Office Settings & Configuration

How to Change Localized Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Office

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to change localized keyboard shortcuts back to the standard English defaults in Microsoft Office.

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Using Microsoft Office with localized languages but preferring standard English keyboard shortcuts for workflow efficiency.
Observed behavior: Keyboard shortcuts remain localized and do not function as the English defaults, even after setting English as the preferred display and editing language.

Before you start

Save your current documents and close all running Office applications to ensure your language setting modifications apply correctly upon restart.

Solution 1Recommended

Set English as the Primary Office Display Language

Re-prioritizing your Office display language ensures shortcut key mappings match standard English layouts.

Microsoft Office often ties its primary shortcut layout to the top-ranked display language. Adjusting this priority list resolves most localized shortcut issues.

Access Office Options

Open any Office application such as Word or Excel, click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner, and select 'Options' from the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Language Settings

In the Options dialog box, select 'Language' from the left-hand sidebar.

Prioritize English

Under the 'Office display language' section, select 'English' from the list and click the 'Move Up' button until it is at the very top.

Restart Office

Click 'OK' to save your changes, then completely close and restart all Microsoft Office applications for the new shortcuts to take effect.

Changes Applied: Restarting is mandatory; changes will not affect any documents that are currently open until the app reboots.

Solution 2

Adjust the Active Windows Language Settings

Some Office keyboard shortcuts rely entirely on the active Windows input language rather than Office's internal settings.

Solution 3

Manually Customize Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Word

If only specific shortcuts are misaligned, you can manually reassign them directly within Microsoft Word.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Standardized Global Shortcuts

If you frequently struggle with localized keyboard shortcuts and language dependencies in Microsoft Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, globally standardized interface where familiar shortcuts work consistently, right out of the box.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and click the free download button for your operating system.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the quick installation prompts to set up the software.
3. Open Your Files Seamlessly: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files with all your standard shortcuts ready to use.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) without layout distortion.Standardized keyboard shortcuts that remain consistent regardless of regional OS settings.Lightweight installation with an intuitive, all-in-one tabbed interface.Completely free to use with rich document, spreadsheet, and presentation tools.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Microsoft Office shortcuts change when I switch Windows keyboard languages?

Office dynamically adjusts certain keyboard shortcuts based on your active Windows input language. Switching your Windows keyboard layout (e.g., using Win + Space) will immediately change how shortcuts are interpreted by the application.

Can I reset all Word keyboard shortcuts to their English defaults?

Yes. Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon, click 'Customize' next to Keyboard shortcuts, and click the 'Reset All' button at the bottom of the dialog box to clear localized changes and restore default assignments.

Do Excel and PowerPoint allow custom keyboard shortcuts like Word?

No, Microsoft Word is the only Office application that allows extensive native customization of keyboard shortcuts via the 'Customize Ribbon' menu. For Excel and PowerPoint, you generally need to rely on the active display language settings.

Will changing my Office display language to English affect my spell checker?

Changing the display language alters the user interface and keyboard shortcuts, but spell checking is controlled by your selected 'Proofing language'. You can use an English display language while still proofing a document in another localized language.

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