Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Change the Display Language in Microsoft Word

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The words thank you in multiple languages on different colored paper with text overlay "How to Change the Display Language in Microsoft Word"

This tutorial shows how to change the display language in Microsoft Word. The display language is the language that appears in the user interface, which includes the ribbon, Backstage view, dialog boxes, buttons, and menus.

Important Note: This process will change the display language for all your Office apps, including PowerPoint and Excel. It won’t change the language of the text in your documents.

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The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word 2021 and Word 2019. These steps don’t apply to Word for Mac, which requires changing the language for the entire operating system.

How to Change the Display Language

  1. Select the Review tab in the ribbon.
Review tab in Word 365
Figure 1. Review tab
  1. Select the Language button in the Language group.
Language button in the Review tab in Word 365
Figure 2. Language button
  1. Select Language Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Language Preferences option in the Language Menu in Word 365
Figure 3. Language Preferences option
  1. Select the Add a Language button in the Word Options dialog box.
Important Note: If the language you want to use already appears in the Office display language text box, skip to step 10.
Add a Language button in the Word Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 4. Add a Language button
  1. Select the language from the Install a display language dialog box.
Language options in the Install a Display Language dialog box in Word 365
Figure 5. Language options
  1. Ensure that Set as Office display language is selected.
Set as Office Display Language option in the Install a Display Language dialog box in Word 365
Figure 6. Set as Office display language option
  1. Select the Install button.
Install button in the Install a Display Language dialog box in Word 365
Figure 7. Install button
  1. Select the OK button in the Install Office Language dialog box explaining that Office will ask you to restart your software to apply the new language.
OK button in the Install Office Language dialog box
Figure 8. OK button

A series of Windows dialog boxes will appear as the new language is downloading.

Windows Checking for updates dialog box
Figure 9. Windows dialog box
  1. Select the Continue button to save your open file, if requested.
Windows Save Your Word before Continuing dialog box
Figure 10. Continue button

Word will reopen with the new interface language.

Word 365 with Hindi Display Language
Figure 11. Word ribbon with Hindi display language

Previously Installed Languages

  1. If the language is already installed on your computer, select it in the Office display language menu.
Office Display Language menu in the Word Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 12. Office display language menu
  1. Select the Set as Preferred button.
Set as Preferred button in the Language tab in the Word Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 13. Set as Preferred button
  1. Select the OK button.
OK button in the Language tab in the Word Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 14. OK button
  1. Select the OK button in the dialog box asking you to restart Office.
OK button in the Microsoft Office Language Preferences Change dialog box
Figure 15. OK button
  1. Save your file and then restart Word or another of your Office apps.

Related Resources

How to Change the Proofing Language in Microsoft Word

How to Change the Color of the Interface in Microsoft Word (including Dark Mode)