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Find Current System Locale in Windows 10
As you may already know from previous articles, Windows 10 supports changing the display language using language packs. If you are working in a localized user account in Windows 10 which is your native language, you might be interested in learning what language is used for older apps that doesn’t support Unicode. Here are a number of methods you can use.
Windows 10 supports language packs. By installing one or several language packs, you can switch your Windows display language on-the-fly. It is also possible to have a different display language for each user account.
There are plenty of apps that don’t support Unicode. Most of them are apps that have been created for previous Windows versions.
The option that specifies the default language to use for non-Unicode programs is called System Locale. The system locale defines the bitmap fonts and code pages (ANSI or DOS) that are used on the system by default. The system locale setting affects only ANSI (non-Unicode) applications. The language for non-Unicode programs is a per-system setting.
To Find Current System Locale in Windows 10, do the following.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Time & Language.
- On the left, click on Language.
- In the right pane, click on the Administrative language settings link.
- In the Region dialog, click on the Administrative tab.
- You’ll find the current system locale under the Language for non-Unicode programs section.
Alternatively, you can access the same option with the classic Control Panel app. Open the classic Control Panel and navigate to Control Panel\Clock and Region. Click on Region and switch to the Administrative tab.
Another method you can use to find the system locale is a special PowerShell applet, Get-WinSystemLocale.
Find The Current System Locale with PowerShell
- Open PowerShell as Administrator.Tip: You can add «Open PowerShell As Administrator» context menu.
- Type or copy-paste the following command: Get-WinSystemLocale .
You can also use the classic command prompt to see the current system locale. Here’s how.
Find the System Locale with the Command Prompt
- Open a command prompt in Windows 10.
- Type or paste the following command: systeminfo .
- Besides other useful info, it contains the current OS locale:
Finally, you can find the system locale information in the built-in msinfo32 tool.
Find the System Locale with the System Information app
- Press the Win + R hotkeys together on the keyboard and type the following command in your Run box: msinfo32 .
- Click the System Summary section on the left.
- On the right, see the Locale value.
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About Sergey Tkachenko
Sergey Tkachenko is a software developer from Russia who started Winaero back in 2011. On this blog, Sergey is writing about everything connected to Microsoft, Windows and popular software. Follow him on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.
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Change System Locale in Windows 10
As you may already know from previous articles, Windows 10 supports changing the display language using language packs. If you are working in a localized user account in Windows 10 which is your native language, you might be interested in learning what language is used for older apps that doesn’t support Unicode and how to change it.
Windows 10 supports language packs. By installing one or several language packs, you can switch your Windows display language on-the-fly. It is also possible to have a different display language for each user account.
There are plenty of apps that don’t support Unicode. Most of them are apps that have been created for previous Windows versions.
The option that specifies the default language to use for non-Unicode programs is called System Locale. The system locale defines the bitmap fonts and code pages (ANSI or DOS) that are used on the system by default. The system locale setting affects only ANSI (non-Unicode) applications. The language for non-Unicode programs is a per-system setting.
To change the System Locale in Windows 10, do the following.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Time & Language.
- On the left, click on Language.
- In the right pane, click on the Administrative language settings link.
- In the Region dialog, click on the Administrative tab.
- Under the Language for non-Unicode programs section, click on the Change system locale button.
- Select the language you want from the drop down list in the next dialog. Do not enable the BETA: Use Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support checkbox unless you know what you are doing.
- Restart Windows 10 when prompted.
Note: The language you’ve set for the system locale will be automatically added to the list of installed languages in Windows 10.
Alternatively, you can access the same option with the classic Control Panel app. Open the classic Control Panel and navigate to Control Panel\Clock and Region. Click on Region and switch to the Administrative tab.
Winaero greatly relies on your support. You can help the site keep bringing you interesting and useful content and software by using these options:
How to change system language on Windows 10
Source: Windows Central
On Windows 10, the initial setup process offers you the option to set the default language. However, if you made a mistake or using a device already configured, you don’t have to struggle with the incorrect settings when your requirements are different.
If you have to change your device’s language settings, you can complete this task using the Settings app without reinstalling Windows 10.
In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to change your device’s system default language.
How to change default system language on Windows 10
If you’re using a computer with the incorrect language configuration, it’s unnecessary to reinstall Windows 10. You only need to adjust a few settings to set the appropriate language.
Disable language sync
On Windows 10 configured with a Microsoft account, the language preferences will sync across devices. In the case that you only need the settings on one computer, it’s recommended to disable the option to sync the language settings before making any changes to prevent the new configuration from overwriting the settings on your other devices.
To stop syncing the language preferences on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Accounts.
- Click on Sync your settings.
Under the «Individual sync settings» section, turn off the Language preferences toggle switch.
Source: Windows Central
Once you complete the steps, you can change the language settings without affecting your other devices.
Change language settings
To change the system default language, close running applications, and use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Time & Language.
- Click on Language.
Under the «Preferred languages» section, click the Add a language button.
Source: Windows Central
Select the language package from the result.
Source: Windows Central
Check the Set as my display language option.
Source: Windows Central
Click the Yes, sign out now button.
Source: Windows Central
After you complete the steps, the display language will change across the entire Windows 10 experience, including the Sign-in screen, Settings app, File Explorer, Desktop, apps, browser, and websites you visit. Depending on your new settings, Windows 10 may prompt you to review your privacy settings again.
Change region settings
In the case that you are adjusting the Windows 10 language because you’re now in a different region, you’ll also need to change the region settings.
To change the local region settings on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Time & Language.
- Click on Region.
Use the «Country or region» drop-down menu to select the current location (if applicable).
Source: Windows Central
Under the «Related settings» section, click the Administrative language settings option on the right side.
Source: Windows Central
Under the «Language for non-Unicode programs» section, click the Change system locale button.
Source: Windows Central
Select the new system local by specifying the new language.
Source: Windows Central
In the «Administrative» tab, click the Copy settings button.
Source: Windows Central
Under the «Copy your current settings to» section, check the Welcome screen and system accounts and New user accounts options.
Source: Windows Central
Once you complete the steps, the computer will now use the correct region settings.
Typically, users never have to worry about changing or installing additional languages. However, the ability to change language-related settings may come in handy for organizations working with people that need to use different preferences. It’s also a useful feature to match the local settings if you relocate to another region or when buying a new device that ships from a different country.
The only caveat about changing the region settings is that you may lose access to Cortana, and the Microsoft Store may show different contents depending on the region you specified.
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
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