Change Excel's Display Language in Settings

The fastest way to change Excel's language is through the Office Language Preferences menu. Open Excel and go to File > Options (on Windows) or Excel > Preferences (on Mac). Look for Language in the left sidebar. You'll see a list of installed languages under "Office Display Languages." Select the language you want, then close and reopen Excel. The menus, buttons, and built-in functions will switch to that language when ready.

If your preferred language doesn't appear in the list, you may need to install it first. In the same Language preferences window, look for an "Add a Language" or "Install Additional Languages" option. Click it, select your language from the available options, and follow the prompts. Installation usually takes a few minutes. Once installed, return to the display language list and select it.

Key Takeaways

  • Excel's display language changes through File > Options > Language on Windows or Excel > Preferences > Language on Mac.
  • You must close and reopen Excel completely for the language change to take effect across all menus and functions.
  • If your language isn't listed, you can install additional languages through the same preferences window before selecting it.
  • Changing the display language does not affect the language of your spreadsheet data—only the interface that surrounds it.
  • On Mac, the process is similar but the menu path uses "Preferences" instead of "Options."

Where to Find Language Settings on Windows

On a Windows computer, open Excel and click File in the top-left corner. From the menu that appears, select Options at the bottom of the list. A dialog box titled "Excel Options" will open. On the left side, you'll see a column of categories. Scroll down or look for Language in that list and click it.

Once you're in the Language section, you'll see three areas: "Office Display Languages," "Office Authoring Languages," and "Editing Languages." The display language is what controls the menus and buttons you see. Find your desired language in the "Office Display Languages" list, click it once to select it, then click the Set as Preferred button if one appears. Close the Options dialog and restart Excel completely—not just close the spreadsheet, but close the entire process and open it again.

Where to Find Language Settings on Mac

On a Mac, the path is slightly different. Open Excel and click Excel in the menu bar at the very top of the screen. From the dropdown, select Preferences. A new window will open. Look for Language and Region or Language in the list of preference categories and click it.

You'll see a list of available languages under "Office Display Languages." Click the language you want to use, and you may see a button that says Set as Default or similar. Click it, then close the Preferences window. Quit Excel entirely (use Command+Q or click Excel > Quit Excel), then reopen it. The interface will now display in your selected language.

Installing a Language That Isn't Listed

If you don't see your language in the display language list, it hasn't been installed yet. In the same Language preferences window, look for a button or link labeled Add a Language, Install Languages, or Get More Display Languages. The exact wording varies by Excel version. Click it.

A new window or web page may open showing available languages. Find your language in the list and select it. Follow any prompts to read and install it—this usually requires an internet connection and takes a few minutes. Once installation is complete, return to the Language preferences, and your new language should now appear in the "Office Display Languages" list. Select it and set it as your preferred language, then restart Excel.

What Changes and What Doesn't When You Switch Languages

When you change Excel's display language, the menus, buttons, dialog boxes, and error messages all switch to that language. Function names also change—for example, SUM becomes SOMME in French or SUMA in Spanish. If you type a formula using the English function name in a non-English version of Excel, it may not work.

However, the actual data in your spreadsheet—the numbers, text, and dates you've entered—does not change. Your spreadsheet content stays exactly as it was. Only the interface around it changes. This means you can safely switch languages without worrying about losing or corrupting your work. If you switch back to English later, your data will still be there unchanged.

Switching Back to English or Your Original Language

If you want to return to English or switch to a different language, follow the same steps: go to File > Options (Windows) or Excel > Preferences (Mac), find Language, select English or your preferred language from the list, and restart Excel. There's no penalty for switching languages multiple times. You can also set different languages for display, authoring, and editing if your version of Excel offers those separate options—this is useful if you want menus in one language but want to type in another.

If you accidentally select a language you don't recognize and can't navigate the menus, the process is still the same: look for the icon or menu item that looks like a gear or settings symbol, find the language section, and select a language you understand. Excel doesn't lock you into a language choice, so you can always change it back.

Troubleshooting Language Changes That Don't Appear

The most common reason a language change doesn't take effect is that Excel wasn't fully closed and reopened. straightforward closing a spreadsheet isn't enough—you must close the entire Excel process. On Windows, check your taskbar to make sure no Excel windows are still open. On Mac, use Command+Q to quit Excel completely, not just close a window.

If you've restarted Excel and the language still hasn't changed, try restarting your computer itself. Sometimes the operating system needs to refresh its language settings. If the language you want still doesn't appear in the list after you've tried to install it, check your internet connection—language installation requires downloading files from Microsoft's servers. If you're on a work or school computer, your IT department may have restricted which languages can be installed, so contact them for help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing Excel's language affect my spreadsheet files?

No. Your data, formulas, and formatting stay exactly the same. Only the menus and buttons you see change. If you send the file to someone using English Excel, they'll see the same spreadsheet content but with English menus on their screen.

What happens to formulas when I switch languages?

Function names change to match the new language. If you had =SUM(A1:A10) in English, it might display as =SOMME(A1:A10) in French. However, the formula still works the same way. If you type a new formula, use the function names in your new language.

Can I have different languages for different parts of Excel?

Some versions of Excel let you set separate languages for display (menus), authoring (typing), and editing. Check the Language preferences window—if you see separate sections for these, you can set each one independently. This is useful if you want English menus but need to type in another language.

Do I need to reinstall Excel to change the language?

No. Language changes happen through the preferences menu and take effect after you restart the process. You don't need to uninstall or reinstall Excel.

What if my language isn't available to install?

Not all languages are supported in all versions of Excel. Check Microsoft's documentation for your specific Excel version to see which languages are available. If your language truly isn't supported, you may need to use a different version or contact Microsoft support for alternatives.