Office Settings & Configuration

How to Use Different Interface Languages in Excel and Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to configure Microsoft Word to display menus and documents in Dutch while keeping Microsoft Excel's interface and commands in English.

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing application-specific display and editing languages within the Office suite.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Office applies display language settings globally across the entire suite, preventing users from assigning different interface languages to individual applications like Word and Excel.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary language accessory packs installed for Microsoft Office. You can download these from the official Microsoft website or through your Office application settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Set Separate Editing Languages

While you cannot change the global interface menus per application, you can set specific authoring and proofing languages for Word and Excel separately.

Microsoft Office shares a core UI language across all its applications. However, editing tools like spell check, grammar check, and document proofing can be tailored specifically to the document you are working on.

Open Word Language Options

Launch Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top ribbon, and select 'Options' at the bottom left. Then, click on 'Language' from the left sidebar.

Add an Authoring Language

Scroll down to the 'Office authoring languages and proofing' section. Click 'Add a Language...', choose Dutch (or your preferred language), and click 'Add'.

Set as Preferred

Select the newly added language and click 'Set as Preferred'. Your documents in Word will now proof in this language, while the menus remain in the global Office language.

Interface Language Limitation: This method changes the spelling and grammar checking language, but the ribbons, buttons, and menus will still follow the global Office display language.

Solution 2

Switch the Global Display Language as Needed

Since Office does not natively support different UI languages per app, you can manually switch the global display language when transitioning between Word and Excel.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Multilingual Work

Managing global display settings in Microsoft Office can be restrictive when you need different languages for different tasks. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight alternative with high compatibility, a familiar interface, and excellent tools to handle your multilingual document needs without slowing down your system.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click on the 'Free Download' button.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
3. Customize Your Experience: Launch WPS Office, open the global settings to adjust your preferred interface language, and enjoy seamless editing across documents and spreadsheets.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) formats.Built-in multilingual spell check and translation tools.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly on older and newer devices.Free to use with a familiar tabbed interface, minimizing the learning curve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set Word to Dutch and Excel to English simultaneously?

No, the display language setting in Microsoft Office is global. Changing the menu and ribbon language in one application automatically changes it for all standard Office programs on your device.

Does changing the editing language change the menus in Office?

No, changing the authoring or editing language only affects proofing tools like spell check and grammar rules. The software's ribbons, buttons, and menus remain in the global display language.

Will reinstalling Office let me choose different languages per app?

Standard installations of Microsoft Office do not support application-specific display languages, even if reinstalled or modified. The suite shares a single core language configuration.

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