Change the display language in Word through Settings
Microsoft Word lets you change the language that appears on screen — the menus, buttons, and dialog boxes — separately from the language you use to write. To change what you see on screen, open Word and select File in the top left corner.
From the File menu, choose Options at the bottom of the left sidebar. In the Options window, select Language from the list on the left side. You will see a section called "Office Display Language" with a dropdown menu showing your current language.
Click the dropdown and choose the language you want. Word will ask you to restart the program for the change to take effect. Close Word completely and open it again — the menus and buttons will now appear in your chosen language.
This change affects Word only, not other Microsoft Office programs like Excel or Outlook unless you change their settings the same way.
Key Takeaways
- The display language (menus and buttons) is separate from the language you write in, and you change each one differently.
- To change what you see on screen, go to File > Options > Language and select a new display language from the dropdown.
- Word must restart after you change the display language for the change to appear.
- To change the language Word uses to check spelling and grammar, select your text and use the Review tab to set the proofing language.
- If a language does not appear in the dropdown, you may need to install a language pack through Windows Settings first.
Set the proofing language for spelling and grammar
The language Word uses to check your spelling and grammar is different from the display language. If you write in a language other than the one Word is currently set to check, it will flag correct words as misspelled.
To change the proofing language, first select the text you want to check in a different language. If you want to change it for the whole document, press Ctrl+A to select all. Then go to the Review tab at the top of the ribbon.
In the Review tab, look for a button labeled Language or Set Proofing Language (the exact name varies by Word version). Click it and a window will open showing available languages. Choose the language you write in and click OK. Word will now check spelling and grammar using that language's rules.
Install a language pack if your language is not listed
If the language you need does not appear in either the display language dropdown or the proofing language list, you may need to install it first. Language packs are downloaded through Windows, not through Word itself.
On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings and go to Time & Language. Select Language & Region from the left sidebar. Click Add a Language and search for the language you need. Select it and click Next, then follow the prompts to read and install it.
Once the language pack is installed on your computer, it will appear in Word's language dropdowns. You may need to restart Word for it to show up. If you are using Word through Microsoft 365 online, language packs install automatically — you just need to select the language from the available options.
Change the keyboard layout to match your language
Changing the display language or proofing language does not change which keys produce which letters when you type. If you write in a language with a different alphabet or keyboard layout — like Arabic, Russian, or French — you need to add that keyboard layout to Windows separately.
Go to Windows Settings, select Time & Language, then Language & Region. Find your language in the list and click it. Select Options and look for Keyboards. Click Add a Keyboard and choose the layout that matches how you want to type.
Once added, you can switch between keyboard layouts using the language icon in your system tray (bottom right of the screen on Windows). This lets you type in your language while keeping Word's display in English, or any other combination you prefer.
Switch languages in a single document
You can write in multiple languages within the same Word document and set different proofing languages for each section. This is useful if you write in English but include paragraphs in Spanish, French, or another language.
Select the text in the language you want to change. Go to the Review tab and click Language or Set Proofing Language. Choose the correct language for that section and click OK. Word will now check spelling and grammar for that text using the rules of the language you selected.
Repeat this for each section written in a different language. Word remembers which language is set for each part of your document, so if you edit a section later, the proofing language stays with it.
Troubleshoot when language changes do not stick
Sometimes a language change does not appear to work. If you changed the display language but Word still shows menus in English, make sure you fully closed the program before reopening it. Restarting Word is not the same as closing it completely — use Task Manager if needed to force it closed.
If a proofing language change does not stick, you may have selected only part of your text. Select all your text with Ctrl+A and set the proofing language again. Also check that the language you chose is actually installed on your computer — if it is grayed out in the language list, you need to install the language pack first.
If Word is part of a Microsoft 365 subscription through your workplace or school, your organization may have restricted which languages you can use. Contact your IT department if a language you need is not available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the display language affect my document or other people who open it?
No. The display language only changes what you see on your screen. Your document itself is not affected, and when someone else opens it, they will see it in their own display language setting. The text you wrote stays exactly as you typed it.
Can I have Word display in one language but write in another?
Yes. You can set the display language to English while setting the proofing language to Spanish, for example. This lets you see English menus while Word checks your Spanish spelling and grammar correctly.
What is the difference between a language pack and a keyboard layout?
A language pack lets Word display menus and check spelling in that language. A keyboard layout determines which letters appear when you press keys on your keyboard. You may need both if you want to see Word in another language and type in that language.
Do I need to change the language in Word if I only want to check spelling in another language?
No. You can leave the display language as English and only change the proofing language for your text. Go to Review > Language and select the language you write in — Word will check spelling and grammar without changing the menus.
Why does Word keep reverting to English after I change the language?
Word may not have fully restarted, or the language pack may not be fully installed. Close Word completely (not just minimize it), wait a few seconds, and reopen it. If the problem continues, check Windows Settings to confirm the language pack finished installing.