Windows 7 allows you to change the system display language. The process to do this is quite simple and is much more intuitive if you are using the Ultimate or Enterprise versions of Windows 7. If you are using the Starter, Basic or Home version of Windows 7, you can choose to install a "Language Interface Pack", the whose purpose is to translate the wording and labels of the most used system elements into the chosen language. You can change the input language used by the keyboard so that you can also type text written in a language other than your own.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Change the Display Language (Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise)
Step 1. Log in to the "Control Panel"
If you are using the Ultimate or Enterprise version of Windows 7, you have the option to install a new language (via "language pack"), so that most of the contents of the Windows interface are displayed in the new language of your choice. This feature is only available in the Ultimate and Enterprise versions of Windows 7. If you are using the Starter, Basic or Home version, you can install a "Language Interface Pack" (LIP). This tool has the task of translating part of the labels and words that appear within the Windows user interface and requires the presence of a basic language. See the next section of the article for more details.
You can access the "Control Panel" directly from the "Start" menu
Step 2. Select the "View by" drop-down menu and choose the "Large icons" or "Small icons" option
This way you will be able to access all the items in the "Control Panel" quickly and easily.
Step 3. Click the "Windows Update" icon
To download any available "language packs", you can use the "Windows Update" feature built into Microsoft's operating system.
Step 4. Select the "[number] optional updates are available" link
If the link indicated is not present in the window, select "Check for updates".
Step 5. Select the check button for the language you wish to download and install
After making your choice, press the OK button.
Step 6. Press the button
Install updates.
If Windows "User Account Control" is enabled, you may be prompted to confirm your action to proceed and to enter the system administrator password.
Downloading your chosen "language pack" may take several minutes, so please be patient
Step 7. Return to the main "Control Panel" screen, then select the "Country and Language" icon
Now go to the Keyboards and Languages tab.
Step 8. Choose the language you just installed using the "Choose a display language" drop-down menu
The list will show all the languages installed on the system.
Step 9. Press the button
Apply , then choose the option Get out now to restart the session.
The new changes will be applied the next time you log in to Windows.
Step 10. Change the system locale if the new installed language is not used by some specific programs
The latter may not be able to use the new language until the system locale is appropriately changed to match those of the chosen country.
- Access the "Control Panel" and choose the "Country and language" icon;
- Access the Admin Options tab, then press the Change system locale button;
- At this point, choose the language you just installed and press the OK button. You will be asked to restart your computer in order to apply the new settings.
Method 2 of 3: Change the Display Language (Any Version)
Step 1. Understand the difference between "language pack" and "Language Interface Pack" (LIP)
Traditional "language packs" are intended to translate almost all elements of the Windows user interface and are only available for the Ultimate and Enterprise versions of Windows 7 (refer to the previous section for more details). For all other versions of Windows 7, LIPs must be used. These are smaller "language packs", which are used to translate the elements of the graphical interface that are used most frequently by users into the chosen language. These sub-packages require the existence of a base language pre-installed in the system, precisely because not all elements of the graphical interface have been translated.
Step 2. Access the web page where you can download the LIP of your interest
Using this link you will have the complete list of available LIPs available.
Step 3. Check the requirements for installation
The third column of the table that summarizes all the available LIPs indicates the basic language required to perform the installation, together with the version of Windows for which it was created.
If the installation of the LIP you have chosen requires the Ultimate or Enterprise version of Windows 7, you will need to update your system in order to change the language
Step 4. Select the "Download Now" link
In this way you will be redirected to the web page relating to the chosen language, whose content will obviously be displayed with that language.
Step 5. Press the red "Download" button
A new window will appear in which the installation files of the selected language will be present.
Step 6. Choose the correct file for the version of Windows installed on your computer
You will have the option to download the "language pack" for 32 or 64 bit operating systems. To find out the version of Windows installed on your computer, access the "Start" menu, select the "Computer" icon with the right mouse button and choose "Properties" from the context menu that appeared. The "System" window will appear in which you will need to locate the "System type" item.
Step 7. Select the check button for the file you wish to download, then press the "Download" button
The installation file of the chosen LIP will be downloaded into the "Download" folder of the computer.
Step 8. Double-click the file you just downloaded
This will start the installation procedure for the "language packs" and the chosen one will be selected automatically. Press the Next button to start the installation.
Before the new language is installed on your system, you will be asked to accept the terms of the agreement proposed by Microsoft
Step 9. Read the "ReadMe" file carefully
This document will automatically appear before the language is actually installed on your computer. This is usually a step that can be skipped, but it is always good to read this information as it may make you aware of any bugs or incompatibility issues.
Step 10. Wait for the new language to be installed
This step may take a while to complete.
Step 11. Select and set the new language as the system language
At the end of the installation, a list of all installed languages will be displayed. Choose the one you just added and press the Change display language button.
If you want the Windows welcome screen and all other user accounts on the system to also use the new language, select the check button located below the list of installed languages
Step 12. Log into Windows again to apply the new changes
You will be asked to log out of the current session so that the new display language is actually used. The new language chosen will be used the next time you log in to Windows. All interface elements that have not been translated by the new LIP will be displayed in the system base language.
Step 13. Change the system locale if the new installed language is not used by some specific programs
The latter may not be able to use the new language until the system locale is properly changed, so that the country that uses that language is selected.
- Access the "Start" menu and choose "Control Panel";
- Click the "Country and language" icon;
- Access the Admin Options tab, then press the Change system locale button;
- At this point, choose the language you just installed, press the "OK" button and restart your computer when prompted to do so.
Method 3 of 3: Input Language
Step 1. Log in to the "Control Panel"
You can add multiple keyboard layouts to a single Windows installation so that you can type content in different languages.
Step 2. Select the "View by" drop-down menu and choose the "Large icons" or "Small icons" option
By doing so you will have the possibility to access all the items of the "Control Panel" in a simple and quick way.
Step 3. Select the "Country and Language" icon, then go to the tab
Keyboards and languages. At this point, press the Change keyboards… button.
Step 4. To install a new input language press the button
Add. A list of all available languages will be displayed.
Step 5. Select the input language you want to install
Click the icon characterized by the international abbreviation of the chosen language to expand the relevant section, then click the "Keyboard" item to expand the relevant node in the tree menu. Select the check button for the language you want to add. Press the OK button to complete the installation.
Some languages have multiple options if different dialects are spoken within the same area
Step 6. Switch between input languages using the language bar
The latter is displayed on the Windows taskbar to the left of the notification area and the system clock. It is characterized by the international abbreviation of the currently active language. Click this icon to be able to choose one of the installed input languages.
- Alternatively, you can use the key combination ⊞ Win + Spacebar to cycle through all keyboard layouts installed on your system.
- If the language bar is not displayed, select the taskbar with the right mouse button and choose under "Toolbars", then select the option "Language bar".
