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
- Select the Review tab in the ribbon.
- Select the Language button in the Language group.
- Select Language Preferences from the drop-down menu.
- Select the Add a Language button in the Word Options dialog box.
- Select the language from the Install a display language dialog box.
- Ensure that Set as Office display language is selected.
- Select the Install button.
- 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.
A series of Windows dialog boxes will appear as the new language is downloading.
- Select the Continue button to save your open file, if requested.
Word will reopen with the new interface language.
Previously Installed Languages
- If the language is already installed on your computer, select it in the Office display language menu.
- Select the Set as Preferred button.
- Select the OK button.
- Select the OK button in the dialog box asking you to restart Office.
- 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)