How to Fix Mixed English and German Display Languages in Microsoft 365
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft 365 applications display a mixture of English and German menus, and changing the language setting results in an error.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Using Microsoft 365 desktop and web applications across different services like Office.com and OneDrive.
- Observed behavior
- The interface shows conflicting languages (e.g., Office.com in English while OneDrive remains in German), and attempting to change the display language triggers an error message.
Ensure your Windows operating system is fully updated and save any open documents before making changes to your system language configurations.
Reinstall the Language Package in Windows Settings
Removing and re-adding the language package forces Windows to download a fresh, uncorrupted version of the language files, which resolves display conflicts in Office.
Mixed language displays in Microsoft 365 often occur when the local Windows language pack is incomplete, corrupted, or fails to sync properly with the Office installation.
Ensure all Microsoft 365 desktop applications, including Word, Excel, and OneDrive, are completely closed.
Click the Windows Start menu, navigate to Settings, and select 'Time & Language', then click on 'Language' from the side panel.
Under the 'Preferred languages' section, locate the German language package, click on it, and select the 'Remove' button.
Click 'Add a language', search for German, select the appropriate regional variation, and proceed to install the package again.
Restart your computer. Open a Microsoft 365 application, navigate to File > Options > Language, and verify that the display language is now uniform.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Multilingual Document Editing
If Microsoft 365 language configurations continue to cause errors, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible workspace where switching interface and proofing languages is straightforward and error-free.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package and run the setup.
- 2. Open Settings: Launch WPS Office, click the global Settings icon in the top right corner of the homepage.
- 3. Switch Language: Select 'Choose Language', pick your preferred display language from the list, and restart the software to apply the changes instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Office.com display a different language than my desktop applications?
Office.com relies on your Microsoft account's cloud regional settings and your web browser's language preferences, whereas desktop applications prioritize your local Windows language packs and internal Office display settings.
How do I change the display language directly within Microsoft 365?
Open any Office application like Word, go to File > Options > Language. Under the 'Office display language' section, select your preferred language and click 'Set as Preferred'. If the language is missing, click 'Install additional display languages from Office.com'.
What should I do if the language package fails to download in Windows Settings?
If the download fails, ensure you have a stable internet connection. You can also try running the Windows Update troubleshooter or temporarily disabling third-party antivirus software that might be blocking the download.
