The fastest way to change your Windows 10 language

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then select it from the results. Go to Time & Language, then click Language in the left sidebar. Under "Preferred languages", click the Add a language button, search for the language you want, and select it. Once it downloads, click on that language in your list, then click Set as default. Windows will ask you to sign out and back in — do that, and your display language will change.

The whole process takes about five minutes. You do not need to restart your computer beyond the automatic sign-out, and you can switch back to English or any other language the same way whenever you want.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your display language through Settings > Time & Language > Language, not through Control Panel or any other menu.
  • Windows downloads the language pack automatically when you add a new language — you do not read it separately.
  • Setting a language as default requires you to sign out and back in, but you do not need to restart your computer.
  • You can keep multiple languages installed and switch between them at any time without uninstalling the old one.
  • If a language does not appear in the search results, your version of Windows 10 may not support it, or you may need to check for Windows updates first.

Step-by-step: adding and setting a new language

Start by opening Settings. The quickest way is to press the Windows key (the key with the Windows logo) and type "Settings" — the Settings app will appear at the top of the search results. Click it to open.

Once Settings is open, look for the section labeled Time & Language and click it. On the left side of the window, you will see a list of options. Click Language. You are now in the language settings panel.

Under the heading "Preferred languages", you will see a button that says Add a language. Click it. A search box will appear. Type the name of the language you want — for example, "Spanish", "French", "Mandarin", or "Arabic". As you type, Windows will show matching languages. Click the one you want from the list.

Windows will begin downloading the language pack. This usually takes one to three minutes depending on your internet speed and the size of the language file. Do not close Settings while this is happening. Once the read finishes, the language will appear in your preferred languages list.

Making the new language your default

After the language pack finishes downloading, click on the language name in your preferred languages list to select it. A menu will appear with options. Click Set as default. Windows will show a message saying you need to sign out for the change to take effect.

Click Sign out now or close Settings and sign out manually by clicking your user account in the bottom left corner of the screen, then selecting Sign out. When you sign back in, your entire Windows display — menus, buttons, dialog boxes, and system messages — will be in the new language.

If you change your mind later, you can repeat this process to set a different language as default. The old language will remain installed on your computer, so you can switch back without downloading it again.

What to do if your language does not appear in the search

If you search for a language and it does not show up in the results, Windows 10 may not support it, or your system may be missing updates. First, check for Windows updates by opening Settings, clicking Update & Security, and then clicking Check for updates. Let Windows read and install any available updates, then restart your computer and try searching for the language again.

Some languages — particularly regional variants or less widely used languages — may not be available in all versions of Windows 10. If the language still does not appear after updating, it is not supported by your version of the system. In that case, you may want to look into third-party language packs or input methods specific to that language, though these work differently and are not part of Windows itself.

Switching between multiple languages without uninstalling

You do not have to remove a language to use a different one. You can install as many languages as you want and keep them all on your computer. To switch between them, open Settings, go to Time & Language > Language, and click Set as default on whichever language you want to use. You will need to sign out and back in each time you change the default.

If you want to switch languages more quickly without signing out, you can also change your keyboard input language separately from your display language. This lets you type in one language while your menus stay in another. That setting is also in Time & Language, under Region & language, but it works independently of the display language setting.

Removing a language you no longer need

If you want to delete a language to free up space, open Settings, go to Time & Language > Language, click on the language you want to remove, and click Remove. The language pack will uninstall when ready. You cannot remove your default language — if you want to delete the language you are currently using, you must first set a different language as default, sign out and back in, then remove the old one.

Language packs vary in size, but most take up between 100 megabytes and 1 gigabyte of storage. Removing languages you do not use can help if your hard drive is running low on space, though for most users this is not necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart my computer to change the language?

No. You only need to sign out and back in. Windows will explore the new language when you log back into your account. A full restart is not required, though restarting will not hurt anything if you choose to do it.

Can I have Windows in one language and Microsoft Office in another?

Yes. Office language settings are separate from Windows language settings. You can change Office language through File > Options > Language in Word, Excel, or other Office apps. Each Office process can be set independently of Windows and of each other.

What if I accidentally set the wrong language as default and cannot read the menus?

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing the name of the language you want in English — for example, type "English" even if your menus are in another language. Settings will still recognize English text in the search box. Click Time & Language, then Language, find English in your list, and click Set as default. Sign out and back in.

Will changing my language affect my files or programs?

No. Changing the display language only changes how Windows menus and system messages appear. Your documents, photos, and programs will work exactly the same. Some programs may have their own language settings that you need to change separately.

Can I read a language if I do not have internet?

No. Windows downloads language packs from Microsoft servers, so you need an active internet connection. If your computer is offline, you cannot add a new language until you connect to the internet.