How to change the system display language for all users in Windows

Install the desired language pack via Settings → Time & Language → Language & region, ensuring "Set as my Windows display language" is selected. 2. Change the system display language in the same menu and restart. 3. Open Control Panel → Region → Administrative tab, click "Copy settings," and check both "Welcome screen and system accounts" and "New user accounts," then restart to apply the language to all users, including existing and future ones.

Changing the system display language for all users in Windows affects the language used by the operating system interface (like menus, settings, and dialogs) for every user account on the device. This is different from changing the language for just one user. Here’s how to do it properly in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

✅ 1. Install the Desired Language Pack

Before changing the system display language, you must install the language pack:

1. Press Windows I to open Settings.
2. Go to Time & Language → Language & region.
3. Under Preferred languages, click Add a language.
4. Search for and select the language you want (e.g., French, German, etc.), then install it.
5. During installation, make sure to check:
   • Language pack
   • Set as my Windows display language (if available)
   • Download and install language pack and set as default (if prompted)

? This installs necessary files and prepares the system for a language switch.

✅ 2. Set the Language as System Default (Affects All Users)

To apply the language change system-wide (for all current and future users), you need admin rights and must change the system locale and default user profile language:

Step A: Change the System Display Language

1. In Settings → Time & Language → Language & region:
2. Under Windows display language, select the newly installed language from the dropdown.
3. Restart your computer when prompted.

? This changes the UI language for the current user and new users, but not necessarily existing ones.

Step B: Copy Settings to Reserve User Accounts (Critical for All Users)

To ensure all existing user accounts also use the new language:

1. Open Control Panel:
   • Press Windows R, type control, and press Enter.
2. Go to Clock and Region → Region → Administrative tab.
3. Under Welcome screen and new user accounts, click Copy settings.
4. In the dialog:
   • Check Welcome screen and system accounts
   • Check New user accounts
   • Click OK
5. You may be prompted to restart—do so.

✅ This step ensures the language applies to the login screen, system services, and all future and existing user profiles.

✅ 3. Verify the Change After Reboot

After restarting:

• Log in to different user accounts (if available) to confirm the display language has changed.
• Check the login screen (if language display differs there, the "Copy settings" step was missed).

⚠️ Notes and Tips

• Administrator rights are required to change system-wide language settings.
• Some apps (especially older or third-party ones) may still display in the original language if they don’t support the new one.
• If the language doesn’t fully apply, ensure the language pack is fully downloaded and set as default in Settings > Language.
• Enterprise or Education editions support more language options via Local Experience Packs (LXPs).

Basically, installing the language pack and using Copy settings in the Region control panel is the key to making the change stick for all users. Without that step, only the current user is affected.

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