Change Display & Default Language in Windows 10

This guide walks you through changing both the display language (the language Windows uses for menus, settings, and apps) and the default language (the input language used for typing and keyboard layout) in Windows 10. You’ll need to be signed in with an administrator account to add a new language, but any user can switch between already-installed languages.

What You’ll Need

An administrator account on the Windows 10 PC.
An internet connection to download language packs.
Your Windows 10 version should be 1803 or later (most modern installations are).

Step-by-Step

Open Settings. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
Go to Time & Language. Click on Time & Language.
Select Language. In the left sidebar, click Language.
Add a language. Under “Preferred languages,” click Add a language.
Choose your language. In the search box, type the language you want (e.g., “Spanish”). Select it from the list, then click Next.
Install language features. On the next screen, check the boxes for the features you want:
- Set as my Windows display language – This will make the new language the primary display language.
- Speech recognition (optional)
- Handwriting (optional)
- Text-to-speech (optional)
Click Install. Windows will download and install the language pack.
Set display language. After installation, the new language will appear in the “Preferred languages” list. To make it the display language, click on it and select Set as default. (If you didn’t check the box in step 6, you can do it here.)
Sign out and sign back in. Windows will prompt you to sign out. Save your work, then sign out and back in (or restart your PC). The display language will now be active.
Change the default input language (for typing). The default input language is usually the same as the display language, but you can change it separately. Go back to Settings > Time & Language > Language. Under “Preferred languages,” click the language you want to use for typing, then click Options.
Add a keyboard layout. In the “Keyboards” section, click Add a keyboard and choose the layout you want (e.g., US QWERTY, Spanish, etc.).
Set the default input method. To make this the default for new apps and windows, scroll down to “Override for Windows display language” and choose the language you want from the drop-down menu. Also set “Override for default input method” to the same language.
Restart. After changing input settings, it’s a good idea to restart your PC to ensure all apps pick up the new default.

Common Mistakes

Not signing out and back in: Many users think the change didn’t work because they didn’t sign out. The display language only fully applies after a sign-out/sign-in cycle.
Confusing display language with input language: The display language changes the UI text; the input language changes what your keyboard types. They are separate settings.
Only adding a language, not setting it as default: Adding a language doesn’t automatically make it the display language. You must explicitly click “Set as default” for the display language.
Not having admin rights: If you’re a standard user, you can’t install language packs. You’ll need an admin to do it.

Tips

Keep your original language: You can have multiple languages installed. To switch between them quickly, use the keyboard shortcut Windows + Space to cycle through input languages, and Alt + Shift to switch between keyboard layouts.
Download offline language packs: If you have a slow internet connection, you can download language packs for offline installation from Microsoft’s website, but it’s easier to use the built-in installer.
Check app compatibility: Some older apps may not support the new display language and will continue to show in English. This is normal.
Use the language bar: If you frequently switch between languages, enable the language bar in the taskbar by going to Control Panel > Clock and Region > Language > Advanced settings and checking “Use the language bar when available.”

Troubleshooting

Language pack fails to download: Check your internet connection, restart Windows Update service, or try again later. If the problem persists, run the Windows Update troubleshooter from Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
Display language doesn’t change after sign-in: Make sure you set the correct language as default in the “Preferred languages” list. Also, verify that the language pack is fully installed (you can see its status under the language name).
Some text remains in the old language: This is often due to apps that don’t support the new language. Windows itself should be fully translated. If you see mixed languages in Windows settings, try restarting again or checking for Windows updates.
Keyboard layout doesn’t match what you type: Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language, click on your language, then Options. Under “Keyboards,” remove any unwanted layouts and add the correct one. Make sure the “Override for default input method” is set correctly.
Can’t add a language (greyed out): This usually means you’re not an administrator. Sign in with an admin account or ask your system admin to install the language pack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the display language affect my files?

No, your files, documents, and programs remain unchanged. Only the Windows interface language changes.

Can I have different display and input languages?

Yes, absolutely. The display language is separate from the input language. You can set Windows to display in English while typing in Spanish, for example.

How do I remove a language I no longer need?

Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language, click on the language you want to remove, and click Remove. You can only remove a language that is not currently set as the display language.

Will changing the language affect my keyboard shortcuts?

No, keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V remain the same. Only the language-specific keys (like the position of the Y and Z keys) may change depending on the keyboard layout.

Do I need to reinstall Windows to change the language?

No, you can change the display language at any time without reinstalling. The only exception is Windows 10 Home Single Language edition, which only allows one language.

Why is some text in the new language but some in the old?

This can happen if the language pack isn’t fully installed, or if some third-party apps don’t support the new language. Update the apps to the latest versions or check if they have language settings of their own.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →