Change your display language or spell-check language in Word
Microsoft Word lets you change two different language settings: the language the program itself displays in (menus, buttons, help text) and the language Word uses to check your spelling and grammar. Most people need to change the spell-check language, which takes about 30 seconds. Changing the display language is slower and requires restarting Word, but both are built into the program at no extra cost.
The method depends on whether you use Word on Windows, Mac, or the web version. All three work slightly differently, and the web version has the fewest options. If you use Word through Microsoft 365 (the subscription version), you have access to all language features. If you own a standalone copy of Word, your language options depend on which version you bought.
Key Takeaways
- To change spell-check language in Word on Windows, select all text, go to Review tab, click Language, and choose your language from the list.
- On Mac, the spell-check language lives under Tools menu, then Language, and the process is nearly identical to Windows.
- To change the display language (menus and buttons) on Windows, go to File > Options > Language, set your preferred language, and restart Word.
- Word Online has limited language options and can only change spell-check language, not the display language of the interface itself.
- If a language does not appear in your list, you may need to install it through Windows Settings or Mac System Preferences first.
Change spell-check language on Windows
Open your document in Word and select all the text you want to check in a different language. Press Ctrl+A to select everything, or click and drag to select only part of the document. If you leave text unselected, Word will only change the language for new text you type after that point.
Click the Review tab at the top of the window. Look for the Language button in the ribbon — it usually shows a speech bubble with letters inside. Click it and a dropdown menu appears with a list of languages. Find your language and click it. Word will now use that language's dictionary for spell-checking in the selected text.
If you do not see your language in the list, click Set Proofing Language at the bottom of the dropdown. A window opens showing more languages. Scroll down to find yours, click it, and then click OK. Word remembers this choice for future documents.
Change spell-check language on Mac
Select all your text or the portion you want to change. Click the Tools menu at the top of the screen. From the dropdown, click Language. A submenu appears showing available languages. Click the one you want, and Word applies it to your selection.
If your language is not in the submenu, click Set Proofing Language at the bottom. A dialog box opens with a longer list. Find your language, click it, and click OK. The change takes effect immediately in your document.
Change the display language (menus and buttons) on Windows
Changing what language Word's menus, buttons, and dialog boxes appear in is separate from spell-checking. Go to File in the top left corner and click Options. On the left side of the window that opens, click Language.
Under "Office Display Languages," you see a list of languages currently installed on your computer. Click the language you want to use for Word's interface. A message appears saying the change will take effect the next time you start Word. Close Word completely and reopen it. The menus and buttons now display in your chosen language.
If the language you want does not appear in the list, you need to install it first through Windows Settings. Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region, click "Add a language," find your language, and install it. Once installed, it appears in Word's language list.
Change the display language on Mac
Click Word in the menu bar at the top left, then click Preferences. In the window that opens, look for Language and Region or Language (the exact name varies by Word version). Click it.
You see a list of installed languages. Click the one you want Word to display in. Close the preferences window. Word may ask you to restart the program for the change to take effect. After you restart, the interface appears in your chosen language.
If your language is not listed, you need to install it through Mac System Preferences first. Go to System Preferences > Language & Region, click the plus sign to add a language, and follow the prompts. Once installed, it becomes available in Word's preferences.
Change language in Word Online
Word Online (the free web version you access through Office.com or Outlook) has fewer language options than the desktop versions. You can only change the spell-check language, not the display language of the interface itself.
Open your document in Word Online. Select the text you want to change or press Ctrl+A to select all. Click the Review tab. Click Language and choose your language from the dropdown. The change applies immediately to your selection.
If you need to change the language Word Online displays in (the menus and buttons), you must change your Microsoft account language settings. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, click "Your info," and look for language preferences. Changes there affect all Microsoft services you use, not just Word.
What to do if your language is not in the list
Word can only use languages that are installed on your computer or account. If you do not see your language in Word's language menu, it needs to be installed first. The installation process is different on Windows and Mac, but both are free and take a few minutes.
On Windows, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region. Click "Add a language" and search for your language. Click it and then click "Next." Windows downloads and installs the language files. Once complete, restart Word and your language appears in the list.
On Mac, go to System Preferences > Language & Region. Click the plus sign at the bottom left. Search for your language, click it, and click "Add." Mac downloads the language files. Restart Word and the language is now available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the spell-check language affect my document's formatting?
No. Changing the language only tells Word which dictionary to use for checking spelling and grammar. Your document's fonts, colors, layout, and all other formatting stay exactly the same. The change is invisible to anyone who opens the document unless they look at the language settings.
Can I use multiple languages in the same document?
Yes. Select the text in one language, set it to that language through the Review tab. Then select text in another language and set it to that language. Word will spell-check each section using the correct dictionary. This is useful for documents that mix English and Spanish, for example.
If I change the display language, will my documents open in that language too?
No. Changing the display language only affects Word's menus, buttons, and dialog boxes. Your documents themselves do not change. If you share a document with someone else, it opens in whatever language their Word is set to display in.
Do I need to buy a language pack to use a different language in Word?
No. All languages are built into Word and available at no extra cost. You do not need to purchase anything. If a language is not showing up, it just needs to be installed through your computer's settings, which is also free.
What happens if I change the language and then change it back?
Word remembers all your language changes. If you switch back to your original language, all your previous settings return. There is no penalty or loss of data for changing languages multiple times.