How do I change primary language?


  1. Posts : 43
    Windows 10
       #1

    How do I change primary language?


    In build 10240 I can download a Danish language pack in Settings. However I can't set it as primary... Anyone know how to do this?
    How do I change primary language?-capture.png
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  2. Posts : 43
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Found out myself. Goto "Additional date, time & regional settings" (classic control panel instead of modern). It works when done there.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #3

    How to set the default input language to another than the default display language in Windows 10, or how to see Windows 10 in your language while you can use latin by default to type passwords etc:

    Well, I am not sure if we had the same problem, but let me explain to help others. I recently installed Windows 10 Pro English in a notebook. Since my customer is Greek, I added the Greek Language Pack and set the default display language to be Greek. This also set the default input language to be Greek, something rather annoying since we need latin for passwords and almost everything else. We only switch to Greek when we need to type in Greek. For everything else we use English US since it has the same layout. So I needed to set the default display language to Greek, but the default input language to English US. Simply changing the order of the languages doesn't help. So to do it, click on the language icon on the taskbar and select Language Preferences (sorry if I'm not accurate, as I currently see the Greek version and try to translate). Then, click on the display language you want it default (in my case Greek) and click on Make it default. If the button is disabled, it is already the default display language. Now to make the default input language different (in my case English US), click on Additional regional settings and date/time settings. This will open another window from which you click on Change Input Method next to the Languages. Then click on Advanced Settings from the list at the left. The first setting is to override the default display language. To make sure it is always what you want, set it to the language you want (in my case Greek). The next setting is to override the default input language. To make it different from the default display language, select the other language (in my case English US). Click on Save. That's it! You now have default the display language you like, but the default input language it not necessarily the same. You can set to another language. I think this tip is very useful for all of us with a non-latin writing system. So we can see Windows in our language but input passwords etc in latin without having to remember to switch the keyboard layout first.

    Glad to share!
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  4. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #4

    My problem is the reverse of the above. I am English living in Greece. I cannot understand Greek system language. So I have just bought a new laptop in Greece and the technition set it to give me system language in English and downloaded the UK English pack... Today I did a Windows 10 upgrade and now all the system info is in Greek. So I want to set the system info to English, but because every option is in Greek I'm a bit stuck. My other lap top (English) is available so I can do system commands on that and then press the equivalent button in the Greek language (new lap top)... But how do I set the system language to be in English??? (I can go back to the shop on Monday, but is there an easy fix now??)
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  5. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #5

    Don't worry, all you have to do is download the UK English language pack and make it the default display language. Your other laptop wouldn't be of much help if it is an earlier Windows version since some settings are different in Windows 10. So I'll give you a guide of how to do it.

    In your case making UK English default input language as well is not a problem since it is still in latin. Your only problem would be when trying to input some symbols like @ and there are at a different key for US (what you see on the greek and US layout) than UK keyboard, but you could get used to it. Or you could add the US English pack instead so the keyboard layout is what you see on the keys.

    I'll try to translate some commands for you, I hope they come up OK and not as random symbols...

    Control Panel is Πίνακας Ελέγχου
    Language is Γλώσσα
    Region is Περιοχή

    So you click on the search icon and type ΠΙΝΑΚΑΣ (you switch layout with ALT+TAB, Π is on P and Σ is on S, the rest are the same). One result should be Πίνακας Ελέγχου which is Greek for Control Panel. Click to open it. If you see groups, click on Προβολή κατά, Μεγάλα εικονίδια (View as, Large Icons) to see all controls. Now click on Γλώσσα (Language). On the light blue area above the installed languages there are some options. Click the first reading Προσθήκη Γλώσσας (Add Language). You see the available languages in Greek alphabetic order. You are looking in Α (alpha) for Αγγλικά (English). Click that to select and then click on the button Άνοιγμα (open) at bottom right. Select either English US (to match keyboard layout) or English UK (to feel more familiar while typing). There are displayed in both English and Greek, so you won't have a problem. Once you have selected your language click on the button Προσθήκη (Add) at bottom right.

    Notice: If you want English US it will be disabled as it is already installed as keyboard layout. If you added English UK and you need to remove English US, on the window showing the available languages click English US and click the second option, Κατάργηση (Remove).

    We haven't finished yet. You added English UK (or just kept English US without adding a new keyboard layout) but you also have to add the respective language pack. To do so, click on English and then click Επιλογές (options) next to it. Click Λήψη και εγκατάσταση πακέτου γλωσσών (Download and install Language pack). This will start downloading the language pack and then it will install it. Now you should have both Greek and English language packs. To make English display language default, click on it to select and then click the option Μετακίνηση προς τα επάνω (Move up) to make it first on the list. To change the display language to English you need to logoff and login again. To logoff click the windows button to see the start menu and then click your user icon. Click on sign out (it should be in English, in case it is in Greek is the last option). Now you are set. If you never need typing in Greek you can remove the Greek keyboard layout from the Language menu and keep only English. Since your windows original language is Greek, you have to remember that any offline updates you might want to apply must be for the Greek language or they won't install.

    I hope that the Greek text I typed here is rendered correctly and you'll be able to follow my instructions.

    Glad to help!
    Last edited by spapakons; 17 Oct 2015 at 14:45.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #6

    Ευχαριστω


    Τωρα δουλευει στα Αγγλικα. Το προβλιμα ηταν οτι δεν μπορω να καταλαβενω ολες οδιγιες στα Ελληνικα. Μπορω να γραψω απλα πραγματα (με πολυ λαθοι). Ετσι ειπα ευχαριστω, να εισαι καλα.. Thanks a lot.... It was not exactly as you described however your advice got us there.... :)

    spapakons said:
    Don't worry, all you have to do is download the UK English language pack and make it the default display language. Your other laptop wouldn't be of much help if it is an earlier Windows version since some settings are different in Windows 10. So I'll give you a guide of how to do it.

    In your case making UK English default input language as well is not a problem since it is still in latin. Your only problem would be when trying to input some symbols like @ and there are at a different key for US (what you see on the greek and US layout) than UK keyboard, but you could get used to it. Or you could add the US English pack instead so the keyboard layout is what you see on the keys.

    I'll try to translate some commands for you, I hope they come up OK and not as random symbols...

    Control Panel is Πίνακας Ελέγχου
    Language is Γλώσσα
    Region is Περιοχή

    So you click on the search icon and type ΠΙΝΑΚΑΣ (you switch layout with ALT+TAB, Π is on P and Σ is on S, the rest are the same). One result should be Πίνακας Ελέγχου which is Greek for Control Panel. Click to open it. If you see groups, click on Προβολή κατά, Μεγάλα εικονίδια (View as, Large Icons) to see all controls. Now click on Γλώσσα (Language). On the light blue area above the installed languages there are some options. Click the first reading Προσθήκη Γλώσσας (Add Language). You see the available languages in Greek alphabetic order. You are looking in Α (alpha) for Αγγλικά (English). Click that to select and then click on the button Άνοιγμα (open) at bottom right. Select either English US (to match keyboard layout) or English UK (to feel more familiar while typing). There are displayed in both English and Greek, so you won't have a problem. Once you have selected your language click on the button Προσθήκη (Add) at bottom right.

    Notice: If you want English US it will be disabled as it is already installed as keyboard layout. If you added English UK and you need to remove English US, on the window showing the available languages click English US and click the second option, Κατάργηση (Remove).

    We haven't finished yet. You added English UK (or just kept English US without adding a new keyboard layout) but you also have to add the respective language pack. To do so, click on English and then click Επιλογές (options) next to it. Click Λήψη και εγκατάσταση πακέτου γλωσσών (Download and install Language pack). This will start downloading the language pack and then it will install it. Now you should have both Greek and English language packs. To make English display language default, click on it to select and then click the option Μετακίνηση προς τα επάνω (Move up) to make it first on the list. To change the display language to English you need to logoff and login again. To logoff click the windows button to see the start menu and then click your user icon. Click on sign out (it should be in English, in case it is in Greek is the last option). Now you are set. If you never need typing in Greek you can remove the Greek keyboard layout from the Language menu and keep only English. Since your windows original language is Greek, you have to remember that any offline updates you might want to apply must be for the Greek language or they won't install.

    I hope that the Greek text I typed here is rendered correctly and you'll be able to follow my instructions.

    Glad to help!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 858
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
       #7

    I have the problem with both (a) English speech UK and English with input USA (my preference, because of the Keyboard problem) and (b) both speech and input (KB) set to USA --- because Cortana does not like either. From time to time she pops up a message to say she cannot help unless language is set to one she speaks, and even though it is set correctly to English (UK or USA) she still refuses to function. I have a post elsewhere in this forum about this.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #8

    I don't use Cortana, so I cannot be sure, but maybe to work both languages must be in either English US or English UK. If they are different it cannot determine which language to use. It could be possible to select language within Cortana or set the Region to USA, don't know.
      My Computer


 

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