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How to Enable East Asian Languages in Microsoft Office for Mac
Question details
The user needs to enable East Asian languages in Microsoft Office for Mac but cannot find the option in the application preferences.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to use, type, or format text using East Asian language tools in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
- Observed behavior
- The East Asian Languages option is missing from the Office Authoring and Proofing Tools preferences menu.
Ensure that your desired East Asian language is already added to your macOS system settings, as Office for Mac relies on the system-level language configuration to activate these tools.
Configure macOS Language & Region Settings
Adding the required East Asian language to your Mac's system preferences forces Microsoft Office to recognize and activate the appropriate language tools.
Office for Mac automatically detects system languages. If a language is missing in macOS, Office will hide the related proofing and authoring preferences.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
Click on General in the sidebar, then select Language & Region.
Under the Preferred Languages section, click the '+' (plus) button and search for your desired East Asian language (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean). Click Add.
Completely quit Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, then reopen them to allow the applications to detect the newly added system language.
Check Authoring and Proofing Tools in Office Preferences
Verify if the East Asian language tools are accessible through the Office application's built-in preferences menu.
Update Office and Verify All Apps
An outdated Office version might hide specific language preferences, or the option may only appear in certain apps within the suite.
Enjoy Seamless Multilingual Typing with WPS Office for Mac
Struggling with missing language preferences in Microsoft Office for Mac? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative with seamless out-of-the-box support for multiple languages, including East Asian typing and formatting.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer for macOS.
- 2. Install and Launch: Drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder and launch the suite.
- 3. Start Typing Immediately: Switch your Mac keyboard to your preferred language and start working in perfectly compatible documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the East Asian Languages option missing from my Office for Mac preferences?
This option often disappears if the East Asian language tools are already installed and active by default, or if macOS does not have the corresponding system language added in the Language & Region settings.
Does installing a new language require reinstalling Office on Mac?
No. Office for Mac utilizes the built-in macOS language packs. You simply need to add the desired language in your Mac's System Settings and restart your Office applications.
Why am I asked to hide my email address when sharing screenshots of Office preferences?
The Office Preferences window, particularly the account section, often displays your licensed Microsoft account email and Device ID. Sharing this publicly can compromise your privacy and security.
