How to Change the Primary Language Display Order in Settings Time and Language Language and Region
Language order in Windows 11 and 10 controls which display language your computer uses first across menus, apps, and websites. When multiple languages are installed under Settings Time & language Language & region, Windows runs through them in a strict top-to-bottom list.
System updates or shared PC accounts often shuffle this list and push your preferred language down. Moving your main language back to the top spot takes less than a minute and fixes the problem straight away. The steps below are written for Windows 11. Windows 10 has the same idea, but its Settings pages are laid out differently, so some labels will not match exactly.
Open Settings Time & language Language & region, then drag your preferred language to the top of the Preferred languages list. Windows switches to that language for menus and apps immediately without restarting.
Understanding Windows Language Settings
Windows splits language settings into three parts. Knowing which is which saves you from changing the wrong one.
- Display Language: This changes the text you see on menus, windows, apps, and websites.
- Preferred Languages: This is a ranked list of the languages you use. Windows checks it from top to bottom. The language at the very top is used first, as long as it is fully supported and its language pack is installed. If it is not, Windows moves down to the next one.
- Regional Format: This changes how your computer shows dates, times, currency, and the first day of the week based on your location. It does not change the language of your menus.
To change your primary display language, you adjust the Preferred languages list in the Settings app. Putting your language at the top tells Windows to use it for menus, apps, and websites. The whole job takes under a minute if the language is already installed.
One limit to know about: some PCs ship with a “Single Language” edition of Windows. On those, you may not be able to add or switch display languages at all. If the options are missing or greyed out, check Settings System About for your edition, or ask whoever manages the PC. Work and school PCs can also have language settings locked by policy.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change the Primary Language Display Order in Settings Time and Language Language and Region
Here is the full process to update your display language. If your language is already installed, you can skip ahead to the section on moving it to the top of the list.
Step 1Open the Windows Settings Menu
There are two quick ways to open Settings. Use whichever you prefer.
- Click the Start button at the bottom of your screen. It looks like the Windows logo.
- Type Settings on your keyboard. The search results appear as you type.
- Click the Settings app icon in the results. The Settings window opens.
The shortcut is faster: press the Windows key + I at the same time and Settings opens immediately.
Step 2Navigate to Time & Language
The language options live under Time & language. This sits in the sidebar of the Settings window, alongside the settings for your clock, speech, and regional preferences.
- Look at the list on the left side of the Settings window and find Time & language. It has a small clock-and-globe style icon next to it.
- Click Time & language. The page on the right changes to show Date & time, Language & region, Typing, and other options.
Step 3Go to Language and Region
The Language & region page holds your Preferred languages list. It tracks every language installed for your account and controls your display order.
- Click Language & region.
- Look for the Windows display language drop-down near the top, and the Preferred languages section just below it. This is where Windows keeps track of all the languages you use.
Step 4Add Your Desired Language (If It Is Not Listed)
If the language you want is not in the list yet, add it first. You cannot move a language to the top until it appears here.
- Click the Add a language button next to the Preferred languages heading. A window opens showing a long list of languages.
- Type the name of your language into the search bar, or scroll down to find it. The list narrows as you type.
- Click your language to select it.
- Click the Next button at the bottom of the window.
- On the next screen, you will see optional features such as Install language pack and Set as my Windows display language. Make sure the box for setting it as your display language is checked. Without the language pack, Windows can only offer typing support, not translated menus.
- Click the Install button. (This step needs administrator permission. If a security prompt asks to make changes, click Yes or enter an administrator password.)
You need an active internet connection for this, and larger packs can take a few minutes. You will see a progress indicator under the language in your list. Do not sign out until it finishes.
Step 5Change the Display Language Order
The display order changes when you move your chosen language to the very top of the Preferred languages list. There are two ways to do it.
- Find your preferred language in the Preferred languages list under Language & region.
- Click the three dots (...) button next to that language. A small menu opens.
- Click Move up. Repeat until your language sits at position number one. If it is already at the top, Move up will be greyed out.
As an alternative, click and drag the language box to the very top of the list.
Now look just above the list for the drop-down menu labeled Windows display language. Click it and select your language to make sure it is the active one. If your language is missing from this menu, its language pack is not installed yet. Open the three dots menu for that language, choose Language options, and install the language pack from there.
You will need to sign out again for the change to apply.
Step 6Sign Out and Sign Back In
Signing out refreshes your user account so the new display language applies across all apps, menus, and system screens. A full restart also works, but signing out is usually enough.
- Save any open work and close your running programs.
- Click the Start button again.
- Click your user account icon or name in the Start menu. A small menu opens.
- Click Sign out. Windows closes your session and shows the sign-in screen.
- Sign back in with your usual password or PIN.
When your desktop loads, your menus, system buttons, and Windows apps should appear in your chosen language. The sign-in screen itself may still use the old language. That is a separate system-wide setting and does not mean your change failed.
Expert Tip: Managing Regional Formats and App Languages
Regional formats are separate from display language. They control how dates, times, and numbers appear. Changing them makes sure websites, apps, and system calendars show information the way you expect for your location.
- Go back to Settings Time & language Language & region.
- Scroll down to the Region section.
- Use the Country or region setting to pick where you are. Use the Regional format setting to choose how dates, times, and numbers are shown.
The regional format decides things like whether your calendar starts on Monday or Sunday, and whether dates read day-month-year or month-day-year.
Some third-party apps download their own language files and ignore the Windows setting. If an app you use every day still appears in the wrong language after you update Windows, open that app's settings and look for a Language or General tab to change it there. Apps that were already open before you signed out may also need to be closed and reopened.
Summary
To change your primary language display order, open Settings, go to Time & language, and select Language & region. From there you can add language packs, move your preferred language to the top of the list, and choose it in the Windows display language menu. Then sign out and back in so the new display language takes full effect.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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