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Changing the display language on your Windows 11 operating system can be beneficial in various scenarios. Whether you’re learning a new language, need to switch the language for international business purposes, or simply want to explore Windows in a different language, it’s essential to know how to change the display language. In this blog post, you will discover step-by-step instructions on how to change the Windows display language on Windows 11. We will explore multiple methods, their pros and cons, alternative solutions, and provide some bonus tips to enhance your experience. So, let’s dive in and explore the world of language customization on Windows 11!
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Change Windows Display Language
There are several significant reasons why you may want to change the display language on your Windows 11 computer. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
- Learning a new language: Changing the display language to a language you’re currently learning allows you to immerse yourself in the language while using your computer. It can help you practice reading and understanding the language in various contexts.
- International business purposes: If you’re doing business with clients or partners from different countries, changing the display language to their native language can facilitate communication and create a more seamless experience.
- Exploring new cultures: Changing the display language to a different language can give you a unique perspective on other cultures and their use of technology. It can be a fun way to explore different linguistic environments.
Now that we understand the potential benefits of changing the display language, let’s explore the various methods you can use to achieve this on Windows 11.
Part 1. How to Change Windows Display Language via Settings
Changing the Windows display language through the Settings menu is the most straightforward method. Follow the steps below to switch the display language on your Windows 11 computer:
Method:
- Open the Settings app by clicking on the Start button and selecting the gear icon.
- In the Settings window, click on the "Time & Language" option.
- Select the "Language" tab from the left sidebar.
- Under the "Preferred languages" section, click on the "Add a language" button.
- Search for the desired language in the search bar or scroll through the list of available languages.
- Click on the language you want to add, and then click on the "Next" button.
- Choose the language variants or specific features you want to install, and click "Install".
- Once the installation is complete, click on the added language and select the "Set as default" button.
- Click on the added language again and select the "Options" button.
- Under the "Windows display language" section, click on the "Download" button to download the language pack.
Pros:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Easy and straightforward process to change the display language. | 1. Requires an active internet connection to download language packs. |
| 2. Provides a wide range of supported languages to choose from. | 2. The display language change applies to the entire system, including apps and settings, which may take some time to adjust to. |
| 3. Allows you to set a default language and have multiple languages installed simultaneously. | 3. Some languages may have incomplete translations, resulting in mixed language displays in certain contexts. |
Part 2. How to Change Windows Display Language via Control Panel
If you prefer using the traditional Control Panel interface, you can also change the display language through this method. Follow the steps below to switch the display language using the Control Panel on Windows 11:
Method:
- Right-click on the Start button and select "Run" from the context menu.
- In the Run dialog box, type "Control" and press Enter or click OK.
- In the Control Panel window, set the "View by" option to "Category" and click on the "Clock and Region" option.
- Click on the "Language" option under the "Region" section.
- Click on the "Add a language" button.
- Search for the desired language in the search bar or scroll through the list of available languages.
- Click on the language you want to add, and then click on the "Add" button.
- Once the language is added, click on it and select the "Move up" button to set it as the primary display language.
- Click on the added language again and select the "Options" button.
- Under the "Windows display language" section, click on the "Download" button to download the language pack.
Pros:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Suitable for users who are more familiar with the Control Panel interface. | 1. Requires an active internet connection to download language packs. |
| 2. Provides a similar set of language options as the Settings method. | 2. The display language change applies to the entire system, including apps and settings, which may take some time to adjust to. |
| 3. Allows you to set a default language and have multiple languages installed simultaneously. | 3. Some languages may have incomplete translations, resulting in mixed language displays in certain contexts. |
Part 3. How to Change Windows Display Language using PowerShell
PowerShell is a powerful command-line tool that allows you to automate various tasks on Windows 11, including changing the display language. Here’s how you can change the display language using PowerShell:
Method:
- Open PowerShell by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting "Windows PowerShell" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)".
- Type the following command to list all the installed languages:
Get-WinUserLanguageList - Identify the LanguageTag of the language you want to set as the display language.
- Type the following command to set the desired language as the display language, replacing
LANGUAGE_TAGwith the actual LanguageTag:$LangList = Get-WinUserLanguageList; $LangList.Add("LANGUAGE_TAG"); Set-WinUserLanguageList $LangList -Force
Pros:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Provides a command-line interface for advanced users who prefer automation. | 1. Requires knowledge of PowerShell commands and syntax. |
| 2. Allows precise control over the display language settings. | 2. The display language change applies to the entire system, including apps and settings, which may take some time to adjust to. |
| 3. Suitable for scripting and automating language change tasks. | 3. May not be as user-friendly as the graphical interface methods. |
Part 4. How to Change Windows Display Language via Group Policy
Changing the display language through Group Policy is useful when you want to enforce a specific language setting across multiple computers in an organization. Here’s how you can change the display language using Group Policy:
Method:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type "gpedit.msc" and press Enter or click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
- In the Local Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the following path:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Regional and Language Options - Double-click on the "Set the default user interface language" policy.
- Select the "Enabled" option.
- Under the "Options" section, select the desired language from the drop-down menu.
- Click on the Apply or OK button to save the changes.
Pros:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Allows centralized control over display language settings in an organization. | 1. Requires the use of the Local Group Policy Editor, which is only available in certain editions of Windows 11. |
| 2. Ensures consistent display language settings across multiple computers. | 2. The display language change applies to the entire system, including apps and settings, which may take some time to adjust to. |
| 3. Ideal for system administrators managing a large number of computers. | 3. May not be suitable for individual users or small-scale customization. |
What to Do If You Can’t Change the Windows Display Language
If you encounter issues or limitations while trying to change the Windows display language using the methods mentioned above, here are three alternative solutions you can try:
- Upgrade to a higher Windows 11 edition: Some language customization features, such as Group Policy, are only available in specific editions of Windows 11. Upgrading to a higher edition may unlock additional language customization options.
- Install a language pack manually: If the desired language is not available for download through the built-in language options, you can try manually installing a language pack from the Microsoft website or other trusted sources.
- Use third-party language customization tools: There are third-party tools available that provide advanced language customization features. These tools can offer more flexibility and options for changing the display language on Windows 11.
Bonus Tips
Here are three bonus tips to enhance your language customization experience on Windows 11:
- Use language-specific keyboards: When changing the display language, consider adding language-specific keyboards to ease text input in different languages. This can be particularly helpful when typing special characters or accented letters.
- Explore language-related settings: Windows 11 offers various language-related settings, such as date and time formats, currency formats, and keyboard layouts. Take some time to explore these settings and customize them according to your preferences.
- Join language communities: If you’re learning a new language or exploring a different culture, consider joining online language communities or forums. Engaging with native speakers can provide valuable insights and enhance your language learning journey.
The Bottom Line
Changing the Windows display language on Windows 11 can be a rewarding experience, whether for language learning, international business purposes, or simply exploring new cultures. In this blog post, we explored multiple methods to change the display language, including using the Settings app, Control Panel, PowerShell, and Group Policy. We discussed the pros and cons of each method, provided alternative solutions, and shared bonus tips to enhance your language customization journey. Remember to choose the method that suits your needs and enjoy exploring the world of Windows in different languages!
5 FAQs about Changing the Windows Display Language
Q1: Can I change the display language on Windows 11 without reinstalling the operating system?
A: Yes, you can change the display language without reinstalling Windows 11. The methods mentioned in this blog post allow you to change the display language without affecting your installed applications, files, or settings.
Q2: Are language packs free to download and install?
A: Yes, language packs provided by Microsoft are free to download and install. However, some third-party language packs may require a purchase or have licensing restrictions.
Q3: Can I switch the display language back to English after changing it to another language?
A: Yes, you can switch the display language back to English or any other supported language at any time. Simply follow the methods mentioned in this blog post and select the desired language as the display language.
Q4: Will changing the display language affect the language of my installed applications?
A: Changing the display language can affect the language of certain installed applications that rely on the system’s language settings. However, most modern applications have their own language settings that can be configured independently.
Q5: Can I have multiple display languages installed simultaneously?
A: Yes, you can have multiple display languages installed simultaneously on Windows 11. You can switch between the installed languages easily using the language settings.