How to Change the Language of an Existing SharePoint Site
Question details
The user needs to change the interface language of an existing SharePoint site to match their preferred language.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user created a site with a specific language selected, but the site interface still displays in English.
- Observed behavior
- The SharePoint site continues to display in English despite the user's preferred language being set during site creation.
Ensure you have access to your Microsoft 365 account settings and Microsoft Delve to update your personal language preferences across Microsoft 365 apps.
Change User's Preferred Language via Microsoft Delve
Update your personal language preferences in Microsoft Delve to apply your chosen language to the SharePoint interface.
Changing the language in Delve updates your personal display language for Microsoft 365 services, including SharePoint. Note that this only changes the interface elements (such as menus and buttons); existing user-created content like site names and documents will not be automatically translated.
Log in to your Microsoft 365 account and open the Microsoft Delve app from the app launcher.
Click on 'Me' in the left-hand navigation menu, then select the 'Update profile' option.
Scroll down the page, click on 'How can I change language and regional settings?', and click the provided link to access your personal settings.
Add your preferred language (e.g., Czech) to the list, move it to the very top, and ensure you select the option to apply this setting only to yourself.
Navigate back to your SharePoint site and refresh the page. The interface should now display in your newly selected language.
Experience a Lightweight and Multilingual Office Suite
While managing online interface settings in Microsoft 365 can sometimes be cumbersome, having a reliable desktop alternative makes document creation easier. If you need a robust, fast, and free alternative for document management, try WPS Office. It provides native support for multiple languages and seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my SharePoint site still in English after changing the language?
It can take some time for language settings updated in Microsoft Delve or your Microsoft 365 profile to sync across all servers. Try clearing your browser cache or waiting a few hours for the changes to fully propagate to SharePoint.
Will my existing documents be translated when I change the site language?
No, changing the SharePoint interface language only affects system menus, buttons, and settings. User-generated content such as document text, file names, and site titles will remain in their original language.
Can I set multiple languages for different users on the same SharePoint site?
Yes, if the site administrator enables the 'Multiple Language User Interface' (MUI) feature, individual users can see the site's interface in their own preferred personal language without affecting the default language seen by others.
