bundle_assets_extract_version_current, true, 0, false);
    SETTING_UINT("bundle_assets_extract_last_version",    &settings->uints.bundle_assets_extract_last_version, true, 0, false);
@@ -3285,6 +3285,9 @@ static bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults,
    frontend_driver_set_sustained_performance_mode(settings->bools.sustained_performance_mode);
    recording_driver_update_streaming_url();
 
+   if (!config_entry_exists(conf, "user_language"))
+      msg_hash_set_uint(MSG_HASH_USER_LANGUAGE, frontend_driver_get_user_language());
+
    ret = true;
 end:
    if (conf)
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_ctr.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_ctr.c
index 759eb37d47..6f6f3236a9 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_ctr.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_ctr.c
@@ -613,5 +613,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_ctr =
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "ctr",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_darwin.m b/frontend/drivers/platform_darwin.m
index ab3cbdb6b2..5fbe53ca9d 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_darwin.m
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_darwin.m
@@ -773,10 +773,11 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_darwin = {
    NULL,                         /* watch_path_for_changes */
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
-   #if (defined(OSX) && !(defined(__ppc__) || defined(__ppc64__)))
+#if (defined(OSX) && !(defined(__ppc__) || defined(__ppc64__)))
     frontend_darwin_get_cpu_model_name,
-    #else
+#else
    NULL,
-    #endif
+#endif
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "darwin",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_dos.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_dos.c
index daac64064f..dfce99e2d1 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_dos.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_dos.c
@@ -72,5 +72,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_dos = {
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "dos",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_emscripten.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_emscripten.c
index df4dad555c..8cfcce53dd 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_emscripten.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_emscripten.c
@@ -267,5 +267,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_emscripten = {
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "emscripten"
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_gx.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_gx.c
index 5fb04661e9..0e47dd0d5d 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_gx.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_gx.c
@@ -548,5 +548,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_gx = {
    NULL,                            /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                            /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                            /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                            /* get_user_language */
    "gx",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_null.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_null.c
index 7d4ec37558..1954dd0a34 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_null.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_null.c
@@ -48,5 +48,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_null = {
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "null",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_orbis.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_orbis.c
index f284dbf898..cb2e64fe8f 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_orbis.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_orbis.c
@@ -369,5 +369,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_orbis = {
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "orbis",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_ps2.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_ps2.c
index 1ac58934d2..09ac87c187 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_ps2.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_ps2.c
@@ -415,5 +415,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_ps2 = {
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "null",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_ps3.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_ps3.c
index c796b6f07f..94299c5760 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_ps3.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_ps3.c
@@ -639,5 +639,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_ps3 = {
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "ps3",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_psp.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_psp.c
index 25045be15c..3832f7fcf3 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_psp.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_psp.c
@@ -534,6 +534,7 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_psp = {
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
 #ifdef VITA
    "vita",
 #else
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_qnx.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_qnx.c
index eb2bd40857..30cb376523 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_qnx.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_qnx.c
@@ -208,5 +208,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_qnx = {
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "qnx",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_switch.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_switch.c
index 98cb62d335..8ee91405a1 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_switch.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_switch.c
@@ -945,5 +945,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_switch =
         NULL, /* check_for_path_changes */
         NULL, /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
         NULL, /* get_cpu_model_name */
+        NULL, /* get_user_language */
         "switch",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_unix.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_unix.c
index f823dfb698..b08d01c6e7 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_unix.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_unix.c
@@ -2052,6 +2052,8 @@ static void frontend_unix_init(void *data)
          "setScreenOrientation", "(I)V");
    GET_METHOD_ID(env, android_app->doVibrate, class,
          "doVibrate", "(IIII)V");
+   GET_METHOD_ID(env, android_app->getUserLanguageString, class,
+         "getUserLanguageString", "()Ljava/lang/String;");
    CALL_OBJ_METHOD(env, obj, android_app->activity->clazz,
          android_app->getIntent);
 
@@ -2494,6 +2496,37 @@ static const char* frontend_unix_get_cpu_model_name(void)
 #endif
 }
 
+enum retro_language frontend_unix_get_user_language(void)
+{
+   enum retro_language lang = RETRO_LANGUAGE_ENGLISH;
+#ifdef HAVE_LANGEXTRA
+#ifdef ANDROID
+   jstring jstr = NULL;
+   JNIEnv *env = jni_thread_getenv();
+
+   if (!env || !g_android)
+      return lang;
+
+   if (g_android->getUserLanguageString)
+   {
+      CALL_OBJ_METHOD(env, jstr, g_android->activity->clazz, g_android->getUserLanguageString);
+
+      if (jstr)
+      {
+         const char *langStr = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, jstr, 0);
+
+         lang = rarch_get_language_from_iso(langStr);
+
+         (*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, jstr, langStr);
+      }
+   }
+#else
+   lang = rarch_get_language_from_iso(getenv("LANG"));
+#endif
+#endif
+   return lang;
+}
+
 frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_unix = {
    frontend_unix_get_env,       /* environment_get */
    frontend_unix_init,          /* init */
@@ -2539,6 +2572,7 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_unix = {
    frontend_unix_check_for_path_changes,
    frontend_unix_set_sustained_performance_mode,
    frontend_unix_get_cpu_model_name,
+   frontend_unix_get_user_language,
 #ifdef ANDROID
    "android"
 #else
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_unix.h b/frontend/drivers/platform_unix.h
index c244abfedb..0252e3993d 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_unix.h
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_unix.h
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ struct android_app
    jmethodID getBatteryLevel;
    jmethodID setSustainedPerformanceMode;
    jmethodID setScreenOrientation;
+   jmethodID getUserLanguageString;
    jmethodID doVibrate;
 };
 
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_uwp.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_uwp.c
index ce33bfcd7e..fecced3b6d 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_uwp.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_uwp.c
@@ -447,5 +447,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_uwp = {
    NULL,                            /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                            /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                            /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                            /* get_user_language */
    "uwp"
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_wiiu.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_wiiu.c
index 5559deca3b..cf4bc15edc 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_wiiu.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_wiiu.c
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_wiiu =
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "wiiu",
    NULL,                         /* get_video_driver */
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_win32.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_win32.c
index 35bd1f0a2e..032d27a656 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_win32.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_win32.c
@@ -575,6 +575,61 @@ static const char* frontend_win32_get_cpu_model_name(void)
 #endif
 }
 
+enum retro_language frontend_win32_get_user_language(void)
+{
+   enum retro_language lang = RETRO_LANGUAGE_ENGLISH;
+#if defined(HAVE_LANGEXTRA) && !defined(_XBOX)
+#if (defined(_WIN32_WINNT) && _WIN32_WINNT >= 0x0500) || !defined(_MSC_VER)
+   LANGID langid = GetUserDefaultUILanguage();
+   unsigned i;
+
+   struct lang_pair
+   {
+      unsigned short lang_ident;
+      enum retro_language lang;
+   };
+
+   /* https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/Intl/language-identifier-constants-and-strings */
+   const struct lang_pair pairs[] =
+   {
+      {0x9, RETRO_LANGUAGE_ENGLISH},
+      {0x11, RETRO_LANGUAGE_JAPANESE},
+      {0xc, RETRO_LANGUAGE_FRENCH},
+      {0xa, RETRO_LANGUAGE_SPANISH},
+      {0x7, RETRO_LANGUAGE_GERMAN},
+      {0x10, RETRO_LANGUAGE_ITALIAN},
+      {0x13, RETRO_LANGUAGE_DUTCH},
+      {0x416, RETRO_LANGUAGE_PORTUGUESE_BRAZIL},
+      {0x816, RETRO_LANGUAGE_PORTUGUESE_PORTUGAL},
+      {0x16, RETRO_LANGUAGE_PORTUGUESE_PORTUGAL},
+      {0x19, RETRO_LANGUAGE_RUSSIAN},
+      {0x12, RETRO_LANGUAGE_KOREAN},
+      {0xC04, RETRO_LANGUAGE_CHINESE_TRADITIONAL}, /* HK/PRC */
+      {0x1404, RETRO_LANGUAGE_CHINESE_TRADITIONAL}, /* MO */
+      {0x1004, RETRO_LANGUAGE_CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED}, /* SG */
+      {0x7c04, RETRO_LANGUAGE_CHINESE_TRADITIONAL}, /* neutral */
+      {0x4, RETRO_LANGUAGE_CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED}, /* neutral */
+      /* MS does not support Esperanto */
+      /*{0x0, RETRO_LANGUAGE_ESPERANTO},*/
+      {0x15, RETRO_LANGUAGE_POLISH},
+      {0x2a, RETRO_LANGUAGE_VIETNAMESE},
+      {0x1, RETRO_LANGUAGE_ARABIC},
+      {0x8, RETRO_LANGUAGE_GREEK},
+   };
+
+   for (i = 0; i < sizeof(pairs) / sizeof(pairs[0]); i++)
+   {
+      if ((langid & pairs[i].lang_ident) == pairs[i].lang_ident)
+      {
+         lang = pairs[i].lang;
+         break;
+      }
+   }
+#endif
+#endif
+   return lang;
+}
+
 frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_win32 = {
    frontend_win32_environment_get,
    frontend_win32_init,
@@ -603,5 +658,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_win32 = {
    NULL,                            /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                            /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    frontend_win32_get_cpu_model_name,
+   frontend_win32_get_user_language,
    "win32"
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_xdk.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_xdk.c
index 8fb2e5ebc7..a638ebe1f5 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_xdk.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_xdk.c
@@ -434,5 +434,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_xdk = {
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "xdk",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/drivers/platform_xenon.c b/frontend/drivers/platform_xenon.c
index 0e9988f0a4..654b76d92e 100644
--- a/frontend/drivers/platform_xenon.c
+++ b/frontend/drivers/platform_xenon.c
@@ -95,5 +95,6 @@ frontend_ctx_driver_t frontend_ctx_qnx = {
    NULL,                         /* check_for_path_changes */
    NULL,                         /* set_sustained_performance_mode */
    NULL,                         /* get_cpu_model_name */
+   NULL,                         /* get_user_language */
    "xenon",
 };
diff --git a/frontend/frontend_driver.c b/frontend/frontend_driver.c
index cfb0ce8955..9c6c6e3ce6 100644
--- a/frontend/frontend_driver.c
+++ b/frontend/frontend_driver.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 #include <compat/strl.h>
 #include <string/stdstring.h>
+#include <libretro.h>
 
 #if defined(_3DS)
 #include <3ds.h>
@@ -464,4 +465,12 @@ const char* frontend_driver_get_cpu_model_name(void)
       return NULL;
    return frontend->get_cpu_model_name();
 }
+
+enum retro_language frontend_driver_get_user_language(void)
+{
+   frontend_ctx_driver_t *frontend = frontend_get_ptr();
+   if (!frontend || !frontend->get_user_language)
+      return RETRO_LANGUAGE_ENGLISH;
+   return frontend->get_user_language();
+}
 #endif
diff --git a/frontend/frontend_driver.h b/frontend/frontend_driver.h
index 76119f660e..af141d23df 100644
--- a/frontend/frontend_driver.h
+++ b/frontend/frontend_driver.h
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ typedef struct frontend_ctx_driver
    bool (*check_for_path_changes)(path_change_data_t *change_data);
    void (*set_sustained_performance_mode)(bool on);
    const char* (*get_cpu_model_name)(void);
+   enum retro_language (*get_user_language)(void);
 
    const char *ident;
 
@@ -214,6 +215,8 @@ void frontend_driver_set_sustained_performance_mode(bool on);
 
 const char* frontend_driver_get_cpu_model_name(void);
 
+enum retro_language frontend_driver_get_user_language(void);
+
 RETRO_END_DECLS
 
 #endif
diff --git a/pkg/android/phoenix/src/com/retroarch/browser/retroactivity/RetroActivityCommon.java b/pkg/android/phoenix/src/com/retroarch/browser/retroactivity/RetroActivityCommon.java
index 9b2c34b788..109126a171 100644
--- a/pkg/android/phoenix/src/com/retroarch/browser/retroactivity/RetroActivityCommon.java
+++ b/pkg/android/phoenix/src/com/retroarch/browser/retroactivity/RetroActivityCommon.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import android.os.VibrationEffect;
 import android.util.Log;
 import java.lang.Math;
 import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
+import java.util.Locale;
 
 /**
  * Class which provides common methods for RetroActivity related classes.
@@ -153,6 +154,20 @@ public class RetroActivityCommon extends RetroActivityLocation
     });
   }
 
+  public String getUserLanguageString()
+  {
+    String lang = Locale.getDefault().getLanguage();
+    String country = Locale.getDefault().getCountry();
+
+    if (lang.length() == 0)
+      return "en";
+
+    if (country.length() == 0)
+      return lang;
+
+    return lang + '_' + country;
+  }
+
   @TargetApi(24)
   public void setSustainedPerformanceMode(boolean on)
   {
diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index 429017fc69..1a7bd7a246 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 #include <retro_timers.h>
 
 #include <compat/strl.h>
+#include <compat/strcasestr.h>
 #include <compat/getopt.h>
 #include <audio/audio_mixer.h>
 #include <compat/posix_string.h>
@@ -5415,3 +5416,52 @@ void rarch_log_file_deinit(void)
       retro_main_log_file_init(NULL, false);
    }
 }
+
+enum retro_language rarch_get_language_from_iso(const char *iso639)
+{
+   unsigned i;
+   enum retro_language lang = RETRO_LANGUAGE_ENGLISH;
+
+   struct lang_pair
+   {
+      const char *iso639;
+      enum retro_language lang;
+   };
+
+   const struct lang_pair pairs[] =
+   {
+      {"en", RETRO_LANGUAGE_ENGLISH},
+      {"ja", RETRO_LANGUAGE_JAPANESE},
+      {"fr", RETRO_LANGUAGE_FRENCH},
+      {"es", RETRO_LANGUAGE_SPANISH},
+      {"de", RETRO_LANGUAGE_GERMAN},
+      {"it", RETRO_LANGUAGE_ITALIAN},
+      {"nl", RETRO_LANGUAGE_DUTCH},
+      {"pt_BR", RETRO_LANGUAGE_PORTUGUESE_BRAZIL},
+      {"pt_PT", RETRO_LANGUAGE_PORTUGUESE_PORTUGAL},
+      {"pt", RETRO_LANGUAGE_PORTUGUESE_PORTUGAL},
+      {"ru", RETRO_LANGUAGE_RUSSIAN},
+      {"ko", RETRO_LANGUAGE_KOREAN},
+      {"zh_CN", RETRO_LANGUAGE_CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED},
+      {"zh_SG", RETRO_LANGUAGE_CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED},
+      {"zh_HK", RETRO_LANGUAGE_CHINESE_TRADITIONAL},
+      {"zh_TW", RETRO_LANGUAGE_CHINESE_TRADITIONAL},
+      {"zh", RETRO_LANGUAGE_CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED},
+      {"eo", RETRO_LANGUAGE_ESPERANTO},
+      {"pl", RETRO_LANGUAGE_POLISH},
+      {"vi", RETRO_LANGUAGE_VIETNAMESE},
+      {"ar", RETRO_LANGUAGE_ARABIC},
+      {"el", RETRO_LANGUAGE_GREEK},
+   };
+
+   for (i = 0; i < sizeof(pairs) / sizeof(pairs[0]); i++)
+   {
+      if (strcasestr(iso639, pairs[i].iso639))
+      {
+         lang = pairs[i].lang;
+         break;
+      }
+   }
+
+   return lang;
+}
diff --git a/retroarch.h b/retroarch.h
index 8063848ae9..b4b41fd7ec 100644
--- a/retroarch.h
+++ b/retroarch.h
@@ -432,6 +432,8 @@ void rarch_log_file_init(void);
 
 void rarch_log_file_deinit(void);
 
+enum retro_language rarch_get_language_from_iso(const char *lang);
+
 RETRO_END_DECLS
 
 #endif