How to Change Language and Region Settings in Windows 11

Windows 11 lets you change the display language, keyboard layout, date and time format, and regional settings independently of each other. You can use Windows in English but format dates in UK style, or run the OS in one language while typing in another. Here is how to configure each setting.

Changing the Display Language

The display language controls what language Windows uses for menus, settings, and system text:

1. Go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region
2. Under Preferred languages, click Add a language
3. Search for the language you want, select it, and click Next
4. On the options screen, make sure Set as my Windows display language is ticked if you want it as the primary OS language
5. Click Install — Windows downloads the language pack (requires internet)
6. Once installed, go back to Language & region and confirm the new language is set as preferred. You may need to sign out and back in for the change to take full effect.

Changing the Keyboard Layout

You can have a different keyboard layout from your display language — for example, run Windows in English but type with a French AZERTY layout:

1. Go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region
2. Find your language in the list and click the three dots → Language options
3. Under Keyboards, click Add a keyboard and select the layout you want
4. To switch layouts during use, press Win + Space to cycle through installed keyboards, or click the language indicator in the system tray

Changing the Regional Format (Date, Time, Currency)

The regional format controls how dates, times, numbers, and currency are displayed — separately from the display language:

1. Go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region
2. Under Regional format, click the dropdown and select your country or region (e.g. United Kingdom for DD/MM/YYYY dates and £ currency)

This affects how dates appear in File Explorer, how Excel formats numbers by default, and how Windows formats times in the system tray.

Changing Time Zone

1. Go to Settings → Time & language → Date & time
2. Under Time zone, select your zone from the dropdown
3. Keep Set time automatically enabled to sync with internet time servers — this keeps the clock accurate

Setting the Clock Format (12-hour vs 24-hour)

Windows uses the clock format defined by your regional settings. To change it:

1. Go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region
2. Click Regional format → Change formats
3. Change the Short time format — use HH:mm for 24-hour or h:mm tt for 12-hour with AM/PM

Removing an Installed Language

Languages you installed take up disk space (typically 200–600MB each). To remove one:

1. Go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region
2. Click the three dots next to the language and select Remove

You cannot remove the current display language — set a different language as the primary one first.

Changing Language for Non-Unicode Programs

Older applications that do not use Unicode can display garbled text (question marks or boxes) if the system locale does not match their language. To fix this:

1. Go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region
2. Scroll down to Administrative language settings
3. Click Change system locale and select the appropriate language
4. Restart your PC

Related Guides

• How to Check Your Windows 11 Version
• How to Rename Your Windows 11 PC
• How to Manage Local User Accounts in Windows 11