How to Change the Language in Windows 7

Download Article

Co-authored by Scott St Gelais

Last Updated: September 22, 2024 Tested

Download Article

• Display Language (Ultimate and Enterprise)
|
• Display Language (Any Version)
|
• Input Language
|
• Video
|
• Q&A

|Show more |Show less

ARTICLE

VIDEO

Windows 7 allows you to change the display language for most of the interface. The process is fairly straightforward and the most comprehensive if you have Windows 7 Ultimate or Enterprise. If you are using Windows 7 Starter, Basic, or Home, you can install Language Interface Packs, which translate the most-used elements into your chosen language. You can also change the keyboard input language so that you can easily type in other languages.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Display Language (Ultimate and Enterprise)

Download Article

1. 1
   Open the Control Panel. If you are using Windows 7 Ultimate or Enterprise, you can install language packs that translate most of the Windows interface. These are only available for Ultimate and Enterprise. If you are using Starter, Basic, or Home, you can install Language Interface Packs (LIPs). These translate parts of the interface, and require a base language installed. See the next section for details.

   • You can open the Control Panel from the Start menu or use the Command Prompt.
2. 2
   Click the "View by" menu and select "Large icons" or "Small icons". This will allow you to quickly access any Control Panel option.
   Advertisement
3. 3
   Select Windows Update. You can use the Windows Update tool to download any of the available language packs.
4. 4
   Click the "# optional updates are available" link. If the link is not there, click "Check for updates".
5. 5
   Check the box for the language you want to download. After selecting the language, click OK.
6. 6
   Click the .Install updates. You may be prompted by UAC to continue, and you may be asked to input the administrator password.

   • It may take a few minutes for the language pack to download.
7. 7
   Return to the Control Panel and select "Region and Language". Select the Keyboards and Language tab.
8. 8
   Select the language you just installed from the "Choose a display language" drop-down menu. All of your installed languages will be listed here.
9. 9
   Click .Apply and then Log off now to log out. Your changes will be applied when you log back into Windows.
10. 10
    Change your system locale if the language is not displaying in some programs. Some programs may not display your new language until you change your system locale settings to match that region.

    • Open the Control Panel and select "Region and Language".
    • Click the Administrative tab and click Change system locale.
    • Select the language you've just installed and click OK. You'll be prompted to restart your computer.
Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Display Language (Any Version)

Download Article

1. 1
   Understand the difference between language packs and Language Interface Packs (LIPs). Traditional language packs translate the majority of the UI elements, and are only available to Ultimate and Enterprise users (see the above section). For everyone else, there are LIPs. These are smaller packs that translate the most-used parts of the interface. They require a base-language installed, since not everything is translated.
2. 2
   Visit the LIP download page. You can browse through all of the available LIPs here.
3. 3
   Check the requirements. The third column of the table will let you know what base language the LIP requires, as well as what versions of Windows it works with.

   • If the LIP requires Ultimate or Enterprise, you'll need to upgrade your copy of Windows to change the language.
4. 4
   Click the "Get it now" link. This will open the page for the language you've selected. The page will be displayed in that language.
5. 5
   Click the "Download" button. This will open a new window displaying the language files.
6. 6
   Select the appropriate file for your computer. You will have the option to choose between a 32-bit or a 64-bit file. You can find the version that you have by opening the Start menu, right-clicking "Computer", and selecting "Properties". Look for the "System type" entry.
7. 7
   Check the box for the file and then click the "Download" button. The LIP file will be downloaded to your Downloads folder.
8. 8
   Double-click the downloaded file. This will open the language installer with your new language automatically selected. Click Next to start the installation.

   • You'll be asked to read and accept the Microsoft terms before the language is installed.
9. 9
   Review the ReadMe file. The ReadMe file for the language you select will be displayed before it is installed. You usually don't need to review this, but it may contain information about known issues or compatibility problems.
10. 10
    Wait for the language to install. This may take a few moments.
11. 11
    Select and apply your new language. After the installation is complete, you'll see a list of all of your installed languages. Select your newly-installed language and click Change display language.

    • If you want the Welcome screen to change, as well as any system accounts, check the box beneath the list of languages.
12. 12
    Log out to complete the change. You will be prompted to log out in order for your new language to be applied. When you log back in, Windows will be using the new language. Anything that isn't translated with the LIP will be displayed in the base language.
13. 13
    Set a new system locale if some programs don't recognize the new language. Some programs designed for certain languages will only display the language if the system is set to that region.

    • Click the Start menu and open the Control Panel.
    • Open the "Region and Language" option.
    • Click the Administrative tab and then click Change system locale.
    • Select the language that you just installed, and reboot your computer when prompted.
Advertisement

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Input Language

Download Article

1. 1
   Open the Control Panel. You can add additional keyboard layouts to your Windows installation that will allow you to type in different languages.
2. 2
   Click the "View by" drop-down menu and select "Large icons" or "Small icons". This will make it easier to find the correct option.
3. 3
   Select "Region and Language" and then click the .Keyboards and Languages tab. Click the Change keyboards... button.
4. 4
   Click .Add to install another language. A list of available languages will appear.
5. 5
   Select the keyboard language you want to install. Expand the language, and then expand the "Keyboard" option. Select the specific form of that language that you want by checking the box. Click OK to add the language.

   • Languages will have multiple options if different regions speak different dialects.
6. 6
   Switch between languages using the Language bar. This is located in the taskbar, to the left of the System Tray and clock. The abbreviation for the active language will be displayed. Clicking the abbreviation will allow you to switch between your different input methods.

   • You can also press ⊞ Win+Space to cycle through the installed languages.
   • If you can't find the Language bar, right-click on the taskbar, select "Toolbars", and then click "Language bar"
Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

• Question

  I lost my MSN homepage for news, and it is now in Japanese. How do I get the English version for the USA back again?

  

  Community Answer

  Click the Settings wheel in the top right corner and select Options to open the Outlook.com Mail settings. Here, under General, you will see the setting to change Region & Time Zone; you'll find the setting to change the Language there as well.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 7 Helpful 6
• Question

  What If l can't read German?

  

  The coding cat

  Community Answer

  If you cannot read the language displayed on screen, use a translating app until you get to the language settings.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 11 Helpful 6
• Question

  I tried to change the language of a Windows 7, which is Arabic. I tried the first method seeing the pics but it didn't work. The whole system is in Arabic so I cant understand a single word.

  

  The coding cat

  Community Answer

  If you cannot understand the language your machine is displaying, use a translating app until you can change the language.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 10 Helpful 8

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Read Video Transcript

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!