Change your display language in Windows or Mac settings
Your computer's display language — the language menus, buttons, and system messages appear in — lives in your operating system settings, not in individual programs. On Windows, you add a new language through Settings, then switch to it. On Mac, you do the same through System Settings. The process takes about five minutes and does not affect your files or programs.
Windows and Mac both let you keep multiple languages installed at once. You can switch between them whenever you want, and your choice stays until you change it again. If you install a language and later decide you do not want it, you can remove it just as easily.
Key Takeaways
- Windows stores language settings in Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region, where you add a new language and set it as your display language.
- Mac stores language settings in System Settings > General > Language & Region, and you can choose your preferred language from a dropdown list.
- Both systems let you keep multiple languages installed and switch between them without losing any files or programs.
- Changing your display language affects system menus and messages but not the content of your documents or the language spell-check uses unless you change that separately.
- If your new language does not appear in the list, your computer may need to read language files, which can take a few minutes on a slow connection.
How to change language on Windows 11 or Windows 10
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click on "Time & Language" in the left menu. On Windows 11, click "Language & Region". On Windows 10, click "Language".
You will see a section called "Preferred languages" or "Languages". Click the button that says "Add a language" or the plus icon. A list of languages appears. Find the language you want, click it, and then click "Next". Windows may ask you to read language files — if it does, click "Install" and wait for the read to finish. This can take a few minutes if your internet connection is slow.
Once the language is installed, you will see it in your language list. Click on it, then click "Set as default" or the three dots next to it and choose "Set as default". Your system will restart or ask you to sign out and back in. After that, your menus and system messages will appear in your new language.
How to change language on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "System Settings". Click "General" in the left sidebar, then click "Language & Region". You will see a dropdown menu that says "Preferred languages" or shows your current language.
Click the dropdown and select the language you want. If your language is not in the list, click the plus icon at the bottom to add one. Find your language in the window that opens, click it, and click "Add". Mac will read the language files if needed. Once the language is added, select it from the dropdown. Your system will ask you to restart — click "Restart" to explore the change.
What happens to your programs and files
Changing your display language affects only the system interface — the menus, buttons, and messages that come from Windows or Mac itself. Your programs may or may not switch to the new language depending on whether they support it. Microsoft Word, for example, often switches automatically. Other programs may stay in their original language or may need you to change their language settings separately.
Your documents, photos, and files do not change at all. A Word document written in English stays in English. A spreadsheet with numbers stays exactly as it was. Only the labels around your content change — the menu bar, the toolbar buttons, the dialog boxes.
Spell-check and autocorrect also stay in their original language unless you change them separately. If you switch to French but want spell-check to stay in English, you can do that in most programs through their own language or proofing settings.
If your language does not appear in the list
Some languages require your computer to read additional files before they can be used. If you do not see your language in the initial list, scroll down to see if there are more options. If it still does not appear, your computer may not support that language, or it may need an internet connection to read the files.
On Windows, make sure you are connected to the internet and try clicking "Add a language" again. On Mac, the same applies — connect to the internet and try adding the language again. If the language still does not appear after waiting a few minutes, your version of Windows or Mac may not support it. Very old versions of either system have limited language support.
Switching back to your original language
If you change your display language and decide you want to switch back, follow the same steps you used to change it the first time. Go to your language settings, find your original language in the list, and set it as default. You do not have to remove the other language — you can keep it installed and switch between them whenever you want.
If you want to remove a language you no longer use, go to your language settings, click on the language you want to remove, and look for a "Remove" button or option. On Windows, this is usually next to the language name. On Mac, you can click the minus icon at the bottom of the language list. Removing a language frees up a small amount of storage space, but it is not necessary if you want to keep it available for switching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my language affect my passwords or login?
No. Your password stays the same regardless of what language your system displays in. You will still type it the same way when you log in. The only thing that changes is the language of the text around the login screen.
Can I have different languages for different user accounts on the same computer?
Yes. Each user account on your computer can have its own display language. When you log in to your account, the system uses the language you set for that account. Other people who use the computer can log in to their own accounts and see a different language.
What if I change my language and some programs show garbled text?
This usually means the program does not fully support that language. Try updating the program to the newest version — go to the program's settings and look for a "Check for updates" option. If updating does not fix it, you may need to change that program's language settings separately, or the program may not support your language at all.
Does changing my display language change the language of websites I visit?
Not automatically. Websites detect your language based on your browser settings and location, not your system language. If a website offers multiple languages, you usually choose which one you want to see through a link or menu on that website itself.
Can I use two languages at the same time on my keyboard?
Yes. You can add multiple keyboard layouts in your language settings so you can switch between typing in different languages. On Windows, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language > Language Options and add an input method. On Mac, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and add a new input source. Then use a keyboard shortcut to switch between them while typing.