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Fix SharePoint Modified Dates Appearing in Arabic Despite English Settings
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where a SharePoint document library displays modified dates in Arabic, despite all settings being in English.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Viewing file details and timestamps in a SharePoint document library.
- Observed behavior
- Modified dates are displayed in Arabic even though the site language, user settings, and the Gregorian Transliterated English Calendar are explicitly selected. Other site elements display correctly in English.
Ensure you have Site Owner or Administrator permissions to access and modify SharePoint Site Settings before attempting to change language configurations.
Disable Alternate Languages and Isolate the Issue
Restrict the site language to English only and create a test library to determine if the issue is site-wide or specific to the existing document library.
SharePoint can occasionally force alternate languages on specific elements like date columns if multiple languages are enabled in the site settings. Isolating the issue by creating a fresh library helps determine if the current library's metadata is corrupted or if the entire site configuration needs an administrator review.
Navigate to your SharePoint site, click the Gear icon in the top right corner to open settings, and select 'Site information'. Click on 'View all site settings', then select 'Language settings'.
In the language settings menu, review the list of supported alternate languages. Uncheck and disable every language except English, then save your changes.
Return to the Site Contents page and click 'New', then select 'Document library'. Give it a test name and click 'Create'.
Upload a new document to the test library and check the 'Modified' date column. If the date displays correctly in English, the original library may be corrupted and need to be recreated. If it still displays in Arabic, the site configuration requires an administrator to recreate the site.
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If complex SharePoint language settings and server configurations are disrupting your workflow, consider managing your daily documents with WPS Office. It provides a straightforward, lightweight, and highly compatible environment for handling all your files without the hassle of unexpected language changes.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up the software on your device.
- 3. Open and Edit Documents: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents to experience full compatibility and easy editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my SharePoint dates change languages randomly?
SharePoint dates may appear in different languages if multiple alternate languages are enabled in the site settings, or if there is a conflict between the site's default language and your personal Microsoft 365 profile language preferences.
How do I check my personal language settings in Microsoft 365?
Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the Microsoft 365 portal, select 'View account', navigate to 'Settings & Privacy', and check your 'Language and Region' preferences to ensure they are set to English.
Can I change the regional settings for just one specific document library?
No, regional settings such as time zones, calendars, and default languages in SharePoint are applied at the Site level or the individual User level. They cannot be configured for a single document library independently.
