Change device language on Android 6.0 (Android M)

Issue

There are applications to change Android device language (locale) via an ADB command. This has required granting the CHANGE_CONFIGURATION permission for the app before language can be changed.

On Android 6.0 (API level 23, Nexus 6 device), however, granting the required permission is no longer allowed, since the command adb shell pm grant net.sanapeli.adbchangelanguage android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATION (package name from ADB Change Language app as an example) yields

Operation not allowed: java.lang.SecurityException: Permission android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATION is not a changeable permission type

How can you change the language/locale on Android OS version 6.0 without rooting the device? Can this be done with a helper app, or a direct ADB command, or by launching some intent vai ADB?

Related question from 2010: Change language programmatically in Android

Solution

The SecurityException no longer exists on the public image of Android OS 6.0 (Marshmallow) version. This was confirmed on Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 devices. Case closed.

Answered By - Juuso Ohtonen