Change app language programmatically in Android

It's possible. You can set the locale. However, I would not recommend that. We've tried it at early stages, it's basically fighting the system.

We have the same requirement for changing the language but decided to settle to the fact that UI should be same as phone UI. It was working via setting locale but was too buggy. And you have to set it every time you enter activity (each activity) from my experience. here is a code if you still need this (again, I don't recommend that)

Resources res = context.getResources();
// Change locale settings in the app.
DisplayMetrics dm = res.getDisplayMetrics();
android.content.res.Configuration conf = res.getConfiguration();
conf.setLocale(new Locale(language_code.toLowerCase())); // API 17+ only.
// Use conf.locale = new Locale(...) if targeting lower versions
res.updateConfiguration(conf, dm);

If you have language specific content - you can change that base on the setting.

update on 26th of march 2020

    public static void setLocale(Activity activity, String languageCode) {
        Locale locale = new Locale(languageCode);
        Locale.setDefault(locale);
        Resources resources = activity.getResources();
        Configuration config = resources.getConfiguration();
        config.setLocale(locale);
        resources.updateConfiguration(config, resources.getDisplayMetrics());
    }

• NOTES: Language code cannot got '-' & must be 2 small case letter only

This code really works:

fa = Persian, en = English

• NOTES: Language code cannot got '-' & must be 2 small case letter only

Enter your language code in languageToLoad variable:

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.res.Configuration;
import android.os.Bundle;

public class Main extends Activity {
  /** Called when the activity is first created. */
  @Override
  public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

    String languageToLoad  = "fa"; // your language
    Locale locale = new Locale(languageToLoad); 
    Locale.setDefault(locale);
    Configuration config = new Configuration();
    config.locale = locale;
    getBaseContext().getResources().updateConfiguration(config, 
      getBaseContext().getResources().getDisplayMetrics());
    this.setContentView(R.layout.main);
  }
}

UPDATE on Jun 2021(Kotlin):

class Main : Activity() {
    // Called when the activity is first created.
    public override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        
        val config = resources.configuration
        val lang = "fa" // your language code
        val locale = Locale(lang)
        Locale.setDefault(locale)
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN_MR1)
            config.setLocale(locale)
        else
            config.locale = locale

        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.N)
            createConfigurationContext(config)
        resources.updateConfiguration(config, resources.displayMetrics)

        this.setContentView(R.layout.main)
    }
}