You can switch the language Windows uses for its menus, the Settings app, and File Explorer at any time. Windows downloads a language pack, sets it as the display language, and then asks you to sign out so the change can take effect. The steps are nearly identical in Windows 11 and Windows 10, and your files and apps aren’t affected. This guide covers both versions, explains the related settings that people often confuse with the display language, and helps you fix the problems that come up most.
Quick Answer
Open Settings > Time & language > Language & region, click Add a language, choose the language, make sure Language pack and Set as my Windows display language are selected, click Install, and then sign out and back in.
How to Change the Display Language in Windows 11
- Save your work and make sure the PC is connected to the internet, because language packs are downloaded.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings and select Time & language, then Language & region.
- Next to Preferred languages, click Add a language.
- Type the language name, select it, and click Next.
- Under Optional language features, make sure Language pack is selected. Add speech or handwriting if you want them.
- Under Language preferences, select Set as my Windows display language, then click Install.
- When Windows says it needs to sign you out to apply your new display language, click Sign out, then sign back in.
If the language is already installed, you don’t need to add it again. Just pick it from the Windows display language drop-down at the top of the Language & region page and sign out.
How to Change the Display Language in Windows 10
- Click Start > Settings and select Time & Language.
- Select Language (called Language & region on some recent versions).
- Under Preferred languages, click Add a language, choose the language, and click Next.
- Keep Install language pack and Set as my Windows display language selected, then click Install.
- Sign out and back in when prompted.
To switch back later, choose the original language in the Windows display language drop-down and sign out again.
Note: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. These steps still work on Windows 10, but upgrading to Windows 11 is the long-term way to keep getting security fixes.
Language Settings Explained
| Setting | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Windows display language | Menus, Settings, File Explorer and other Windows features |
| Preferred languages | The order Microsoft Store apps and websites use to pick a language |
| Keyboard layouts | What each key types |
| Regional format | How dates, times, numbers and currency look |
| Country or region | Store content and some location-based services |
Microsoft notes that changing the display language also moves that language to the top of the Preferred languages list, and the first supported language in that list is the one Microsoft Store apps and websites use. Desktop programs such as older software may keep their own language settings.
Watch Your Keyboard Layout at Sign-In
Changing the display language can change the keyboard layout to match. On the sign-in screen, check the input language indicator before you type your password, because some characters move between layouts. Use the reveal button in the password box to confirm what you’ve typed, and switch layouts from the indicator if needed. To manage layouts afterward, see how to switch the keyboard language in Windows.
Troubleshooting
“Only one language pack allowed”
This message means you have a single language edition of Windows, which supports just one display language. You can still add keyboard layouts and change regional formats. To get multiple display languages, Windows needs to be upgraded to an edition that supports them, such as Windows 11 Home or Pro.
Some text is still in the old language
Not every language is fully localized, so some parts of Windows can fall back to another language. Also check that the new language is at the top of Preferred languages, and sign out and back in once more.
The language pack won’t download
Check your internet connection and run Windows Update. On work or school PCs, an administrator may control language installs.
The sign-in screen and new accounts still use the old language
In Language & region, open Administrative language settings and use Copy settings to apply your current language to the welcome screen and new user accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the language delete my files?
No. Your files, apps and settings stay as they are.
Can I switch back?
Yes. Pick the original language under Windows display language and sign out. You can remove unused languages from Preferred languages afterward.
Do I need an internet connection?
Yes, to download a language pack. Switching between languages that are already installed works offline.
Does this change the language in Microsoft Office?
Summary
- Open Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
- Add the language with Language pack selected.
- Set it as the Windows display language.
- Sign out and back in.
Microsoft’s full reference is Manage the language and keyboard/input layout settings in Windows.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.