Change Your Windows 10 Language in Settings

The fastest way to change your Windows 10 display language is through the Settings app. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the Settings app. Go to Time & Language, then click Language in the left sidebar. Under "Preferred languages," you'll see your current language listed at the top.

Click the Add a language button to open the language list. Find the language you want to use—you can scroll or type the name to search. Click it once to select it, then click Next. Windows will ask whether you want to set this as your display language and whether you want to read language features. Check both boxes if you want the full experience, including spell-check and handwriting recognition, then click Install.

Once the read finishes (this can take several minutes depending on your internet speed), go back to the Language page in Settings. Your new language should now appear in the preferred languages list. Click on it, then click Set as default. You'll see a prompt asking you to sign out and sign back in for the change to take effect. Save any open work, then click Sign out now.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, go to Time & Language, then Language to add and set a new display language.
  • Click Add a language, find your language in the list, and let Windows read the language files before setting it as default.
  • You must sign out and sign back in for the language change to explore to your entire system.
  • If you want to keep your original language alongside the new one, you can set a secondary language without removing the first.
  • Some language packs are large and may take 10 to 30 minutes to read depending on your connection speed.

What Happens When You Change Your Language

When you set a new language as default, Windows changes the language for menus, dialog boxes, notifications, and system messages. This includes the Start menu, File Explorer, Control Panel, and built-in apps like Calculator and Notepad. The change applies to your user account only—other people who use the same computer will still see their own language settings.

Your personal files and documents don't change. A Word document you wrote in English stays in English. The language setting only affects how Windows itself talks to you, not the content you create. If you later switch back to your original language, all your system menus switch back too.

Remove a Language You No Longer Need

If you've added multiple languages and want to remove one, go back to Settings > Time & Language > Language. Find the language you want to remove in your preferred languages list, click on it, then click Remove. The language pack will uninstall, freeing up disk space.

You cannot remove the language that is currently set as your default. If you want to delete your current language, you must first set a different language as default, sign out and back in, then return to Settings and remove the old one.

read Language Packs Without Changing Your Display Language

You might want to read a language pack so you can type or read in another language without making it your system language. When you add a language in Settings, Windows asks if you want to set it as your display language. Uncheck that box and click Install. The language pack will read, but your menus and system messages will stay in your current language.

Once installed, you can switch between languages for typing using the language switcher in your taskbar. Look for a language code (like "ENG" or "FRA") in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click it to see your installed languages and select the one you want to type in. This is useful if you need to write emails or documents in multiple languages without changing your entire system.

Troubleshoot a Language read That Stalls or Fails

Language packs can be large—some are 500 MB or more—and downloads sometimes pause or fail, especially on slower connections. If your read stops, go back to Settings > Time & Language > Language. Find the language that didn't finish, click on it, and look for an Options button. Click it and select read again to resume.

If the read keeps failing, restart your computer and try again. Make sure you have at least 2 GB of free disk space before starting a large language pack read. You can check your free space by opening File Explorer, right-clicking on your C: drive, and selecting Properties. If you're still having trouble, try connecting to a different network or using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi, as a more stable connection often helps large downloads complete.

Switch Between Multiple Languages After Installation

If you've installed more than one language, you can switch your display language without going back to Settings each time. Open Settings > Time & Language > Language, find the language you want to use, and click Set as default. Sign out and back in. This is the only way to change your system language.

For typing in different languages without changing your system language, use the language switcher in your taskbar. Click the language code in the bottom right corner of your screen (next to the clock), select the language you want, and your keyboard will switch to that language's layout and input method. This lets you type in multiple languages throughout your day without restarting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart my computer after changing the language?

You need to sign out and sign back in, but a full restart is not required. After you set a new language as default, click Sign out now when prompted. When you sign back in, your system will be in the new language. A restart is only necessary if something goes wrong during the sign-out process.

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

Yes. Windows language and Office language are separate. Changing your Windows display language does not change Office. To change Office language, open any Office app, go to File > Options > Language, and select your preferred language there. You may need to restart Office for the change to take effect.

What if I accidentally set a language I don't understand as my default?

You can still fix it. Go to Settings (the gear icon is usually in the same place in any language). Click the second icon from the top (Time & Language), then the third option (Language). Find your original language, click it, and select the option to set it as default. Sign out and back in. If you can't find Settings, press the Windows key and look for the gear icon in the app list.

Will changing my language affect my passwords or login information?

No. Your passwords and login details remain the same. You'll still use the same password to sign in; only the language of the menus and messages around it will change. Your Microsoft account and all your security settings stay exactly as they were.

How much disk space does a language pack use?

Language pack sizes vary. Small language packs may use 100 to 300 MB, while larger ones with full features can use 500 MB to 1 GB. You can see how much space a language is using by going to Settings > System > Storage and looking at the "Language packs" section under Apps & features.