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How to Change the Operating System Language in Windows 11

Summary: This article describes how to guide a customer through changing the operating system language in Windows 11.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Instructions

It is possible that the default Windows language was not set correctly during the initial setup of the computer or the computer did not ship with the language of the customer’s preference.

Windows 11 makes it easy to change the operating system language without having to reinstall Windows.

Change the Windows 11 Default Language

  1. Open Settings. Go from the Start button, or use Windows Key + I Key.
  2. Click Time & Language. Click the Clock Icon for Time and Language settings.
    Click Time & language 
  3. Click Language & Region. Click the world Icon with language symbols to open Language and Region settings.
    Click Language & region. 
  4. In the Language section, click the Add a language button for the Preferred languages setting.
    Click the Add a language button. 
  5. Search for the new language and select the wanted language. Click Next.
    Note: Scroll through the list to find your wanted language and region. You can search for the country or region's name to find the language.
  6. Check the box Set as my Windows display language and click Install.
    Note: Optionally, you could also check the required options under Optional language features.
  7. You see the alert Windows needs to sign you out in order to apply your new display language.
  8. Click the Sign out button and sign in to your user account to start using the new language.

You are now ready to use the new language. The display language changes now reflect throughout the operating system, including the Sign-in screen, Settings app, File Explorer, Desktop, applications, browser, and so on.

Affected Products

Alienware, Inspiron, Legacy Desktop Models, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, G Series, G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Legacy Laptop Models, Fixed Workstations, Mobile Workstations
Article Properties
Article Number: 000203574
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 15 May 2025
Version:  5
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