The Microsoft Windows operating system allows users to change the display language from one language to another, including Spanish, French, German, and Arabic. Some restrictions may apply, depending on the version of Windows. Follow the steps below for your version of Windows to change the display language settings.
Windows 11
Press the Windows key, type Language settings, and then press Enter.
In the window that appears, click the Add a language button under the Language section.
Windows 11
Windows 10
Windows 8
Windows 7 and Vista
Type a language to add or select from the list.
After you select a language, click the Next button.
In the Install language features window, select or deselect any optional language features you want to install.
You should now see the new language under the Languages section.
Click the Install button to install the new language. The installation process may take several minutes to complete.
After the new language is installed, select it from the Windows display language drop-down menu.
Use the Sign Out button to sign out and then sign back into Windows, with the new language now set as the default language.
Windows 10
Press the Windows key, type Regional & language settings, and then press Enter.
In the window that appears, click the icon.
After you select a language, you are asked to pick a region.
You should now see the new language under the Languages section.
Click the new language again and click the button.
In the screen that appears, under Language options, click the button.
Once the new language is downloaded, return to the previous screen.
Click the new language again, and then click the Set as default button.
Restart your computer to display the new language.
Windows 8
Open the Control Panel.
Under the Clock, Language, and Region section, click the Add a language link.
Under Change your language preferences, click the Add a language option.
Select the language you want to add and click the Add button.
The selected language is added to the language list. To make the added language the primary language, click the language in the list and click Move up until it’s at the top.
The language pack you added may need to be downloaded and installed in Windows 8 before you can use it. Next to the language name, if it says “Windows display language: Available for download,” follow the steps below.
Some languages have sub-options or different dialects you need to choose. If the Add button changes to “Open,” you must select a sub-option for that language.
- Click the Options link to the right of the language name.
- Click the Download and install language pack link under the Windows display language section.
- After the download and install process is completed, restart the computer for the new display language to take effect.
Windows 7 and Vista
In Windows 7, you first need to download and install the language pack you want to use. Then you can select and change the display language.
Changing the language in Windows 7 requires you to have the Ultimate edition or Enterprise edition. Home and Professional editions do not have the language option.
Download and install the language pack
- Open the Start menu and navigate to All Programs > Windows Update.
- Click the Optional Updates option.
- Check the box for the language pack you want to download and install, then click OK.
- Run the Install Updates process to download and install the language pack.
Change display language
- Open the Control Panel.
- Click the Clock, Language, and Region option.
- Click the Change the display language link.
- In the Choose a display language drop-down list, select the language you want to use as the display language and click OK.
- Restart the computer for the new display language to take effect.
Related information
- How to change the default language in Google Drive.
- How to change the default language of an Internet browser.
- How to change to and from military time in Windows.
- See our language pages for further information and related links.
- Microsoft Windows help and support.
