# Trying to detect user language using askForString helper function

**URL:** <https://forum.makecode.com/t/trying-to-detect-user-language-using-askforstring-helper-function/46814>\
**Category:** Arcade\
**Created:** [October 30, 2026, 8:49pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/trying-to-detect-user-language-using-askforstring-helper-function/46814 "2026-10-30T20:49:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![WoofWoof](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/woofwoof/32/32523_2.png) [@WoofWoof](https://forum.makecode.com/u/WoofWoof)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 8:49pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/trying-to-detect-user-language-using-askforstring-helper-function/46814/1 "2026-10-30T20:49:54Z")

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Ok so basically @MakeCode @richard I had an idea to make an extension that automatically detects a user’s language for in-game text localization, which I think would be very cool.

I’m trying to use the helper.\_getLocalizedInstructions() function to do this, which is for translating that text that shows up to tell you to use your computer keyboard when you use the prompt functionality. Unfortunately I can’t get it to work, neither by changing the default language of my browser or by changing the language in MakeCode settings. Is this functionality actually implemented or is this a fruitless search?

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**Author:** ![WoofWoof](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/woofwoof/32/32523_2.png) [@WoofWoof](https://forum.makecode.com/u/WoofWoof)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/trying-to-detect-user-language-using-askforstring-helper-function/46814/2 "2026-10-31T00:14:48Z")

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Richard answered on stream and basically said he’ll look into why it’s not working. Thanks Richard!

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**Author:** ![VoxelMaster64](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/voxelmaster64/32/32075_2.png) [@VoxelMaster64](https://forum.makecode.com/u/VoxelMaster64)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/trying-to-detect-user-language-using-askforstring-helper-function/46814/3 "2026-10-31T19:45:41Z")

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what is helpers.\_getLocalizedInstructions (what is pxsim.Keyboard.getLocalizedInstructions)?

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**Author:** ![TheGooberEarth](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/thegooberearth/32/36693_2.png) [@TheGooberEarth](https://forum.makecode.com/u/TheGooberEarth)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/trying-to-detect-user-language-using-askforstring-helper-function/46814/4 "2026-10-31T19:53:30Z")

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How in the world does this work??? Also you should implement @Sarge’s localization extension.