How to Change or Add Language in Windows Server (2012–2025 Guide)

Occasionally,​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ you might want to modify the graphical interface (UI) of a Windows Server to another language, or perhaps you have users from different countries who need to work with your server. If you don’t know how to do this, then this guide is here to help you. We cover all the primary methods to change language Windows Server and add new languages step by step in this detailed guide. Knowing these methods, you can simply decide how to handle your server's language settings.

🖥️ Supported Windows Server Versions

Any Windows Server editions from Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2025 are capable of adding and changing display and typing languages. Yet, the way the installation is carried out will depend on the type of server ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌installation:

Installation Type	GUI Availability	How to Add/Change Language
Server with Desktop Experience (full desktop environment)	Yes ✅	Add languages through Settings or Control Panel, and use lpksetup if needed
Server Core (no graphical interface)	No ❌	Language installation and management must be done using PowerShell or DISM commands

so, If you are running Desktop Experience, adding a language is straightforward using the graphical interface. But, If you're using Server Core, language configuration is entirely command-line based.

Note:​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Windows Server 2025 is using the same language management method as Windows Server 2022. In Desktop Experience addition of languages is similar, whereas in Core editions you have to continue using PowerShell or DISM commands.

Anyway, we should start! However, if you are new to the platform and would like to grasp the fundamentals before going deeper, have a look at our brief guide: What is a Windows Server first.

🧩 Method 1: Adding a Language via Graphical Interface (Desktop Experience)

If you have installed a Windows Server version that comes with a full desktop environment (Server with Desktop Experience), the new language addition can hardly be done in a simpler way than through the system’s graphical settings. Here is a detailed guide:

Add a Language via Settings (Windows Server 2016 and later)

Open the Start menu and go to:

1.     Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region
2.     Click on Add a language in the Preferred languages section.
3.     Pick the language you want from the list and click Next.
4.     Windows will download and install the language files automatically if the server is online.

Once the installation is complete, the new language can be chosen under Windows display language, and the up arrow can be used to make it the system’s default ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌language.

🔁 Alternative Method: Using lpksetup in Server 2019 / 2022

In some versions, such as Server 2019:

1.     Search for lpksetup.exe in the Start menu and run it.
2.     Select Install display languages.

Choose the language pack files in .cab format from your system and proceed with the installation.

📌 Important Note for Older Versions (2012 / 2012 R2)

In these versions, you need to use the Control Panel, so Go to:

1.     Control Panel > Clock, Language, and Region > Language
2.     Click Add a language and follow the installation steps.

The remaining steps are similar to newer versions. If you’re not sure which release offers the best balance of performance, stability, and features for your needs, check out our comparison guide: Best Windows Server Versions.

🧩 Method 2: Adding a Language Using PowerShell and Commands

If you prefer to automate the process or your server doesn’t have the Desktop Experience (for example, Server Core), you can install and configure a language using PowerShell. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Installing the Language Pack

Suppose you have copied the language file (for example, fr-FR.cab) to D:\LangPacks.

For offline installation:

Add-WindowsPackage -Online -PackagePath "D:\LangPacks\fr-FR.cab"

For online installation on newer Windows Server versions (2019/2022):

Install-Language -Language "fr-FR" -IncludeAllSubFeature

🔹 This command installs the language pack and all related features.

Step 2: Setting the Display Language and System Locale

After installing the language, run the following commands to set the user interface and system locale:

# Set the UI language

Set-WinUILanguageOverride -Language fr-FR

# Set the system locale (date, time, currency)

Set-WinSystemLocale fr-FR

# Set the user’s language list

Set-WinUserLanguageList fr-FR -Force

⚠️ Important: Apply these commands after installing the language pack. The order matters.

Step 3: Restarting the Server

To apply the new language settings, a full restart is required:

Restart-Computer

❌ Note: Using logoff is not sufficient; a restart ensures all system-wide language changes take effect.

After these steps, Windows Server will switch its display language. Menus, dialogs, and system messages will appear in the newly installed language. This PowerShell-based method is the recommended approach for Server Core and automated deployments.

Key PowerShell Commands for Language Management

Below are the essential PowerShell Cmdlets used to manage the current user’s language settings:

Cmdlet	Function	Example Usage
Get-WinUserLanguageList	Retrieves the list of preferred languages for the current user.	$List = Get-WinUserLanguageList
Set-WinUserLanguageList	Sets the language list; the first language in the list becomes the UI display language.	Set-WinUserLanguageList -LanguageList "fa-IR"
Install-Language	Installs a new language pack (available in newer Windows Server versions; requires internet access).	Install-Language es-ES
Uninstall-Language	Removes an installed language.	Uninstall-Language ja-jp
Set-WinSystemLocale	Configures the system’s geographic and regional formats (date, time, currency). A restart is required.	Set-WinSystemLocale en-US

These commands allow administrators to automate language configuration efficiently, ensuring consistent regional and UI settings across Windows Server environments.

Method 3: Installing a Language Pack Using DISM (Offline)

If your server doesn’t have internet access or you want to install a language pack offline via a script, you can use DISM. First, download the ISO file that contains the language packs and Optional Features compatible with your version of Windows Server from the Microsoft Download Center. Then, locate the \x64\langpacks folder (which contains the .cab language pack files). The following example shows how to add the German (Germany) language:

Dism /online /Add-Package /PackagePath:E:\LanguagesAndOptionalFeatures\Microsoft-Windows-Server-Language-Pack_x64_de-de.cab

Here, it’s assumed that drive E: is the mounted ISO containing the language packs.
When you run the DISM command, the language pack is added to the system.After installation is complete, restart the system. Then, you can select the newly added language in Windows settings. for example, you’ll now see German listed among available languages.

The DISM method is especially useful for bulk installations or for servers without internet connectivity.

Setting the Default System, Welcome Screen, and Keyboard Language

After installing a new language, you need to set it as the default system language so that it’s also applied to the Welcome screen and new user accounts.

To make the new language the default for all user accounts and the welcome screen Go to:

1.     Control Panel > Region > Administrative
2.     Click Copy settings.

In the window that opens, check both of the following options:

• Welcome screen and system accounts
• New user accounts

Click OK to save the changes.

If you’re using the command-line method, make sure to run the following commands before logging off or restarting:

Set-WinSystemLocale <language-code>

Set-WinUserLanguageList <language-code> -Force

Then, after running logoff and signing back in, the new language will be loaded as the user’s default language.

⌨️ Add or Change Keyboard Input Language

To add a new keyboard input language:

1.     Go to the same path in Settings:
2.     Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region
3.     Click on the desired language and select Options.
4.     Under Keyboards, remove the existing keyboard or add a new one.

Once the new keyboard is installed, you can switch between keyboard languages using the language bar at the bottom of the screen.

Removing or Changing Existing Languages

If you’ve installed a language and no longer need it, you can remove it. To do this, In the graphical interface, go to:

• Settings > Time & Language > Language,
• select the language you want, and click Remove.

In Windows Server 2012/2016 (Control Panel), the Remove option becomes active after selecting a language.

You can also use lpksetup.exe to uninstall a language by running it and choosing “Uninstall display languages”. On the command line, you can use:

Uninstall-WindowsFeature -Name Language-Pack-<langCode>

(for versions where the language is installed as a Windows Feature)bor

dism /online /remove-package /PackagePath:...

Removing unused languages helps free up disk space and reduce system management complexity.

⚠️ Note: Installing additional languages increases disk usage and system workload. As Microsoft warns, installing too many language packs can slow down updates and reduce system performance. Only install the languages you truly need.

🧩 Troubleshooting Common Issues

ok, now let’s take a quick look at a few common problems you might face when adding or changing languages and how to fix them easily.

1. Language pack doesn’t appear or won’t install

Make sure your Windows Server version matches the language pack. For example, a Windows Server 2019 pack won’t work on 2022. If your server uses WSUS, you might get error 0x800F0954 because WSUS blocks optional downloads. Temporarily disable WSUS or let the client connect directly to Microsoft Update.

2. Download error (“You are offline”)

If the server isn’t connected to the internet and you try adding a language through Settings, you may see this message:
“You are offline. When you are connected, go to Language settings, select the language in the list, and finish downloading.”
In that case, download and install the language pack offline using the DISM method.

3. Issues in Server Core

Server Core has no GUI for language settings (no Control Panel or Settings). Use DISM or PowerShell commands instead, then log off or restart the server. After changing the language, even text elements like Task Manager and Command Prompt will appear in the new language.

Final Notes and Recommendations

When you deal with language settings on Windows Server, you should not forget these few simple but quite important things:

• Reset the Language Bar: When you install a new language or change the settings, it is necessary to reboot your server or log off and back in, to ensure that all updates get applied.
• Language Pack Location: In case your server is offline, you should get the Microsoft Language Pack ISO and locally install it.
• Core vs. GUI Versions: Server Core is limited to command-line operations only. Therefore, if you have the Desktop Experience, the graphical way will be a better choice for you.
• Remove Unused Languages: Make sure to erase those languages which you do not require not only to spare a little space but also to retain the system in its proper functioning and efficiency.
• Back Up Before Making Changes: If you have a production environment, then it is necessary to always back up your vital data and settings before performing any changes to the language options.

The above-mentioned pieces of advice ensure that your Windows Server will remain stable and manageable. You may also want to learn about windows server use cases in the real-world environment; then, go through our article Windows Server Use Cases.

Take the Next Step with Windows VPS

As you’ve seen, adding or changing the display language in Windows Server is quite straightforward as long as you use the installation method that matches your server environment. If you’re deploying new servers or building a stable, scalable infrastructure for enterprise projects or web applications, starting with a reliable and fully-managed server will make the process significantly easier. At MonoVM, we offer Windows VPS plans with full administrator access, technical support, and the ability to easily install additional languages. If you would like help choosing the right configuration, feel free to contact us for a free consultation.

Category: Windows