Windows separates display language, regional format, and keyboard layout. That means menus, dates, currency, and typed characters can each be controlled separately.
This guide applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Does This Affect You?
Use display language for menus and buttons, regional format for dates/currency/measurements, and keyboard layout for what characters appear when you type. You can mix them, such as English menus with German date formats and a French keyboard.
Change the Display Language
- Open Settings > Time & Language > Language & region. On Windows 10, the Language and Region pages are separate but similar.
- Under Preferred languages, click Add a language.
- Search for the language, choose it, and install it.
- Open the language options if needed and confirm the language pack finished downloading.
- Set it as the Windows display language, then sign out and sign back in.
Change Regional Format
- Open Settings > Time & Language > Language & region.
- Under Region, check Country or region for app and store defaults.
- Open Regional format for dates, times, first day of week, and currency style.
- Choose a preset region, or use Change data formats to adjust individual date and time formats.
Regional formatting changes usually apply immediately without signing out.
Change Keyboard Input Language
- Open Language & region.
- Open the options menu beside your language and choose Language options.
- Under Keyboards, click Add a keyboard.
- Choose the layout, such as US QWERTY, UK, or German QWERTZ.
- Switch layouts from the taskbar language indicator or press Windows key + Space. Remove unused layouts from the same Keyboard list.
Extra Language Notes
Apply Language to Sign-In Screen
To apply settings to the welcome screen and new accounts, open Administrative language settings, click Copy settings, and include Welcome screen and system accounts.
Some Apps Have Their Own Language
Browsers and Microsoft 365 apps may ignore the Windows display language until you change their own language settings.
Translate One Webpage Instead
For a one-time webpage translation, right-click the page in Microsoft Edge or Chrome and use the browser translation option instead of changing Windows.
Region Can Affect Microsoft Store
Changing country or region can alter Store apps, prices, and payment methods. Switch it back if the Store looks wrong afterward.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Change your keyboard layout in Windows
- Microsoft Support: Add a display language in Windows
- Microsoft Support: Change the system locale in Windows