How to Fix Windows 11 File Explorer Showing Wrong Language

If your Windows 11 File Explorer is displaying in the wrong language, it's usually due to incorrect system language or regional settings. You can resolve this issue by checking and adjusting these settings, then restarting File Explorer to apply the changes. Follow the steps below to correct the language display.

Why is File Explorer displaying the wrong language?

File Explorer may show the wrong language due to mismatched system language settings. This can occur if your device was set up with a different language during installation or if you have multiple user profiles with different language preferences. Additionally, updates or changes in regional settings can affect the language displayed.

How to check your system language settings

To verify your system language settings in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start button and select Settings.
2. In the Settings window, choose Time & language.
3. Click on Language & region.
4. Under the Preferred languages section, ensure your preferred language is listed at the top. If it’s not, you can add it by clicking Add a language and following the prompts.
5. Make sure that the Windows display language is set to your preferred language.

Adjusting regional settings

To adjust your regional settings in Windows 11:

1. In the same Language & region settings window, scroll down to the Regional format section.
2. Select your preferred regional format from the dropdown menu. This setting influences how dates, times, and numbers are displayed, which can also affect language localization.

Restarting File Explorer

After making changes to your language and regional settings, you should restart File Explorer to apply these updates:

1. Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager.
2. In Task Manager, locate Windows Explorer in the list of processes.
3. Right-click on Windows Explorer and select Restart.

This will close and reopen File Explorer, allowing it to load with the updated language settings.

What to do if the problem persists

If File Explorer still displays the wrong language after these adjustments:

• Check for Windows updates by going to Settings > Windows Update and selecting Check for updates. Installing the latest updates can resolve many language-related issues.
• If the issue continues, consider creating a new user profile. Sometimes user profiles can become corrupted or misconfigured, which might lead to persistent issues. You can create a new profile by navigating to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users and selecting Add someone else to this PC.

Conclusion

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consult Microsoft's support for further assistance or check community forums for similar experiences.