How to change the system language across your whole Windows 10 PC

Sure, you can change the language on your Windows 10 account, but what about the entire PC? Here's how.

You computer has a default system-wide language set in Windows 10, but you don't have to be stuck with it if your needs are different. With Windows 10 you can set the language settings for single accounts through the Settings app, but what about setting it for all accounts, the Lock Screen, and everywhere else on your PC? For that you'll need the Control Panel.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to properly change the default language across on your entire computer.

How to change the language globally on your PC

Before we dive into this guide, it's important to note that if you're using a Microsoft Account, this preference will sync across devices. If you only want to change settings on one particular computer, you should go to Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings and turn off the Language preferences option.

1. Use the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.
2. Click Time & language.
3. Click Region & language.

4. Under Languages, click Add a language.

   

5. Click the language you want to add, and select the specific variation if applicable.

   

6. Select the new language and click Options (and download any the language packs as necessary).

   

7. On Region & language, select the new language, and click Set as default.

   

8. If applicable, under Country or region, select your location to enable the Windows 10 to give you local content.
9. Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu and selectControl Panel.
10. Click Add a language.

11. Click the Advanced settings link in the left pane.

    

12. Click the "Apply language settings to the Welcome screen, system accounts, and new user accounts."

    

13. On the Administrative tab, under the "Welcome screen and new user accounts", click theCopy settings button.

    

14. Check the Welcome screen and system accounts and the New user accounts options.

15. Click OK.

    

16. Click OK again.
17. Reboot your computer and upon restart, you should see the new default language globally set through the operating system.

You'll find this feature especially useful when you work on a mixed-language environment where you need to configure workstations with different preferences to accommodate users. In addition, this feature will help in those times when you happen to purchase a new computer that ships from another country with a different language, or even when you move to another region of the world and you want to change your PC preferences to match the local settings.

Credit: windowscentral.com