diff --git a/dm/games/settings.py b/dm/games/settings.py
index 506134421a..4670f084f6 100644
--- a/dm/games/settings.py
+++ b/dm/games/settings.py
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ def offered(v, n):   # value=label?cond&cond: an option only some games or platf
             if can is not None and want not in can: sys.exit(f'settings.tsv:{n}: needs a value {need} never takes: {want} (it takes {", ".join(sorted(can))})')
         if not shown(cond, n): continue
         s = {'env': var, 'kind': kind, 'section': section, 'label': label, 'note': note, 'default': value(default, n), **m}
+        s.update(label_key=f'setting.{var}.label', section_key=f'section.{section}')
+        if note: s['note_key'] = f'setting.{var}.note'
         if var == 'DM_RENDER_SCALE' and base: s['base'] = base   # the render scale in pixels, for the console mode chosen
         if kind == 'choice':
             opts = [list(l) for l in langs] if values == 'languages' else [v.split('?', 1)[0].split('=', 1) for v in values.split(',') if offered(v, n)]
@@ -119,6 +121,7 @@ def offered(v, n):   # value=label?cond&cond: an option only some games or platf
             if s['default'] not in [o[0] for o in opts]: s['default'] = opts[0][0]   # a default the game does not offer (a language it lacks): its first
             s['options'] = opts
             if values == 'languages' and not have: s['note'] = UNKNOWN_LANGUAGES
+            s['option_keys'] = {o[0]: f'setting.{var}.option.{o[0]}' for o in opts}
         elif kind == 'range':
             lo, hi, st = (float(x) for x in values.split(':'))
             if var == 'DM_RENDER_SCALE' and keys.get('RENDER_SCALE', '1') != '1':   # a stub that also raises the size: up to its largest scale (the rewriter's RENDER_SCALE, hex as every header value)
diff --git a/dm/ios/Sources/Launcher.swift b/dm/ios/Sources/Launcher.swift
index 0f9d8b6639..4ce9a23724 100644
--- a/dm/ios/Sources/Launcher.swift
+++ b/dm/ios/Sources/Launcher.swift
@@ -21,32 +21,32 @@ private struct CloudSavesSection: View {
     var body: some View {
         Section {
             HStack {
-                Text("Cloud saves")
+                Text(launcherString("Cloud saves"))
                 Spacer()
-                Text(folder.isEmpty ? "Off" : (folder as NSString).lastPathComponent)
+                Text(folder.isEmpty ? launcherString("Off") : (folder as NSString).lastPathComponent)
                     .foregroundStyle(.secondary).lineLimit(1).truncationMode(.middle)
             }
-            Button(folder.isEmpty ? "Choose a folder in iCloud Drive…" : "Choose a different folder…") { picking = true }
+            Button(folder.isEmpty ? launcherString("Choose a folder in iCloud Drive…") : launcherString("Choose a different folder…")) { picking = true }
                 // The sheet sits on the button, not on the Section: SwiftUI hands a Section's modifiers to every row, so one tap presented a picker per row and they invalidated each other (LNPANDY/NX2Apple#315).
                 .sheet(isPresented: $picking) {
                     DocumentPicker(types: [.folder]) { url in
                         picking = false
                         if dm_store_cloud_saves(url) {
-                            note = "Saved. The game uses this folder when you press Play."
+                            note = launcherString("Saved. The game uses this folder when you press Play.")
                             refresh()
                         } else {
-                            note = "That folder could not be remembered — try a different one."
+                            note = launcherString("That folder could not be remembered — try a different one.")
                         }
                     } onCancel: { picking = false }
                 }
             if !folder.isEmpty {
-                Button("Turn off cloud saves", role: .destructive) {
+                Button(launcherString("Turn off cloud saves"), role: .destructive) {
                     dm_clear_cloud_saves(); refresh(); note = ""
                 }
             }
         } footer: {
             Text(note.isEmpty
-                 ? "Choose a folder in iCloud Drive, and the same one in the Mac app's Cloud saves. The save comes in when the game starts and goes out after each save; a save that is replaced is kept in save-backups."
+                 ? launcherString("Choose a folder in iCloud Drive, and the same one in the Mac app's Cloud saves. The save comes in when the game starts and goes out after each save; a save that is replaced is kept in save-backups.")
                  : note)
         }
         .onAppear(perform: refresh)
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ private struct CloudSavesSection: View {
         var stale: ObjCBool = false
         folder = dm_cloud_saves_path(&stale) ?? ""
         if stale.boolValue && folder.isEmpty {
-            note = "The folder you chose before is no longer readable (the app was signed differently). Please choose it again."
+            note = launcherString("The folder you chose before is no longer readable (the app was signed differently). Please choose it again.")
         }
     }
 }
@@ -110,9 +110,9 @@ private struct LauncherView: View {
                             .clipShape(RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 22))
                             .accessibilityHidden(true)
                     }
-                    Text((info("CFBundleDisplayName") as? String) ?? "Game")
+                    Text((info("CFBundleDisplayName") as? String) ?? launcherString("Game"))
                         .font(.title.weight(.bold)).multilineTextAlignment(.center)
-                    Text("Version \((info("CFBundleShortVersionString") as? String) ?? "")")
+                    Text(String(format: launcherString("Version %@"), (info("CFBundleShortVersionString") as? String) ?? ""))
                         .font(.callout).foregroundStyle(.secondary)
                     playButton
                 }
@@ -122,21 +122,21 @@ private struct LauncherView: View {
                     ForEach(m.sections, id: \.self) { section in
                         let rows = m.rows(in: section)
                         if !rows.isEmpty {
-                            Section(section) {
+                            Section(rows[0].displaySection()) {
                                 ForEach(rows) { SettingRow(s: $0, m: m) }
                             }
                         }
                     }
                     Section {
-                        Button("Reset to tested defaults") { m.reset() }
+                        Button(launcherString("Reset to tested defaults")) { m.reset() }
                             .disabled(!m.changed)
                     } footer: {
-                        Text("Brings back all settings this game was tested with.")
+                        Text(launcherString("Brings back all settings this game was tested with."))
                     }
                     CloudSavesSection()
                     Section {
                         HStack {
-                            Text("Memory available")
+                            Text(launcherString("Memory available"))
                             Spacer()
                             Text(ByteCountFormatter.string(fromByteCount: Int64(memory), countStyle: .memory)).monospacedDigit().foregroundStyle(.secondary)
                         }
@@ -151,12 +151,12 @@ private struct LauncherView: View {
         .confirmationDialog(SaveSyncReport.chooseTitle, isPresented: isAsking(.choose), titleVisibility: .visible, presenting: report) { r in
             Button(r.localLabel(here: "iPhone")) { go(r.localChoice) }
             Button(r.cloudLabel) { go(r.cloudChoice) }
-            Button("Cancel", role: .cancel) {}
+            Button(launcherString("Cancel"), role: .cancel) {}
         } message: { r in Text(r.chooseMessage(here: "iPhone")) }
         .confirmationDialog(SaveSyncReport.unreadableTitle, isPresented: isAsking(.unreadable), titleVisibility: .visible, presenting: report) { r in
-            Button("Play This iPhone's Save") { go("offline") }   // the mount does not wait for the cloud again
-            Button("Try Again") { DispatchQueue.main.async { start() } }
-            Button("Cancel", role: .cancel) {}
+            Button(launcherString("Play This iPhone's Save")) { go("offline") }   // the mount does not wait for the cloud again
+            Button(launcherString("Try Again")) { DispatchQueue.main.async { start() } }
+            Button(launcherString("Cancel"), role: .cancel) {}
         } message: { r in Text(r.unreadableMessage(here: "iPhone")) }
         .task {
             while !Task.isCancelled {
@@ -167,12 +167,12 @@ private struct LauncherView: View {
     }
 
     @ViewBuilder var playButton: some View {
-        let button = Button(action: start) { Text("Play").font(.title3.weight(.semibold)).frame(maxWidth: 220) }.controlSize(.large).disabled(checking)
+        let button = Button(action: start) { Text(launcherString("Play")).font(.title3.weight(.semibold)).frame(maxWidth: 220) }.controlSize(.large).disabled(checking)
         if #available(iOS 26.0, *) { button.buttonStyle(.glassProminent) } else { button.buttonStyle(.borderedProminent) }
         if checking {
             VStack(spacing: 6) {
-                HStack(spacing: 6) { ProgressView(); Text("Checking the cloud save…").font(.callout).foregroundStyle(.secondary) }
-                Button("Play Without It") { checking = false; go("offline") }.font(.callout)
+                HStack(spacing: 6) { ProgressView(); Text(launcherString("Checking the cloud save…")).font(.callout).foregroundStyle(.secondary) }
+                Button(launcherString("Play Without It")) { checking = false; go("offline") }.font(.callout)
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/dm/ios/Sources/LauncherRow.swift b/dm/ios/Sources/LauncherRow.swift
index 82fa3b3c13..4430671ee4 100644
--- a/dm/ios/Sources/LauncherRow.swift
+++ b/dm/ios/Sources/LauncherRow.swift
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ struct SettingRow: View {
 
     private var locked: Bool { m.fixed.contains(s.env) }
     private var note: String {
-        guard locked else { return s.note }
-        return (s.note.isEmpty ? "" : s.note + " · ") + (m.fromLaunch.contains(s.env) ? "Set at launch" : "Set by an env file")
+        let text = s.displayNote()
+        guard locked else { return text }
+        return (text.isEmpty ? "" : text + " · ") + launcherString(m.fromLaunch.contains(s.env) ? "Set at launch" : "Set by an env file")
     }
     private var rangeValue: Binding<Double> {
         Binding(get: { Double(m.values[s.env] ?? s.def) ?? s.max ?? 1 },
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ struct SettingRow: View {
 
     private var settingLabel: some View {
         VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 4) {
-            Text(s.label)
+            Text(s.displayLabel())
             if !note.isEmpty { Text(note).font(.footnote).foregroundStyle(.secondary) }
         }
     }
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ struct SettingRow: View {
             switch s.kind {
             case "choice":
                 Picker(selection: m.binding(s)) {
-                    ForEach(s.options ?? [], id: \.[0]) { Text($0[1]).tag($0[0]) }
+                    ForEach(s.options ?? [], id: \.[0]) { Text(s.displayOption($0)).tag($0[0]) }
                 } label: {
                     settingLabel
                 }
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ struct SettingRow: View {
                         Text(percentage).monospacedDigit().foregroundStyle(.secondary)
                     }
                     Slider(value: rangeValue, in: (s.min ?? 0)...(s.max ?? 1), step: s.step ?? 0.05)
-                        .accessibilityLabel(s.label)
+                        .accessibilityLabel(s.displayLabel())
                         .accessibilityValue(percentage)
                 }
             default:
diff --git a/dm/ios/Sources/LauncherSettings.swift b/dm/ios/Sources/LauncherSettings.swift
index aec4414c8a..21c6b59156 100644
--- a/dm/ios/Sources/LauncherSettings.swift
+++ b/dm/ios/Sources/LauncherSettings.swift
@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
 import Foundation
 import Combine
 
+// The shared Launcher.strings table follows the app's preferred language, independently of DM_LANG.
+// Missing keys (including older launcher.json files) keep their English text.
+func launcherString(_ key: String?, fallback: String? = nil, bundle: Bundle = .main) -> String {
+    guard let key else { return fallback ?? "" }
+    return bundle.localizedString(forKey: key, value: fallback ?? key, table: "Launcher")
+}
+
 struct Setting: Decodable, Identifiable {
     let env, kind, label, note, def: String
     let section: String?   // heading on the settings screen; absent in older bundles
@@ -9,11 +16,17 @@ struct Setting: Decodable, Identifiable {
     let level: String?     // "basic": shown first (the Mac window's Basic settings); any other or none: Advanced settings. The iPhone keeps one list
     let base: Base?        // render scale: the 3D views' size at 1.0, docked and handheld, for the size in pixels (the Mac window)
     struct Base: Decodable { let docked, handheld: [Int] }
+    let labelKey, noteKey, sectionKey: String?
+    let optionKeys: [String: String]?
     let options: [[String]]?   // choice: [value, label]
     let min, max, step: Double?   // range
     let on, off: String?   // toggle: the values the variable takes (1 / 0 when not given)
     var id: String { env }
     var sectionTitle: String { section ?? "Game" }
+    func displayLabel(bundle: Bundle = .main) -> String { launcherString(labelKey, fallback: label, bundle: bundle) }
+    func displayNote(bundle: Bundle = .main) -> String { launcherString(noteKey, fallback: note, bundle: bundle) }
+    func displaySection(bundle: Bundle = .main) -> String { launcherString(sectionKey, fallback: sectionTitle, bundle: bundle) }
+    func displayOption(_ option: [String], bundle: Bundle = .main) -> String { launcherString(optionKeys?[option[0]], fallback: option[1], bundle: bundle) }
     var basic: Bool { level == "basic" }
     var onValue: String { on ?? "1" }
     var offValue: String { off ?? "0" }
@@ -30,7 +43,9 @@ struct Setting: Decodable, Identifiable {
         default: return true
         }
     }
-    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey { case env, kind, label, note, def = "default", section, needs, level, base, options, min, max, step, on, off }
+    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey { case env, kind, label, note, def = "default", section, needs, level, base, options, min, max, step, on, off
+        case labelKey = "label_key", noteKey = "note_key", sectionKey = "section_key", optionKeys = "option_keys"
+    }
 }
 struct SettingsFile: Decodable { let settings: [Setting] }
 
diff --git a/dm/ios/Sources/Resources/en.lproj/Launcher.strings b/dm/ios/Sources/Resources/en.lproj/Launcher.strings
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..94c4d3bbdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dm/ios/Sources/Resources/en.lproj/Launcher.strings
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+// Shared iOS and Mac launcher text. Translate values, preserving keys and %@ placeholders.
+// settings.tsv remains the English fallback for generated settings; see docs/frontends.md.
+"Game" = "Game";
+"Reset to tested defaults" = "Reset to tested defaults";
+"Brings back all settings this game was tested with." = "Brings back all settings this game was tested with.";
+"Play" = "Play";
+"Cloud saves" = "Cloud saves";
+"Off" = "Off";
+"Choose a different folder…" = "Choose a different folder…";
+"Choose a folder in iCloud Drive…" = "Choose a folder in iCloud Drive…";
+"Turn off cloud saves" = "Turn off cloud saves";
+"Choose a folder in iCloud Drive, and the same one in the Mac app's Cloud saves. The save comes in when the game starts and goes out after each save; a save that is replaced is kept in save-backups." = "Choose a folder in iCloud Drive, and the same one in the Mac app's Cloud saves. The save comes in when the game starts and goes out after each save; a save that is replaced is kept in save-backups.";
+"Saved. The game uses this folder when you press Play." = "Saved. The game uses this folder when you press Play.";
+"That folder could not be remembered — try a different one." = "That folder could not be remembered — try a different one.";
+"The folder you chose before is no longer readable (the app was signed differently). Please choose it again." = "The folder you chose before is no longer readable (the app was signed differently). Please choose it again.";
+"Memory available" = "Memory available";
+"Advanced settings" = "Advanced settings";
+"Show this window at launch" = "Show this window at launch";
+"Quit" = "Quit";
+"Choose a folder…" = "Choose a folder…";
+"Turn off" = "Turn off";
+"Choose the iCloud Drive folder the iPhone app uses for this game. The save comes in when the game starts and goes out after each save; a save that is replaced is kept in the save's -backups folder." = "Choose the iCloud Drive folder the iPhone app uses for this game. The save comes in when the game starts and goes out after each save; a save that is replaced is kept in the save's -backups folder.";
+"Use for Cloud Saves" = "Use for Cloud Saves";
+"The folder the iPhone app chose in its launcher's Cloud saves" = "The folder the iPhone app chose in its launcher's Cloud saves";
+"iCloud Drive" = "iCloud Drive";
+"Close Window" = "Close Window";
+"Set at launch" = "Set at launch";
+"Set by an env file" = "Set by an env file";
+"Version %@" = "Version %@";
+"Quit %@" = "Quit %@";
+"%@ (env.txt)" = "%@ (env.txt)";
+"section.Game" = "Game";
+"section.Controls" = "Controls";
+"section.Performance" = "Performance";
+"setting.DM_FPS_TARGET.label" = "Frame rate";
+"setting.DM_FPS_TARGET.option.30" = "30 fps";
+"setting.DM_FPS_TARGET.option.60" = "60 fps";
+"setting.DM_FPS_TARGET.option.120" = "120 fps";
+"setting.DM_DYNAMIC_RESOLUTION.label" = "Dynamic resolution";
+"setting.DM_DYNAMIC_RESOLUTION.note" = "Lets the game lower its resolution under load. Turn off to keep full resolution for the selected console mode.";
+"setting.DM_RENDER_SCALE.label" = "Render scale";
+"setting.DM_OPMODE.label" = "Console mode";
+"setting.DM_OPMODE.option.1" = "Docked";
+"setting.DM_OPMODE.option.0" = "Handheld";
+"setting.DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE.label" = "Upscaling";
+"setting.DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE.note" = "Uses more GPU time and can increase heat.";
+"setting.DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE.option.off" = "Standard";
+"setting.DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE.option.metalfx" = "MetalFX";
+"setting.DM_LANG.label" = "Game language";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.en-US" = "American English";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.en-GB" = "British English";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.ja" = "Japanese";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.fr" = "French";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.de" = "German";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.es-419" = "Latin American Spanish";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.es" = "Spanish";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.it" = "Italian";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.nl" = "Dutch";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.fr-CA" = "Canadian French";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.pt" = "Portuguese";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.ru" = "Russian";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.ko" = "Korean";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.zh-Hant" = "Traditional Chinese";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.zh-Hans" = "Simplified Chinese";
+"setting.DM_LANG.option.pt-BR" = "Brazilian Portuguese";
+"setting.DM_FULLSCREEN.label" = "Display mode";
+"setting.DM_FULLSCREEN.option.0" = "Window";
+"setting.DM_FULLSCREEN.option.1" = "Fullscreen";
+"setting.DM_SHOW_FPS.label" = "Frame-rate counter";
+"setting.DM_TOUCH_HAPTICS.label" = "Touch feedback";
+"setting.DM_RUMBLE.label" = "Game rumble";
+"setting.DM_RUMBLE_GAIN.label" = "Rumble strength";
+"setting.DM_RUMBLE_MIN.label" = "Rumble cutoff";
+"setting.DM_PAD_PRESS_TO_JOIN.label" = "Press a button to join";
+"setting.DM_SW2.label" = "Switch 2 controllers";
+"setting.DM_SW2.note" = "Plays Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller 2 over Bluetooth: hold Sync on one during the game to pair it. macOS asks once for Bluetooth access.";
+"setting.DM_PRESENT_SNAP.label" = "Frame buffering";
+"setting.DM_PRESENT_SNAP.note" = "Up to one frame more display latency.";
+"setting.DM_PSO_MTL4.label" = "Metal 4 pipelines";
+"setting.DM_PSO_MTL4.note" = "Keeps a pipeline archive; uses more memory.";
+"setting.DM_PSO_PREBUILD.label" = "Pipeline prebuild";
+"setting.DM_PSO_PREBUILD.note" = "The first start waits a few minutes for it, once.";
+"setting.DM_NVN_ENC_THREAD.label" = "Encode thread";
+"setting.DM_FPS_HOLD.label" = "Hold frames when late";
+"setting.DM_METAL_HUD.label" = "Performance HUD";
+
+"setting.DM_UPSCALER.label" = "Game's upscaler";
+"setting.DM_UPSCALER.option.game" = "Game's own";
+"setting.DM_UPSCALER.option.metalfx" = "MetalFX";
+"setting.DM_PICTURE_FIT.label" = "Picture";
+"setting.DM_PICTURE_FIT.note" = "Fill crops the game's 16:9 picture to cover the screen. Health bars, subtitles or maps near the edges can be cut off. A full-screen picture without cropping needs a patch for each game.";
+"setting.DM_PICTURE_FIT.option.fit" = "Fit";
+"setting.DM_PICTURE_FIT.option.fill" = "Fill";
+"setting.DM_SCREEN_ASPECT.label" = "Picture shape";
+"setting.DM_SCREEN_ASPECT.note" = "Renders about a quarter more pixels: a little slower and warmer.";
+"setting.DM_SCREEN_ASPECT.option.auto" = "Match screen";
+"setting.DM_SCREEN_ASPECT.option.1.43" = "iPhone Duo screen (1.43:1)";
+"setting.DM_SCREEN_ASPECT.option.0" = "16:9 (Switch)";
+
+// Cloud-save controls added by the shared launcher flow.
+"Cancel" = "Cancel";
+"Checking the cloud save…" = "Checking the cloud save…";
+"Play This Mac's Save" = "Play This Mac's Save";
+"Play This iPhone's Save" = "Play This iPhone's Save";
+"Play Without It" = "Play Without It";
+"Try Again" = "Try Again";
diff --git a/dm/ios/project.yml b/dm/ios/project.yml
index d89d0aed8f..a919cbe5bb 100644
--- a/dm/ios/project.yml
+++ b/dm/ios/project.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # iOS project (xcodegen); build_ipa.sh generates Gen/ and the game resource paths first. Xcode stages resources before signing; the unsigned IPA command skips that copy and packs directly from the external drive.
 name: DmIOS
 options:
+  developmentLanguage: en
   bundleIdPrefix: ${DM_BUNDLE_ID}
   deploymentTarget:
     iOS: "26.0"   # Graphics replay uses Metal 4 (MTL4CommandQueue etc., from iOS 26)
diff --git a/dm/ios/tests/launcher_localization_check.swift b/dm/ios/tests/launcher_localization_check.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e1d00d2d72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dm/ios/tests/launcher_localization_check.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+// Native bundle lookup with a synthetic translation, plus legacy JSON and missing-key fallback.
+import Foundation
+
+@main struct LocalizationCheck {
+    static func main() throws {
+        let file = try JSONDecoder().decode(SettingsFile.self, from: Data(contentsOf: URL(fileURLWithPath: CommandLine.arguments[1])))
+        let env = Dictionary(uniqueKeysWithValues: file.settings.map { ($0.env, $0) })
+        if CommandLine.arguments.contains("--english") {
+            precondition(Bundle.main.preferredLocalizations.first == "en", "unsupported locale did not fall back to English")
+            precondition(launcherString("Play") == "Play")
+            precondition(env["DM_OPMODE"]!.displayLabel() == "Console mode")
+            precondition(env["DM_OPMODE"]!.displayOption(["0", "Handheld"]) == "Handheld")
+            precondition(env["DM_OPMODE"]!.displaySection() == "Game")
+            print("launcher localization: passed")
+            return
+        }
+        precondition(Bundle.main.preferredLocalizations.first == "fr", "fixture language was not selected")
+        precondition(launcherString("Play") == "Translated play")
+        precondition(launcherString("Try Again") == "Translated retry")
+        precondition(launcherString("Checking the cloud save…") == "Checking the cloud save…")
+        precondition(launcherString("Unknown button") == "Unknown button")
+        precondition(String(format: launcherString("Version %@"), "1.2.3") == "1.2.3 translated version")
+        let mode = env["DM_OPMODE"]!
+        precondition(mode.displayLabel() == "Translated console mode")
+        precondition(mode.displaySection() == "Translated section")
+        precondition(mode.displayOption(["0", "Handheld"]) == "Translated handheld")
+        precondition(mode.displayOption(["1", "Docked"]) == "Docked") // missing translation uses JSON text
+        precondition(mode.displayNote().isEmpty)
+        let upscale = env["DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE"]!
+        precondition(upscale.displayNote() == "Translated GPU note")
+        precondition(env["DM_LANG"]!.displayOption(["ja", "Japanese"]) == "Translated Japanese")
+        // A front end's JSON predating the optional keys is still readable, and an unknown future key stays readable too.
+        for key in [nil, "setting.FUTURE.label"] as [String?] {
+            var row: [String: Any] = ["env": "DM_TEST", "kind": "toggle", "label": "Legacy label", "note": "Legacy note", "default": "0"]
+            row["label_key"] = key
+            let old = try JSONDecoder().decode(Setting.self, from: JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject: row))
+            precondition(old.displayLabel() == "Legacy label" && old.displayNote() == "Legacy note")
+            precondition(old.displaySection() == "Game" && old.onValue == "1" && old.offValue == "0")
+        }
+        let suite = "org.nxnative.localization-test." + UUID().uuidString
+        let defaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: suite)!
+        defer { defaults.removePersistentDomain(forName: suite) }
+        let model = LauncherModel(file.settings, defaults: defaults)
+        // Both headings have the same synthetic translation; grouping and persistence still use raw identities and values.
+        precondition(model.sections.contains("Game") && model.sections.contains("Controls"))
+        precondition(model.rows(in: "Game").contains { $0.env == "DM_OPMODE" })
+        precondition(!model.rows(in: "Controls").contains { $0.env == "DM_OPMODE" })
+        model.values["DM_OPMODE"] = "0"
+        model.apply()
+        precondition(defaults.string(forKey: "launcher.DM_OPMODE") == "0")
+        precondition(String(cString: getenv("DM_OPMODE")) == "0")
+        precondition(model.values["DM_LANG"] == env["DM_LANG"]!.def) // launcher locale does not select the game language
+        print("launcher localization: passed")
+    }
+}
diff --git a/dm/ios/tests/test_launcher_localization.py b/dm/ios/tests/test_launcher_localization.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c2728ccd35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dm/ios/tests/test_launcher_localization.py
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+"""Use real Apple string tables and the production settings model, without game files or a UI."""
+import json
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import plistlib
+import re
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+REPO = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[3]
+sys.path.insert(0, str(REPO / 'dm/games'))
+import settings
+
+
+@unittest.skipUnless(sys.platform == 'darwin' and shutil.which('xcrun'), 'needs the macOS Swift toolchain')
+class LauncherLocalizationTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_english_catalog_covers_the_settings_table(self):
+        path = REPO / 'dm/ios/Sources/Resources/en.lproj/Launcher.strings'
+        catalog = json.loads(subprocess.check_output(['plutil', '-convert', 'json', '-o', '-', str(path)], text=True))
+        for section in settings.SECTIONS:
+            self.assertEqual(catalog['section.' + section], section)
+        for _, (env, kind, values, _, _, _, label, note, _) in settings.rows():
+            with self.subTest(env=env):
+                self.assertEqual(catalog[f'setting.{env}.label'], label)
+                if note:
+                    self.assertEqual(catalog[f'setting.{env}.note'], note)
+                if kind == 'choice':
+                    options = settings.nacp.LANGUAGES if values == 'languages' else [v.split('?', 1)[0].split('=', 1) for v in values.split(',')]
+                    for value, text in options:
+                        self.assertEqual(catalog[f'setting.{env}.option.{value}'], text)
+
+    def test_literal_ui_keys_are_in_the_catalog(self):
+        path = REPO / 'dm/ios/Sources/Resources/en.lproj/Launcher.strings'
+        catalog = json.loads(subprocess.check_output(['plutil', '-convert', 'json', '-o', '-', str(path)], text=True))
+        for source in ('dm/ios/Sources/Launcher.swift', 'dm/ios/Sources/LauncherRow.swift', 'dm/mac/Launcher.swift'):
+            for literal in re.findall(r'launcherString\(("(?:[^"\\]|\\.)*")', (REPO / source).read_text()):
+                key = json.loads(literal)
+                with self.subTest(source=source, key=key):
+                    self.assertEqual(catalog[key], key)
+
+    def test_native_translation_fallback_and_raw_values(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
+            root = Path(tmp)
+            app = root / 'Fixture.app/Contents'
+            exe = app / 'MacOS/check'
+            exe.parent.mkdir(parents=True)
+            resources = app / 'Resources'
+            resources.mkdir()
+            shutil.copytree(REPO / 'dm/ios/Sources/Resources/en.lproj', resources / 'en.lproj')
+            (app / 'Info.plist').write_bytes(plistlib.dumps({'CFBundleIdentifier': 'org.nxnative.localization-test',
+                'CFBundleExecutable': 'check', 'CFBundleDevelopmentRegion': 'en', 'CFBundlePackageType': 'APPL'}))
+            translated = resources / 'fr.lproj'
+            translated.mkdir()
+            strings = {'Play': 'Translated play', 'Try Again': 'Translated retry', 'Version %@': '%1$@ translated version',
+                'setting.DM_OPMODE.label': 'Translated console mode', 'setting.DM_OPMODE.option.0': 'Translated handheld',
+                'setting.DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE.note': 'Translated GPU note', 'setting.DM_LANG.option.ja': 'Translated Japanese',
+                'section.Game': 'Translated section', 'section.Controls': 'Translated section'}
+            (translated / 'Launcher.strings').write_text('\n'.join(f'{json.dumps(k)} = {json.dumps(v)};' for k, v in strings.items()))
+            with patch.dict(os.environ, {'GFXAPI': 'nvn', 'SETTINGS_PLATFORM': 'mac', 'DM_LANG': 'en-US'}), \
+                    patch.object(settings.nacp, 'languages', return_value=['en-US', 'ja']):
+                data = settings.build('01007EF00011E000', root, root / 'control.nacp')
+            (root / 'launcher.json').write_text(json.dumps(data))
+            command = ['xcrun', '-sdk', 'macosx', 'swiftc', '-swift-version', '5', '-parse-as-library',
+                       '-module-cache-path', str(root / 'module-cache'), '-o', str(exe),
+                       str(REPO / 'dm/ios/Sources/LauncherSettings.swift'), str(Path(__file__).with_name('launcher_localization_check.swift'))]
+            compile_result = subprocess.run(command, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=300)
+            self.assertEqual(compile_result.returncode, 0, compile_result.stdout + compile_result.stderr)
+            env = {k: v for k, v in os.environ.items() if not k.startswith('DM_')}
+            for language, extra in [('fr', []), ('de', ['--english'])]:  # no German table in this fixture
+                with self.subTest(language=language):
+                    result = subprocess.run([str(exe), str(root / 'launcher.json'), '-AppleLanguages', f'({language})', *extra], env=env,
+                                            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=60)
+                    self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stdout + result.stderr)
+                    self.assertIn('launcher localization: passed', result.stdout)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/dm/ios/tools/build_smoke.py b/dm/ios/tools/build_smoke.py
index aa5732a822..362d3090b5 100644
--- a/dm/ios/tools/build_smoke.py
+++ b/dm/ios/tools/build_smoke.py
@@ -96,6 +96,13 @@ def run(*command, capture=False):
                            (shaders / marker, app / 'msl' / f'b-{chain}' / marker)):
         if source.read_bytes() != packed.read_bytes():
             raise RuntimeError(f'Resource staging failed: {packed}')
+    for table in (ios / 'Sources/Resources').glob('*.lproj/Launcher.strings'):
+        packed = app / table.parent.name / table.name
+        # Xcode may compile .strings to a binary plist, so compare their parsed contents.
+        source_strings = json.loads(run('plutil', '-convert', 'json', '-o', '-', table, capture=True).stdout)
+        packed_strings = json.loads(run('plutil', '-convert', 'json', '-o', '-', packed, capture=True).stdout)
+        if source_strings != packed_strings:
+            raise RuntimeError(f'Launcher localization staging failed: {packed}')
     if (app / '_CodeSignature').exists() or (app / 'embedded.mobileprovision').exists():
         raise RuntimeError('The smoke-test app must be unsigned')
     print(f'iOS smoke build passed: {executable}', flush=True)
diff --git a/dm/mac/Launcher.swift b/dm/mac/Launcher.swift
index a990d05b40..575841436a 100644
--- a/dm/mac/Launcher.swift
+++ b/dm/mac/Launcher.swift
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ enum SaveCheck {
             let a = NSAlert()
             a.messageText = SaveSyncReport.unreadableTitle
             a.informativeText = r?.unreadableMessage(here: "Mac") ?? ""
-            a.addButton(withTitle: "Play This Mac's Save")
-            a.addButton(withTitle: "Try Again")
+            a.addButton(withTitle: launcherString("Play This Mac's Save"))
+            a.addButton(withTitle: launcherString("Try Again"))
             a.addButton(withTitle: cancel)
             a.buttons[2].keyEquivalent = "\u{1b}"
             switch a.runModal() {
@@ -94,10 +94,10 @@ enum SaveCheck {
             if sem.wait(timeout: .now() + 0.5) == .timedOut {   // a cloud file to download: say so, and let the player go on without it
                 app.setActivationPolicy(.regular); app.activate(ignoringOtherApps: true)
                 let a = NSAlert()
-                a.messageText = "Checking the cloud save…"
+                a.messageText = launcherString("Checking the cloud save…")
                 a.informativeText = "Waiting for iCloud to deliver this game's save."
-                a.addButton(withTitle: "Play Without It")
-                a.addButton(withTitle: "Quit")
+                a.addButton(withTitle: launcherString("Play Without It"))
+                a.addButton(withTitle: launcherString("Quit"))
                 box.waiting = true
                 let answer = a.runModal()
                 box.waiting = false
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ enum SaveCheck {
             box.lock.lock(); let r = box.report; box.lock.unlock()
             if case .play(let choice) = SaveSyncReport.step(r) { apply(choice); return true }
             app.setActivationPolicy(.regular); app.activate(ignoringOtherApps: true)
-            switch ask(r, cancel: "Quit") {
+            switch ask(r, cancel: launcherString("Quit")) {
             case .play(let choice): apply(choice); return true
             case .retry: continue
             case .cancel: return false
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ struct LauncherView: View {
             HStack(spacing: 12) {
                 Image(nsImage: NSApp.applicationIconImage).resizable().frame(width: 64, height: 64).accessibilityHidden(true)
                 VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 2) {
-                    Text(info("CFBundleName") ?? "Game").font(.title2.weight(.semibold))
-                    Text("Version \(info("CFBundleShortVersionString") ?? "1.0")").foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+                    Text(info("CFBundleName") ?? launcherString("Game")).font(.title2.weight(.semibold))
+                    Text(String(format: launcherString("Version %@"), info("CFBundleShortVersionString") ?? "1.0")).foregroundStyle(.secondary)
                 }
                 Spacer()
             }
@@ -141,15 +141,15 @@ struct LauncherView: View {
                 settingSections(basic: true)
                 CloudSavesSection()
                 Section {
-                    DisclosureGroup("Advanced settings", isExpanded: $advanced) {}
+                    DisclosureGroup(launcherString("Advanced settings"), isExpanded: $advanced) {}
                 }
                 if advanced {
                     settingSections(basic: false)
                     Section {
-                        Button("Reset to tested defaults") { m.reset() }
+                        Button(launcherString("Reset to tested defaults")) { m.reset() }
                             .disabled(!m.changed)
                     } footer: {
-                        Text("Brings back all settings this game was tested with.")
+                        Text(launcherString("Brings back all settings this game was tested with."))
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -160,15 +160,15 @@ struct LauncherView: View {
                 fit(extraHeight)
             }
             HStack {
-                Toggle("Show this window at launch", isOn: $show).toggleStyle(.checkbox)
+                Toggle(launcherString("Show this window at launch"), isOn: $show).toggleStyle(.checkbox)
                 Spacer()
                 if checking {
                     ProgressView().controlSize(.small)
-                    Text("Checking the cloud save…").foregroundStyle(.secondary)
-                    Button("Play Without It") { checking = false; SaveCheck.apply("offline"); done(true) }
+                    Text(launcherString("Checking the cloud save…")).foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+                    Button(launcherString("Play Without It")) { checking = false; SaveCheck.apply("offline"); done(true) }
                 }
-                Button("Quit") { done(false) }
-                Button("Play") { start() }.keyboardShortcut(.defaultAction).disabled(checking)
+                Button(launcherString("Quit")) { done(false) }
+                Button(launcherString("Play")) { start() }.keyboardShortcut(.defaultAction).disabled(checking)
             }
             .padding(20)
         }
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ struct LauncherView: View {
             DispatchQueue.main.async {
                 guard checking, check == mine else { return }   // the player played without it
                 checking = false
-                switch SaveCheck.ask(r, cancel: "Cancel") {
+                switch SaveCheck.ask(r, cancel: launcherString("Cancel")) {
                 case .play(let choice): SaveCheck.apply(choice); done(true)
                 case .retry: start()
                 case .cancel: break   // back to the window, nothing chosen
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ struct LauncherView: View {
         ForEach(m.sections(basic: basic), id: \.self) { section in
             let rows = m.rows(in: section, basic: basic)
             if !rows.isEmpty {
-                Section(section) {
+                Section(rows[0].displaySection()) {
                     ForEach(rows) { SettingRow(s: $0, m: m) }
                 }
             }
@@ -217,26 +217,26 @@ struct CloudSavesSection: View {
 
     var body: some View {
         Section {
-            LabeledContent("Cloud saves") {
-                Text(fixed.map { "\(Self.shown($0)) (env.txt)" } ?? (folder.isEmpty ? "Off" : Self.shown(folder)))
+            LabeledContent(launcherString("Cloud saves")) {
+                Text(fixed.map { String(format: launcherString("%@ (env.txt)"), Self.shown($0)) } ?? (folder.isEmpty ? launcherString("Off") : Self.shown(folder)))
                     .foregroundStyle(.secondary).lineLimit(1).truncationMode(.head)
             }
             if fixed == nil {
                 HStack {
-                    Button(folder.isEmpty ? "Choose a folder…" : "Choose a different folder…", action: choose)
-                    if !folder.isEmpty { Button("Turn off") { folder = "" } }
+                    Button(folder.isEmpty ? launcherString("Choose a folder…") : launcherString("Choose a different folder…"), action: choose)
+                    if !folder.isEmpty { Button(launcherString("Turn off")) { folder = "" } }
                 }
             }
         } footer: {
-            Text("Choose the iCloud Drive folder the iPhone app uses for this game. The save comes in when the game starts and goes out after each save; a save that is replaced is kept in the save's -backups folder.")
+            Text(launcherString("Choose the iCloud Drive folder the iPhone app uses for this game. The save comes in when the game starts and goes out after each save; a save that is replaced is kept in the save's -backups folder."))
         }
     }
 
     private func choose() {
         let panel = NSOpenPanel()
         panel.canChooseDirectories = true; panel.canChooseFiles = false; panel.allowsMultipleSelection = false; panel.canCreateDirectories = true
-        panel.prompt = "Use for Cloud Saves"
-        panel.message = "The folder the iPhone app chose in its launcher's Cloud saves"
+        panel.prompt = launcherString("Use for Cloud Saves")
+        panel.message = launcherString("The folder the iPhone app chose in its launcher's Cloud saves")
         panel.directoryURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: folder.isEmpty ? Self.drive : folder)
         if panel.runModal() == .OK, let url = panel.url { folder = url.path }
     }
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ struct CloudSavesSection: View {
     /// A path under iCloud Drive as the Finder and the Files app name it: iCloud Drive › Documents › dev › Zelda; any other path as it is
     static func shown(_ path: String) -> String {
         guard path == drive || path.hasPrefix(drive + "/") else { return path }
-        return (["iCloud Drive"] + path.dropFirst(drive.count).split(separator: "/").map(String.init)).joined(separator: " › ")
+        return ([launcherString("iCloud Drive")] + path.dropFirst(drive.count).split(separator: "/").map(String.init)).joined(separator: " › ")
     }
 }
 
@@ -258,10 +258,10 @@ private final class Launcher: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSWindowDelegate
     init(_ model: LauncherModel) { self.model = model }
 
     func applicationDidFinishLaunching(_ n: Notification) {
-        let name = info("CFBundleName") ?? "Game"
+        let name = info("CFBundleName") ?? launcherString("Game")
         let menu = NSMenu(), item = NSMenuItem(), app = NSMenu()
-        app.addItem(withTitle: "Close Window", action: #selector(NSWindow.performClose(_:)), keyEquivalent: "w")
-        app.addItem(withTitle: "Quit \(name)", action: #selector(NSApplication.terminate(_:)), keyEquivalent: "q")
+        app.addItem(withTitle: launcherString("Close Window"), action: #selector(NSWindow.performClose(_:)), keyEquivalent: "w")
+        app.addItem(withTitle: String(format: launcherString("Quit %@"), name), action: #selector(NSApplication.terminate(_:)), keyEquivalent: "q")
         item.submenu = app; menu.addItem(item); NSApp.mainMenu = menu
         let w = NSWindow(contentRect: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 560, height: 660), styleMask: [.titled, .closable, .miniaturizable, .resizable], backing: .buffered, defer: false)
         w.title = name; w.isReleasedWhenClosed = false; w.delegate = self
diff --git a/dm/mac/pack_app.py b/dm/mac/pack_app.py
index f7c8d7c1e4..012bcdded0 100755
--- a/dm/mac/pack_app.py
+++ b/dm/mac/pack_app.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def settings_rules(listed):   # DMSettings: what the launcher accepts as each se
 def info_plist(a, minos, icon):
     # LSSupportsGameMode off: macOS's Game Mode holds the GPU at its lowest clock while it is busy (docs/reference/frame-rate.md, macOS Game Mode holds the GPU at its lowest clock)
     p = {'CFBundleName': a.name, 'CFBundleDisplayName': a.name, 'CFBundleIdentifier': a.bundle_id or f'org.nxnative.{a.title_id.lower()}',
-         'CFBundleVersion': a.version or '1.0', 'CFBundleShortVersionString': a.version or '1.0', 'CFBundlePackageType': 'APPL', 'CFBundleExecutable': EXE,
+         'CFBundleVersion': a.version or '1.0', 'CFBundleShortVersionString': a.version or '1.0', 'CFBundlePackageType': 'APPL', 'CFBundleDevelopmentRegion': 'en', 'CFBundleExecutable': EXE,
          'CFBundleInfoDictionaryVersion': '6.0', 'LSMinimumSystemVersion': minos, 'LSArchitecturePriority': ['arm64'], 'NSHighResolutionCapable': True,
          'NSBluetoothAlwaysUsageDescription': 'Connect Switch 2 Joy-Con and Pro Controllers over Bluetooth.',
          'LSApplicationCategoryType': a.category or 'public.app-category.games', 'LSSupportsGameMode': False, 'DMTitleID': a.title_id.upper(), 'DMRomfsMarker': a.marker or '', 'DMLanguage': a.lang or 'en-US', 'DMSaveSyncChoice': 1}
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ def pack(a):
         if not codesign: raise SystemExit('codesign is not available')
         codesign = Path(codesign).resolve()
         minos = min_os(a.host)
-        sources = [Path(__file__).resolve(), HERE / 'launcher.c', HERE.parent / 'host/romfs_image.h', HERE.parent / 'host/save_sync.c', HERE.parent / 'host/save_sync.h', HERE.parent / 'tools/romfs.py'] + swift_sources()
+        sources = [Path(__file__).resolve(), HERE / 'launcher.c', HERE.parent / 'host/romfs_image.h', HERE.parent / 'host/save_sync.c', HERE.parent / 'host/save_sync.h', HERE.parent / 'tools/romfs.py'] + swift_sources() + sorted((HERE.parent / 'ios/Sources/Resources').rglob('*.strings'))
         inputs = {'options': vars(a), 'files': [(str(p), p.stat().st_mode, digest(p), os.readlink(p) if p.is_symlink() else None) for p in files + sources],
                   'trees': [(p, inventory(Path(p))) for p in (a.romfs, a.aoc, a.html, *(str(x[1]) for x in programs), *(str(x[3]) for x in programs)) if p and Path(p).exists()],
                   'tools': [[str(c), c.stat().st_mode, c.stat().st_size, c.stat().st_mtime_ns, c.stat().st_ctime_ns, run([c, '--version']).strip()] for c in (clang, swiftc)] + [
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ def pack(a):
     if fonts: copy(fonts, dm / 'font', False)
     if a.env_file: shutil.copyfile(a.env_file, dm / 'env.txt')
     if a.settings: shutil.copyfile(a.settings, dm / 'launcher.json')
+    shutil.copytree(HERE.parent / 'ios/Sources/Resources', res, dirs_exist_ok=True)
     step('shader libraries'); msl_dst = res / 'msl' / (a.msl_name or msl.name); msl_dst.parent.mkdir(exist_ok=True); copy_msl(msl, msls, msl_dst, clone['msl'])
     if aoc: step('add-on content'); copy([aoc], res / 'aoc', clone['aoc'])
     if pso: step('pipeline archive'); (res / 'pso').mkdir(); copy(pso, res / 'pso', clone['pso'])
diff --git a/dm/tools/tests/test_launcher_settings.py b/dm/tools/tests/test_launcher_settings.py
index db5bfb597f..5e9349d437 100644
--- a/dm/tools/tests/test_launcher_settings.py
+++ b/dm/tools/tests/test_launcher_settings.py
@@ -38,6 +38,21 @@ def test_game_language_row_offers_the_games_own_or_every_language_when_unknown(s
         s = rows_with_languages([])['DM_LANG']   # no control data: a dump, a NUP without a NACP
         self.assertEqual(s['options'], [list(l) for l in settings.nacp.LANGUAGES])
         self.assertEqual((s['default'], s['note']), ('en-US', settings.UNKNOWN_LANGUAGES))
+    def test_localization_keys_preserve_setting_values(self):
+        ios, mac = build(BOTW, 'nvn'), build(BOTW, 'nvn', 'mac')
+        for rows in (ios, mac):
+            s = rows['DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE']
+            self.assertIn('label_key', s)
+            self.assertEqual(s['label_key'], 'setting.DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE.label')
+            self.assertEqual(s['note_key'], 'setting.DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE.note')
+            self.assertEqual(s['section_key'], 'section.Game')
+            self.assertEqual(s['option_keys'], {'off': 'setting.DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE.option.off',
+                                               'metalfx': 'setting.DM_PRESENT_UPSCALE.option.metalfx'})
+            self.assertEqual(s['options'], [['off', 'Standard'], ['metalfx', 'MetalFX']])
+            self.assertEqual(s['default'], 'off')
+            self.assertNotIn('note_key', rows['DM_RUMBLE'])  # empty notes stay empty
+            self.assertNotIn('option_keys', rows['DM_RUMBLE'])
+        self.assertEqual(mac['DM_FULLSCREEN']['option_keys']['0'], 'setting.DM_FULLSCREEN.option.0')
 
     def test_upscaling_is_opt_in_for_every_graphics_api(self):
         for api, gid in [('nvn', BOTW), ('vulkan', '0100535012974000'), ('gl', '010014E00DB56000')]:
@@ -140,6 +155,21 @@ def test_written_lists_follow_the_schema(self):
                     patch.object(settings.nacp, 'languages', return_value=['en-US']), patch.dict(os.environ, {'GFXAPI': api, **({'SETTINGS_PLATFORM': platform} if platform else {})}):
                 self.assertEqual(conforms(settings.build(gid, tmp, Path(tmp) / 'control.nacp'), schema, schema), [])
 
+    def test_localization_keys_follow_conditional_options(self):
+        for gid, platform, offered in [('04007EF01F8AE000', 'mac', True), ('04007EF01F8AE000', 'ios', False), ('010056B015FE8000', 'mac', False)]:
+            row = build(gid, 'nvn', platform)['DM_FPS_TARGET']
+            self.assertEqual(row['option_keys'], {v: f'setting.DM_FPS_TARGET.option.{v}' for v, _ in row['options']})
+            self.assertEqual('120' in row['option_keys'], offered)
+
+    def test_localization_fields_are_optional_and_keep_schema_1(self):
+        schema = json.loads((ROOT / 'docs/launcher.schema.json').read_text(encoding='utf-8'))
+        row = build(BOTW, 'nvn')['DM_OPMODE']
+        legacy = {k: v for k, v in row.items() if k not in ('label_key', 'note_key', 'section_key', 'option_keys')}
+        for setting in (row, legacy):
+            self.assertEqual(conforms({'schema': 1, 'game': BOTW, 'settings': [setting]}, schema, schema), [])
+        for bad in ({'label_key': 1}, {'option_keys': {'0': 1}}):
+            self.assertNotEqual(conforms({'settings': [{**row, **bad}], 'game': BOTW}, schema, schema), [])
+
     def test_schema_1_takes_new_sections_but_not_new_kinds(self):
         """A section is a heading a reader draws by its name, so a new one stays schema 1; a new kind would not"""
         schema = json.loads((ROOT / 'docs/launcher.schema.json').read_text(encoding='utf-8'))
@@ -186,7 +216,7 @@ def test_table_format_is_strict(self):
 
 
 def conforms(value, node, root, at='$'):
-    """The JSON Schema keywords launcher.schema.json uses (type, required, properties, items, enum, const, pattern, $ref, allOf with
+    """The JSON Schema keywords launcher.schema.json uses (type, required, properties, items, enum, const, pattern, additionalProperties, $ref, allOf with
     if / then), as a list of problems: enough to hold the written lists to the contract without a jsonschema package"""
     if '$ref' in node: return conforms(value, root['$defs'][node['$ref'].rsplit('/', 1)[1]], root, at)
     problems = []
@@ -199,6 +229,7 @@ def conforms(value, node, root, at='$'):
         problems += [f'{at}: no {k}' for k in node.get('required', []) if k not in value]
         for k, v in value.items():
             if k in node.get('properties', {}): problems += conforms(v, node['properties'][k], root, f'{at}.{k}')
+            elif isinstance(node.get('additionalProperties'), dict): problems += conforms(v, node['additionalProperties'], root, f'{at}.{k}')
         for rule in node.get('allOf', []):
             if not conforms(value, rule['if'], root, at): problems += conforms(value, rule['then'], root, at)
     if isinstance(value, list) and 'items' in node:
diff --git a/dm/tools/tests/test_nsp_mac_app.py b/dm/tools/tests/test_nsp_mac_app.py
index f805fcec17..63715eaedd 100644
--- a/dm/tools/tests/test_nsp_mac_app.py
+++ b/dm/tools/tests/test_nsp_mac_app.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.tmp = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='pack-reuse-', dir=TEST_ROOT)).resolve()
         self.addCleanup(shutil.rmtree, self.tmp)
         t = self.tmp
-        for d in ('patched', 'romfs/empty', 'msl', 'profile', 'font', 'aoc/1', 'pso', 'bin', 'sdk', 'source', 'host', 'tools', 'ios/Sources'):
+        for d in ('patched', 'romfs/empty', 'msl', 'profile', 'font', 'aoc/1', 'pso', 'bin', 'sdk', 'source', 'host', 'tools', 'ios/Sources/Resources/en.lproj'):
             (t / d).mkdir(parents=True)
         files = {
             'dmhost': b'host', 'patched/main.patched.bin': b'code', 'patched/main.fixups.tsv': b'fixups',
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ def setUp(self):
             'pso/gpu-prewarm-00.mtl4a': b'bases', 'pso/gpu-prewarm-00.keys': b'DMPSOIX1', 'pso/prewarm.tsv': b'stamp',   # --prebake's files and their index
             'env.txt': b'DM_TEST=1', 'split.tsv': b'split', 'icon.jpg': b'jpeg', 'source/launcher.c': b'launcher',
             'host/romfs_image.h': b'validator', 'host/save_sync.c': b'sync', 'host/save_sync.h': b'sync api', 'tools/romfs.py': b'reader',
+            'ios/Sources/Resources/en.lproj/Launcher.strings': b'"Play" = "Play";',
             'source/Launcher.swift': b'window', 'ios/Sources/LauncherSettings.swift': b'model', 'ios/Sources/LauncherRow.swift': b'rows', 'ios/Sources/SaveSyncReport.swift': b'report',
         }
         for n in pack_app.TABLES: files['profile/' + n] = n.encode()
@@ -195,6 +196,23 @@ def test_retargeted_input_symlink_repacks(self):
         self.assertEqual(os.readlink(packed), 'right.metallib')
         self.assert_reused()
 
+    def test_localization_tables_are_packed_and_invalidate_reuse(self):
+        self.pack(); self.assert_reused()
+        source = self.tmp / 'ios/Sources/Resources'
+        resources = Path(self.args.out) / 'Contents/Resources'
+        self.assertEqual((resources / 'en.lproj/Launcher.strings').read_bytes(), (source / 'en.lproj/Launcher.strings').read_bytes())
+        translated = source / 'fr.lproj/Launcher.strings'
+        translated.parent.mkdir()
+        translated.write_text('"Play" = "Translated play";')
+        self.assert_repacked()
+        self.assertEqual((resources / 'fr.lproj/Launcher.strings').read_bytes(), translated.read_bytes())
+        translated.write_text('"Play" = "Updated play";')
+        self.assert_repacked()
+        self.assertEqual((resources / 'fr.lproj/Launcher.strings').read_bytes(), translated.read_bytes())
+        translated.unlink()
+        self.assert_repacked()
+        self.assertFalse((resources / 'fr.lproj/Launcher.strings').exists())
+
     def test_unchanged_reuses_before_partial_clone_compile_and_sign(self):
         self.pack()
         partial = Path(self.args.out + '.partial'); partial.mkdir(); (partial / 'leave').write_text('untouched')
diff --git a/docs/agents/symptoms.md b/docs/agents/symptoms.md
index 5ad31fcfd7..aa2f2b052d 100644
--- a/docs/agents/symptoms.md
+++ b/docs/agents/symptoms.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ One line per symptom in the [subsystem references](../reference/): what you see
 - `vk_shaders.py` stops with `OSError: [Errno 7] Argument list too long: 'xcrun'` after the Metal compiles, in the `metallib` link. → [The Vulkan shader step fails with `Argument list too long: 'xcrun'`](../reference/packing.md#the-vulkan-shader-step-fails-with-argument-list-too-long-xcrun)
 - the shader split stops with `the split shader tables differ from game profile <id>'s`, on the game version the profile registers. → [The split shader tables differ from a game profile's](../reference/packing.md#the-split-shader-tables-differ-from-a-game-profiles)
 - `dmsh_build.py` stops with `[RED] <package> holds no record of shader <key>, which the shader map names: the package and the map come from different shader_split.py runs`, with `(its records carry no keys: it was split before they did)` for a package from before chain `3df44a5a4e0c`. Before that chain: wrong shaders wherever the game drew, such as a black screen with sound. → [The shader package and the shader map come from different splits](../reference/packing.md#the-shader-package-and-the-shader-map-come-from-different-splits)
+- the iOS and Mac launchers show English settings and buttons regardless of the app's language, and contributors must edit source code to translate them. → [Launcher buttons and settings cannot be translated](../reference/packing.md#launcher-buttons-and-settings-cannot-be-translated)
 - AltServer stops installing an IPA with "The file “b-<chain>.img” couldn’t be saved in the folder “msl”", although the RomFS stays out of it (`--romfs separate`). Other install tools install the same IPA. → [AltServer cannot install a file of 2 GiB or more](../reference/packing.md#altserver-cannot-install-a-file-of-2-gib-or-more)
 - packing succeeds, but `unzip -t` or Python's `ZipFile.testzip()` reports a bad CRC for a large deflated file. → [A streamed file changes size and the IPA fails its CRC check](../reference/packing.md#a-streamed-file-changes-size-and-the-ipa-fails-its-crc-check)
 - `devicectl` copying a large RomFS folder fails with POSIX error 24 (`EMFILE`) or spends most of its time on small files; deleting an old folder during iOS startup hits the launch watchdog. A push after changing extracted files can also keep sending old assets if an image is reused solely because it exists. → [RomFS folder transfers fail or leave stale game files](../reference/packing.md#romfs-folder-transfers-fail-or-leave-stale-game-files)
diff --git a/docs/development.md b/docs/development.md
index 44c96be81d..afe067520c 100644
--- a/docs/development.md
+++ b/docs/development.md
@@ -593,9 +593,12 @@ The bundle holds what the IPA holds, with the Mac's shader libraries:
   Resources/aoc/<index>/     the DLC, when the folder has some
   Resources/pso/             an NVN game's pipeline archive made offline for this Mac's GPU (<arch>.mtl4a, prebuilt.tsv; --gpu none leaves it out)
   Resources/dm/              the rewritten modules and their rewriter tables, nro.tsv, the profile's shader_map.tsv, pso_manifest.tsv, c1_full.tsv, cb_extent.tsv, shader_pairs.tsv and pso_pairs.tsv, font/, env.txt (--env-file)
+  Resources/<locale>.lproj/Launcher.strings   shared launcher translations
   Resources/AppIcon.icns
 ```
 
+The built-in Mac and iOS launchers share `dm/ios/Sources/Resources/<locale>.lproj/Launcher.strings`. Prepared Xcode projects and unsigned iOS builds include these tables; the Mac packer copies them into `Contents/Resources`. Adding, changing or removing a string table invalidates Mac bundle reuse. The launcher follows the app's preferred system language, independently of the game language (`DM_LANG`), with English fallbacks. See [Translating the built-in launchers](frontends.md#translating-the-built-in-launchers) for the resource layout and stable setting-key contract.
+
 The shader pairs are what the pipeline prebuild and the hybrid pipelines read ([Hybrid pipelines](#hybrid-pipelines)), as in the IPA; a profile without `pso_pairs.tsv` gets the shader split's copy (`--pso-pairs`). An app without them builds no base: [Shader-pair tables in a Mac app](reference/shaders.md#shader-pair-tables-in-a-mac-app).
 
 An NVN game's app also carries its pipeline archive made offline ([The pipeline archive made offline](#the-pipeline-archive-made-offline)), built by `pso_offline.py --platform macos` for this Mac's GPU (`MTLDevice.architecture`, e.g. `applegpu_g14s` for an M2 Max; `--gpu` names others, `none` builds none) into `<id>_build/pso/mac` and made again only when its inputs change, with a compute pipeline for each compute shader beside the bases. The launcher hands `Resources/pso` to the host as `DM_PSO_BUNDLE`, as the iOS app's `main.m` does: the first start builds no base (`pipeline archive bundled with the app: holds the bases of every shader pair (16 of 16 probed bases found …)`), and the bases (about 615 MB for Breath of the Wild) stay in the app instead of the player's `~/Library/Application Support`. On a Mac with another GPU, or after a macOS update that changed the GPU compiler, the app builds them there as before. `PSO_GPUS` is shared with the IPA, so a value that does not name this Mac's GPU (`g18p`, an iPhone's) still builds what it names, and the console says that this Mac's app will build its own bases. When every eligible pair declares function constants, `pso_offline.py` makes no archive and the app is packed without one.
diff --git a/docs/frontends.md b/docs/frontends.md
index 6f8fff0d47..ea51c86005 100644
--- a/docs/frontends.md
+++ b/docs/frontends.md
@@ -46,9 +46,23 @@ A built app carries the settings its game supports, as the iPhone app's settings
 - `base` (optional, render scale only): `{"docked": [w, h], "handheld": [w, h]}`, the 3D views' size that the scale multiplies, so a front end can show 0.75 as 1200×675 docked. It comes from the game's profile (`render_base`), and only some games have it.
 - `level` (optional): `basic` marks a setting to show first, for a front end that shows a short list and puts the rest behind a second step. Without it, the front end decides.
 - `needs` (optional): `<VAR>=<value>` makes the row a sub-setting of the row that sets `<VAR>`, drawn only while that row has that value (Rumble strength only while rumble is on). A row naming a variable the list does not have stays drawn.
+- `label_key`, `note_key`, `section_key` (optional): keys in the app's `Launcher.strings` table. The existing `label`, `note` and `section` text is the English fallback. Group rows by the original `section`, even when two translated headings are identical.
+- `option_keys` (optional): a map from a choice's raw value to its `Launcher.strings` key. Keep each `options` pair as `[value, English label]`, and fall back to that label if the key or translation is absent.
 - An app without the file has no settings to offer: start it as it is.
 
-**Compatibility.** [launcher.schema.json](launcher.schema.json) describes the file as a JSON Schema, so a front end can check it and generate its types from it. `schema` is 1, and schema 1 grows only by optional fields: a reader ignores fields it does not know, draws sections it does not know, and a field never changes its meaning. A new `kind` would be schema 2, since a reader cannot draw a kind it does not know. A list written before the field existed has no `schema` and is 1. In `settings.tsv`, the optional fields come from the last column, `meta` (`key=value` pairs separated by `;`); a new key is added in `settings.py`'s `META`, here and in the schema together, and `test_launcher_settings.py` fails when the three disagree.
+**Compatibility.** [launcher.schema.json](launcher.schema.json) describes the file as a JSON Schema, so a front end can check it and generate its types from it. `schema` is 1, and schema 1 grows only by optional fields: a reader ignores fields it does not know, draws sections it does not know, and a field never changes its meaning. A new `kind` would be schema 2, since a reader cannot draw a kind it does not know. A list written before the field existed has no `schema` and is 1. Localization keys are derived from the setting's environment variable, section and choice values. In `settings.tsv`, the other optional fields come from the last column, `meta` (`key=value` pairs separated by `;`); a new key is added in `settings.py`'s `META`, here and in the schema together, and `test_launcher_settings.py` fails when the three disagree.
+
+### Translating the built-in launchers
+
+Both launchers use the same Apple string table, [dm/ios/Sources/Resources/en.lproj/Launcher.strings](../dm/ios/Sources/Resources/en.lproj/Launcher.strings). To add a language, copy it to `<locale>.lproj/Launcher.strings` beside `en.lproj` (for example `zh-Hans.lproj`), and translate the values while keeping the keys. No Swift or `settings.tsv` changes are needed. Prepared and command-line iOS builds include these resources, and the Mac packer copies them into `Contents/Resources`. Rebuild the app to include a new translation; changing a table invalidates the Mac packer's reuse key.
+
+The launcher follows the app's preferred system language. **Game language** (`DM_LANG`) still selects only the language of the game. The English strings stay available when a locale, key or optional JSON field is missing; older front ends can continue rendering the existing English text. Game names, version values, folder names and environment values are not translation keys.
+
+- Launcher buttons, status text and menus, including the cloud-save retry and pending-check controls, use their English text as keys. Preserve the `%@` placeholder in formatted text such as `Version %@` and `Quit %@`; a translator can reposition it with `%1$@`.
+- Settings use stable keys: `setting.<env>.label`, `setting.<env>.note` (only for a nonempty note), `section.<section>`, and `setting.<env>.option.<value>`. For example, `setting.DM_OPMODE.option.0` translates **Handheld**; the stored value remains `"0"`. Adding a setting also adds its English entries to the shared table; the catalog test checks them against `settings.tsv` and the language list.
+- Third-party front ends can read the same tables or map these keys to their own localization system. They must keep raw option values, section identities, defaults and persistence keys unchanged.
+
+No translated language is claimed complete until its table is contributed and reviewed.
 
 ## Starting a game
 
diff --git a/docs/launcher.schema.json b/docs/launcher.schema.json
index 4bb97df3c0..01c84fdad0 100644
--- a/docs/launcher.schema.json
+++ b/docs/launcher.schema.json
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@
         "section": {"description": "The heading it goes under (Game, Controls and Performance today); sections and rows come in the order to show them. A reader draws a section it does not know like the others, under its name.", "type": "string"},
         "label": {"type": "string"},
         "note": {"description": "The line under the label; empty for most settings.", "type": "string"},
+        "label_key": {"description": "Optional Launcher.strings key; label is the English fallback.", "type": "string"},
+        "note_key": {"description": "Optional Launcher.strings key; note is the English fallback.", "type": "string"},
+        "section_key": {"description": "Optional Launcher.strings key; section is the English fallback and grouping identity.", "type": "string"},
+        "option_keys": {"description": "Optional map from a choice's raw value to its Launcher.strings key; the option label is the English fallback.", "type": "object", "additionalProperties": {"type": "string"}},
         "default": {"description": "The tested default for this app's platform, with profile defaults resolved.", "type": "string"},
         "options": {"description": "choice: [value, label] pairs.", "type": "array", "items": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}, "minItems": 2, "maxItems": 2}},
         "min": {"description": "range: the lowest value.", "type": "number"},
diff --git a/docs/reference/packing.md b/docs/reference/packing.md
index 49095a5bd2..8a17e44a2b 100644
--- a/docs/reference/packing.md
+++ b/docs/reference/packing.md
@@ -118,6 +118,15 @@
 - **Fix:** general, in the package format. `shader_split.py` writes each record's key (its 8 bytes) at record +0x08, in header bytes that were zero; `dmsh_build.py` `record_index` indexes a package by those keys and `rec_of` finds a row's record by its key, so a row's index no longer matters and a package that does not hold a row's shader stops the build before the first job. The control section is searched from +0x38, after the header. The map keeps its index column, so the profiles' tables did not change. A package from before the change carries no keys: the NSP script splits again by itself (its key covers `shader_split.py`), while a tool that hands `dmsh_build.py` an older package, such as `regress.py`'s use of a game's `<id>_build/shader/pkg`, needs that build run again first. `test_shader_package_keys` covers both sides.
 - **Found on:** [The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time](../../dm/games/0400486024DEC000/README.md) ([issue #1841](https://github.com/seedds/nxnative/issues/1841), diagnosed by its reporter). A build through NX2Apple 1.3.0 kept `ps_lib.bin` from an older split (4,711 records) beside a map from a split after 04df08d4 (4,707 rows), so the present pass's pixel shader `29e3c9dd92b8a571` was translated from a terrain shader's record and drew black.
 
+## Launcher text
+
+### Launcher buttons and settings cannot be translated
+
+- **Symptom:** the iOS and Mac launchers show English settings and buttons regardless of the app's language, and contributors must edit source code to translate them.
+- **Cause:** UI literals have no bundled string table; dynamic labels from `launcher.json` are rendered verbatim and have no translation keys.
+- **Fix:** both launchers look up a shared `Launcher.strings` table. The settings generator adds optional stable keys while retaining English fallbacks and the original values. Both app packers include the locale resources. The translation and compatibility contract is in [Translating the built-in launchers](../frontends.md#translating-the-built-in-launchers).
+- **Found on:** [issue #775](https://github.com/seedds/nxnative/issues/775), covering both launchers.
+
 ## IPA archives
 
 ### AltServer cannot install a file of 2 GiB or more