This wikiHow teaches you how to change your computer’s language. This will affect the text used in menus and windows. You can do this on both Windows and Mac computers. Changing your computer’s default language will not change your internet browser’s language or other programs.
StepsMethod 1Method 1 of 2:On Windows
1Open Start 
. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.You can also press the Windows key on your keyboard to open Start.
2Click Settings 
. This gear-shaped icon is in the lower-left side of the Start window.
3Click Time & language. It’s in the middle of the Settings window.
4Click the Region & language tab. You’ll find this on the far-left side of the window.
5Click Add a language. It’s next to a large + sign in the middle of the page, below the “Languages” heading.
6Select a language. Click the language you want to use on your computer.
7Select a dialect. If clicking your preferred language brings you to a page with different regional dialects available, click a dialect to select it.This may not be available for your selected language.
8Click your added language. It should be below your current default language in the “Languages” section of the window. Doing so will expand the language’s box.
9Click Options. This button appears below the language. Doing so opens the language’s Options window.
10Download the language pack. Click Download below the “Download language pack” heading in the upper-left side of the page.
11Click Back 
. It’s in the top-left corner of the screen.
12Click the language again, then click Set as default. You’ll find this button below the language. Doing to will move the language to the top of the “Languages” section and set it as the default for all built-in menus, apps, and other display options.
13Restart your computer. Open the Start menu, click Power 
, and click Restart. Once your computer restarts and you sign back into your account, your selected language will be in place.Method 2Method 2 of 2:On Mac
1Open the Apple menu 
. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
2Click System Preferences. It’s near the top of the drop-down menu.
3Click Language & Region. It’s a flag-shaped icon near the top of the System Preferences window.
4Click +. This icon is below the bottom-left corner of the “Preferred language:” box on the left side of the Language & Region window. Doing so prompts a pop-up window with different languages.
5Scroll to select the language you want, then click Add.
6Click Use when prompted. This is the blue button in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so will set your computer’s default display language to the added language.If you miss this step, just click and drag the language you added from the bottom of the “Preferred languages” box to the top.
7Restart your Mac to complete the language change.
