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How to Change Office and Excel Display Language to English on Mac
Question details
The user needs to change the display language of Microsoft Office applications, specifically Excel, to English on a Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- The user changed their Mac's system language to English, but Office applications are failing to update and continue to display in Mandarin.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Excel and other Office applications still show the previous language (Mandarin) instead of adopting the newly set English system language.
Ensure you have saved all your work and completely quit out of Microsoft Excel and other Office applications before modifying language settings, as the apps require a fresh launch to apply the new display language.
Update macOS Preferred Languages Priority
Ensure English is correctly prioritized at the very top of your Mac system's Language & Region settings so Office apps can inherit it.
Microsoft Office for Mac automatically uses the primary language set in your macOS system preferences. If the app is stuck in the previous language, the new language might not be placed at the absolute top of the preferred list, or the app hasn't been properly restarted.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your Mac screen and select 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences' on older macOS versions).
Click on 'General' in the left sidebar, then select 'Language & Region' on the right.
Under 'Preferred Languages', locate English. Click and drag English to the very top of the list. If English is not there, click the '+' button to add it first.
Close System Settings. Right-click the Excel icon in your Dock and select 'Quit', then reopen it. If the language still hasn't changed, restart your Mac.
Set App-Specific Language for Excel
Use the macOS feature that allows you to assign a specific display language to an individual application, overriding the system defaults.
Try WPS Office for a Seamless, Multi-Language Experience on Mac
Struggling with stubborn Microsoft Office language settings on your Mac? Switch to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, user-friendly interface with straightforward built-in language controls, making it incredibly easy to switch your workspace to English without fighting your Mac's system settings.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free macOS version.
- 2. Open Preferences: Launch WPS Office, click on the 'WPS Office' menu at the top, and select 'Preferences'.
- 3. Switch Language: Navigate to the Language settings, select English, and instantly apply the changes to your workspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Excel not change to English when I changed my Mac system language?
Office applications often cache their localization settings. If Excel was open while you changed the system language, it won't update immediately. You must completely quit Excel (Cmd + Q) and reopen it. Additionally, check if there is an app-specific language rule overriding the system default in your Mac's Language & Region settings.
Does changing the display language also change the spell check language in Excel?
Not automatically. The display language only affects the user interface (menus, ribbons, and buttons). To change the spelling and proofing language in Excel for Mac, you need to go to Tools > Language from the top menu bar and select English.
Can I have Excel in English but keep my Mac operating system in Mandarin?
Yes. macOS allows you to set languages on a per-app basis. Go to Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Language & Region. Scroll down to 'Applications', click the '+' icon, choose Microsoft Excel, and assign English as its specific language.
What if English is not showing up in the Preferred Languages list?
You can add it manually. In the Language & Region settings, click the '+' icon under Preferred Languages, search for English (or your specific regional variant like English (US) or English (UK)), add it, and drag it to the top of the list.
