How-to change the language in Windows 8

Change your UI language

If you want to change the language of your operating system follow these steps.

Windows 8 with German UI language
Windows 8 with German UI language

Open the Control Panel and click on the Add a language option under Clock, Language and Region section.

Change language settings
Change language settings

On the Change your language preferences page click on Add a language button.

Add language
Add language

Select your preferred language and click Add.

Select language
Select language

You cannot simply switch to any UI language only the most popular ones are available, for example German, Spanish, etc. So if you want to use and add an exotic one you need to check a display language is available.

Only popular languages are available as UI language
Only popular languages are available as UI language

To switch the language click on the Options, next to your selected and added one. On the next screen click on Download and install language pack.

You need to download and install it first
You need to download and install it first

This starts the download, and when finished installs it, like an update.

Works like an update - download, install
Works like an update – download, install

When the installations is finished and the new language is not your first in the list you need to override the display language. On Change your language preferences window click on advanced settings. Change the first section to your selected language – it should be in the list.

Finally, you can change it
Finally, you can change it

You have to log off for the changes to take effect.

Log off after UI display language change
Log off after UI display language change

Other accounts, welcome screen

Still, existing accounts and new user accounts won’t use the selected language, this only affects yours. To manage these and the welcome screen, click on Apply language settings to the welcome screen, system accounts, and new user accounts option on the Advanced settings panel.

Manage defaults for other acocunts and welcome screen
Manage defaults for other acocunts and welcome screen

On the new dialog panel click Copy Settings button

Copy your settings
Copy your settings

Review your settings for display language, keyboard layout, format and location (Current user) then select welcome screen and/or new user accounts to replace their settings with your new ones, click OK.

Save language and local settings
Save language and local settings

For now it’s obvious that this is a per user setting. So your children can use French interface to practice the language while you still use it in English.

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