Change User Language by command line

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  1. Posts : 2
    Win10
       #1

    Change User Language by command line


    Hi,

    I have a Win10 Enterprise version. I have set 3 Languages under the Setting -> Language. I can manually switch between the 3 languages under the Language setting page (by the set as primary language, then perform a sign out and sign in with the same user againg).

    However, I want to automate the language switching by command. Can any one advise me how to do it?

    Thank you.

    Regards,
    Billy
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2

    That will not work, is not possible.

    I know your situation, I myself need Windows in four languages. I wholeheartedly recommend the same fast and easy solution to you as what I use.

    Each user account in Windows 10 can be set to use different display language. In my case the main user account I mostly use as well as a local admin account are both set to use the original Windows install language UK English. In addition I have created three local user accounts naming them simply as Finnish, Swedish and German and installed respective language packs (Suomi = Finnish, Svenska = Swedish, Deutsch = German):

    Change User Language by command line-image.png

    Whenever I need fast access to Windows in another language, I simply switch user by clicking my avatar in Start and selecting language / account I need:

    Change User Language by command line-image.png

    When starting the PC I can select in which language I want to use Windows:

    Change User Language by command line-image.png
    (Click to enlarge.)

    Simple, easy and fast.

    Kari
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4,224
    Windows 10
       #3

    Great concept, brilliant execution. Thanks for sharing, Kari. I'm going to use this to make Deutsch available on my PC, too.
    --Ed--
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 61
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #4

    Nice one Kari. I've never seen anyone doing this before. Good source of inspiration.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 4,224
    Windows 10
       #5

    I was just reading the Harden Windows 10 Security Guide for an article I'm researching. They also recommend setting up a separate account for doing online shopping, ebanking, and so forth, and using it only for those things. In general this is called "role-based security," and works very well to keep privilege creep and/or unwanted access to a minimum. Kari's idea is something like "language-based account" access and works both well and similarly.
    Good stuff!
    --Ed--
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 61
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #6

    Hello EdTittel,

    As a person who's obsessed with IT security { I also chose IT Security as an optional course as part of my study }, I will make sure to add the link to my bookmarks and read it tomorrow morning. Looks very interesting.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    EdTittel said:
    Kari's idea is something like "language-based account" access and works both well and similarly.
    Good stuff!
    The solution I use was presented in a really simple way above. To really make it work you need to customize regional settings on every account for apps and browsers to work as you want to.

    An example: on my Swedish user account, I've set Country or region in Settings > Time & language > Region & language to be Sweden (region can be set individually for each user account in Windows), Bing and Google are set to use their respective Swedish sites in Swedish language, both of them having my location set to Stockholm Sweden. Bing is happy with just Stockholm Sweden as location, Google requires a post (zip) code; I use that of Stockholm City Hall, Stockholm 11221 Sweden

    Now for instance the News app shows me Swedish news, as I want to.

    I've also created a specific Microsoft account to be used with this user account, when setting the payment methods used with this Microsoft account at https://account.microsoft.com I'll set it for purchases in Sweden, in order to be able to use the Swedish Windows Store and get Swedish apps:

    Change User Language by command line-image.png

    In my case I then repeat the procedure with English, Finnish and German accounts.

    This tutorial is already a bit outdated but it is still good to read even if I say so myself: Location of Windows 10 - Change for when Abroad

    Kari
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,105
    W10 Pro + W10 Preview
       #8

    EdTittel said:
    I was just reading the Harden Windows 10 Security Guide for an article I'm researching. They also recommend setting up a separate account for doing online shopping, ebanking, and so forth, and using it only for those things. In general this is called "role-based security," and works very well to keep privilege creep and/or unwanted access to a minimum. Kari's idea is something like "language-based account" access and works both well and similarly.
    Good stuff!
    --Ed--
    Reading through that security guide one could develop a neurosis....not saying its not good advice, but 3 to 4 hours to set up..way over the top in my view.
    There are far simpler ways to safeguard yourself against hackers.....and money is what they are really after.

    My bank withdrawals on the internet require verification from a card reader, this produces a different code each time to be entered on drop down menus on screen, not using my keyboard, so keylogging is out, the bank also asks for double security verification.

    Most bank transactions with clients over the internet are scrambled now.....it is easier now for hackers to attack the banks.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 2
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hi Kari,

    Thanks a lot for your reply. What I need is an automated method since we are building like a kiosk PC so we are implementing a change lang feature with our program. We'll need a scipting method or so instead of asking user to switch it thru windows.

    BTW, in case multiple user profiles have to be used, is there any way to switch user with command? Then I may still write script to switch user in order to change language as result.

    Thx,
    Billy
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #10

    billychin said:
    BTW, in case multiple user profiles have to be used, is there any way to switch user with command? Then I may still write script to switch user in order to change language as result.
    Interesting. I did not think about a kiosk environment. I am not able to offer you a solution, only giving some tips where to start creating a single click user / language switch.

    All the elements are there, everything you need to achieve is available with one or more commands, so I think this is doable although I have to admit I've never done this nor have I thought about it.

    You can switch user relatively easily from command line. It's done with TSCON command (more: Tscon). The command syntax is TSCON SESSION_ID /PASSWORD:Actual_Password.

    The session ID = a user. In screenshot below, I am signed in with four user accounts at the moment (Kari =1, Swedish =2, German = 3 and Finnish = 4):

    Change User Language by command line-image.png

    Session ID for each signed in user can be found with command QUERY SESSION:

    Change User Language by command line-image.png

    I am at the moment signed in as user Kari, with session ID 2. If I want to switch user to user Swedish (session ID 5), I would give command TSCON 5 /PASSWORD:MyReallyGoodPassword (assuming that user Swedish' password is MyReallyGoodPassword):

    Change User Language by command line-image.png

    On my system with four installed languages, this would immediately switch from user account Kari with display language UK English to user account Swedish with display language Swedish.

    The problem is, session IDs are not the same every time you start Windows and sign in to your user accounts. User named Swedish can be Session ID 5 this time, Session ID 9 next restart.

    My point: all the commands exist. It's up to find a way to make them to a batch file that can be executed at will.

    Kari
    Last edited by Kari; 24 Dec 2016 at 04:54. Reason: Typos
      My Computer


 

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