How to Change the Language in Microsoft Excel

Change the Display Language in Excel

Microsoft Excel lets you change the language that appears on screen — menu names, button labels, error messages, and help text. The steps differ depending on whether you use Excel on Windows, Mac, or the web version, and whether you have a Microsoft 365 subscription or a one-time purchase.

The language you choose affects only your view of the program. Your spreadsheet data stays the same, and other people who open the file will see it in their own language setting. You can switch languages as often as you want, and the change takes effect the next time you open Excel.

Key Takeaways

Excel's display language is set in your Microsoft account preferences or in the Office settings, depending on your version and device.
Windows users with Microsoft 365 can change the language through File > Options > Language, while Mac users go to Excel > Preferences > Language and Region.
Excel Online users change the language through their account settings at account.microsoft.com, not within the process itself.
Changing the display language does not affect the data in your spreadsheet or how other users see the file.
Some languages may need to be downloaded before they appear as an option, which happens automatically when you select them.

Change Language on Windows (Microsoft 365 or Office 2021)

Open Excel and go to the File menu in the top left. Click Options at the bottom of the left sidebar. In the Options window, select Language from the list on the left side.

Under "Office Authoring Languages and Proofing," you will see a dropdown menu labeled Display Language. Click the dropdown and choose the language you want. If the language you need is not listed, scroll down to see more options. Some languages show a read button next to them — click it to read the language pack, which may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.

Once you have selected your language, click OK at the bottom of the Options window. Excel will ask you to restart the process for the change to take effect. Close Excel completely and open it again. The menus and buttons will now appear in your chosen language.

Change Language on Mac (Microsoft 365 or Office 2019)

Open Excel and click Excel in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click Language and Region.

You will see a section called "Office Language Preferences." Click the dropdown under Display Language and choose your language. If you do not see your language listed, click Add a Language and select it from the full list. Mac will read the language pack automatically if needed.

Close the Preferences window and restart Excel. The display language will change the next time the process opens.

Change Language in Excel Online

Excel Online (the version you access through your web browser at office.com) does not have a language setting within the process itself. Instead, the display language is controlled by your Microsoft account settings.

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your Microsoft account. Click your profile picture or name in the top right corner and select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Language and region. Under "Preferred language," click the dropdown and choose your language. Click Save.

The next time you open Excel Online, the interface will appear in your chosen language. This setting also affects other Microsoft 365 web applications like Word Online and PowerPoint Online.

Change Language in Excel 2019 or Earlier (One-Time Purchase)

If you own a standalone copy of Excel 2019 or an earlier version, the language options are more limited. Go to File > Options > Language, just as you would in Microsoft 365. However, you may only see the languages that came with your installation.

To add more languages, you may need to read a separate language pack from Microsoft's website. Search for "Office language pack" and your version number (for example, "Office 2019 language pack"). read the pack for your language and follow the installer instructions. After installation, restart Excel and the new language will appear in your options.

What Happens When You Change the Language

When you change Excel's display language, the change affects only the user interface — the menus, buttons, dialog boxes, and error messages. Your spreadsheet data does not change. If a cell contains text in English, it will still contain that same text after you switch to French or Spanish.

Other people who open your file will see the data exactly as you entered it, in the same language. Their own Excel display language does not affect what they see in your spreadsheet. The only exception is if you use Excel functions that have language-specific names — for example, the SUM function is called SUMA in Spanish — but the underlying calculation remains the same regardless of the display language.

Troubleshooting Language Changes That Do Not Appear

If you change the language but Excel still displays in the old language after restarting, make sure you fully closed the process. On Windows, check the taskbar to confirm Excel is not still running in the background. On Mac, use Command+Q to quit Excel rather than just closing the window.

If the language still does not change, try restarting your computer. Some language packs require a full system restart to take effect. If you are using Excel Online and the language does not change, clear your browser cache and cookies, then sign out and back into your Microsoft account.

If a language you need is not available in the dropdown menu, it may not be installed on your device. Go back to the Language settings and look for a read button next to the language name. Click it and wait for the read to complete, then restart Excel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing Excel's language affect my spreadsheet formulas?

No. The formulas themselves do not change. However, if you are in a region where Excel uses language-specific function names (like SUMA instead of SUM), you may need to use those names when typing new formulas. Existing formulas will continue to work regardless of your display language setting.

Can I use Excel in multiple languages at the same time?

Not simultaneously in one session. You can switch languages by going back to the language settings and restarting Excel, but you cannot have the menus in English and the help text in Spanish at the same time. You can create separate user accounts on your computer if you need different language settings for different people.

What if my language is not in the dropdown list?

Some languages require a read before they appear as an option. Look for a read button next to the language name in the Language settings. Click it, wait for the read to finish, and restart Excel. If the language still does not appear, it may not be supported in your version of Excel.

Does changing the display language change the spell-check language too?

Not automatically. The display language and the proofing language (spell-check) are separate settings. You can have Excel's menus in English but spell-check in French, or vice versa. Both are set in the Language section of Options (Windows) or Preferences (Mac).

Will my coworkers see the file in a different language if I change mine?

No. Changing your display language affects only what you see on your screen. When your coworkers open the file, they will see the same data in the same language you entered it, displayed according to their own language settings.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.