How to Change System Locale in Windows 11

Checking Your Current System Locale

Before you change anything, it's smart to see what your computer is set to right now. This way, you know your starting point.

Method 1Using the Control Panel

You can change system locale in Windows 11 using the Control Panel by opening the Region settings from the classic Control Panel interface. This method lets you select a new language for older programs that do not support modern text encoding. You open the Region window, click the Administrative tab, and choose your preferred language from the list before restarting your computer.

• Type "Control Panel" in the Windows search bar and click on the result.
• If you see options like "System and Security" or "Clock and Region," click on "Clock and Region." If you see small or large icons, find and click on "Region."
• Click on the "Region" option. A new window will open with your current regional settings.
• Look for a tab at the top called "Administrative" and click it.
• Under the section "Language for non-Unicode programs," you will see the name of your current system locale. This is what your computer is using for older apps.

If you see a language in the Windows Region settings that you do not recognize or that does not seem right for the programs you are trying to use, you might need to change the language setting.

Method 2Using Command Prompt

Command Prompt lets you quickly check your current system locale in Windows 11 by running a built-in command without opening multiple settings windows. You open Command Prompt as an administrator, type the specific locale query command, and press Enter to view your active language settings for older programs on the screen.

• Type "cmd" in the Windows search bar and press Enter. You can also right-click and choose "Run as administrator" if you plan to make changes later.
• In the Command Prompt window, type the following command exactly and press Enter:
  
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  systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"System Locale"

• The output will display your current "System Locale."

Don't worry if there's a small pause after you press Enter.

Method 3Using PowerShell

PowerShell provides a fast way to check your system locale in Windows 11 by running a short command that displays your current language code for older applications. You open PowerShell as an administrator and enter the region command to instantly see what language settings your computer currently uses for non-Unicode programs.

• Type "PowerShell" in the Windows search bar. Right-click on "Windows PowerShell" and select "Run as administrator" for the best results.
• Type the following command and press Enter:
  
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  Get-WinSystemLocale

• PowerShell will immediately show you your current system locale. It might look something like "en-US" or "de-DE."

Good to know: Changing the system locale can also change how dates, times, and money amounts are shown to match the region you pick.

Changing Your System Locale in 🪟 Windows 11

To change your Windows 11 system locale, you will likely need administrator permission. This setting controls the language your programs use for non-Unicode data.

Method 1Using the Control Panel

This is the most common and recommended way for most people.

• Follow steps 1-4 from "Checking Your Current System Locale" (Method 1) to get to the "Administrative" tab of the Region window.
• Under the "Language for non-Unicode programs" section, click the button that says "Change system locale..."
• A new window will appear. Click the dropdown menu and choose the language that matches the older programs you need to run. For example, if you have an old German program, choose German.
• Click "OK" on the "Region Settings" window. Windows will likely tell you that you need to restart your computer for the changes to work fully. Save anything you are working on and restart your PC.

If you have problems after changing the locale, you might need to go to Settings › Time & language › Language & region and add the language pack you need.

Method 2Using Command Prompt for Quick Access

Command Prompt shortcuts let you change system locale in Windows 11 by opening the exact settings window instantly with a single command. You open an administrator command prompt, type the specific control command to launch the Region dialog box, and update your language settings for older programs without digging through menus.

• Search for "cmd," right-click, and select "Run as administrator."
• Type the following command and press Enter:
  

  The `control.exe intl.cpl,,8` command skips several steps and opens the "Administrative" tab of the Region settings window directly, allowing you to change your system locale faster.

  Method 3Using PowerShell with a Specific Command

  PowerShell allows you to change system locale in Windows 11 directly through a command line utility, which works well for automated setups and advanced users. You open PowerShell with administrator rights and run the specific cmdlet to apply a new language code to your non-Unicode program settings.

  • Search for "PowerShell," right-click, and select "Run as administrator."
  • You need to tell PowerShell which locale you want to use. Replace <LocaleName> with the correct language code. Here are some examples:
    • For English (United States): en-US
    • For German (Germany): de-DE
    • For Japanese (Japan): ja-JP
    • For French (France): fr-FR
  • The command will look like this:
    
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    Set-WinSystemLocale -SystemLocale <LocaleName>

  • For example, to set it to German, type:
    
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    Set-WinSystemLocale -SystemLocale de-DE

  • After typing your command, press Enter. You might be asked to install extra language features. Once the command is done, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Summary

Changing the system locale in Windows 11 fixes text display problems in older programs that do not use modern Unicode text encoding. You can check or update your settings using the Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell, and you always need to restart your computer afterward to apply the changes properly.