How to Force System UI Language as Display Language in Windows

The display language a user selects changes the default language the entire operating system uses for that specific user account.

The system UI language is a user interface language that can be set by an administrator in the Welcome screen and new user accounts settings. Windows uses this language if the current user (ex: new user) has not made specific language settings or if no active account is signed in like on the Welcome, Sign In, Sign Out, Shutdown, and Restart screens. The system UI language can be changed only if more than one user interface language (aka: display language) is installed on the computer.

If you like, you can enable a group policy setting to force the selected system UI language to be used as the display language for all users preventing them from being able to change their display language.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable forcing the system UI language to be used as the display language for all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to force the system UI language to be used as the display language.


 CONTENTS:

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Force System UI Language as Display Language in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Force System UI Language as Display Language using a REG file


EXAMPLE: Display language forced to use system UI language
Force System UI Language as Display Language in Windows-forced_display_language.jpg





OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Force System UI Language as Display Language in Local Group Policy Editor



In Windows 7, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 8, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 10, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Regional and Language Options

Force System UI Language as Display Language in Windows-force_system_ui_language_as_display_language_gpedit-1.jpg

3. In the right pane of Regional and Language Options, double click/tap on the Force selected system UI language to overwrite the user UI language policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 5. To Enable Force System UI Language as Display Language

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)


 6. To Disable Force System UI Language as Display Language

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.

Force System UI Language as Display Language in Windows-force_system_ui_language_as_display_language_gpedit-2.png

7. When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Force System UI Language as Display Language using a REG file



The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MUI\Settings

MachineUILock DWORD

(delete) = Disable
1 = Enable


1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 2. To Enable Force System UI Language as Display Language

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_force_system_UI_language_as_display_language_for_all_users.reg

Download


 3. To Disable Force System UI Language as Display Language

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_force_system_UI_language_as_display_language_for_all_users.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn