Change Word's interface language through Settings

Open Microsoft Word and go to File > Options (on Windows) or Word > Preferences (on Mac). In the Options window, select Language from the left sidebar. You'll see a list of languages under "Office Display Language" — choose the one you want, then restart Word for the change to take effect.

The language you select here controls the menus, buttons, and dialog boxes. If your preferred language isn't listed, you may need to install a language pack first. Windows users can do this through Settings > Time & Language > Language, then add the language you need. Mac users should check System Preferences > Language & Region.

Key Takeaways

  • Word's interface language is changed in File > Options > Language on Windows or Word > Preferences > Language on Mac.
  • The language you select controls menus and buttons, not the spell-check or proofing tools — those are set separately.
  • If your language doesn't appear in the list, you need to install it through your operating system's language settings first.
  • Restarting Word is required for the interface language change to appear.

Set the proofing language for spell-check and grammar

The language Word uses to check spelling and grammar is separate from the interface language. To change it, highlight the text you want to check, then go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language. Select the language from the list and click OK.

If you want all new documents to use a specific proofing language by default, set it in a blank document, then save that document as your template. Word will apply those settings to every new document you create from that template. This is useful if you regularly write in multiple languages and want to avoid manually changing the proofing language each time.

Change the language for a single document

You don't have to change Word's overall settings to work in a different language for one document. Open the document, select all text with Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac), then go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language. Choose your language and click OK.

This approach leaves your other documents and Word's interface unchanged. It's the fastest way if you're switching between languages for different projects. You can also select just a portion of text and set a different proofing language for that section alone — useful if a document contains paragraphs in multiple languages.

Install additional language packs if your language is missing

On Windows, if the language you need doesn't appear in Word's language list, install it through your operating system. Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language, click Add a language, find your language, and select it. Windows will download the language pack in the background. Once installed, restart Word and the language will appear in your options.

On Mac, go to System Preferences > Language & Region, click the + button at the bottom, and select your language. Mac will download the necessary files. After restarting Word, the language will be available. Some languages may take a few minutes to download, so check back after a short wait if it doesn't appear immediately.

Understand the difference between interface and proofing languages

These two settings control different things. The interface language is what you see — the menus, buttons, and dialog boxes. The proofing language is what Word uses to check your spelling and grammar. You can have an English interface but set proofing to Spanish, or vice versa.

This separation matters if you're learning a language or writing for an audience that speaks a different language than your Word menus. For example, you could keep Word's interface in English for familiarity but set the proofing language to French so Word catches French spelling mistakes instead of marking them as errors.

Troubleshoot when your language won't change

If you've selected a language but Word still shows the old one after restarting, close Word completely and wait a few seconds before opening it again. Sometimes the change doesn't register on the first restart. If that doesn't work, check that you actually have the language installed on your system — go back to your operating system's language settings and confirm it's listed there.

On Windows, if a language appears in system settings but not in Word, try repairing Office. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find Microsoft Office, click it, select Modify, then choose Quick Repair. If that doesn't work, try Online Repair. On Mac, reinstalling Office is usually the fastest fix if a language won't appear after installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing Word's language affect my documents?

No. Changing the interface language only changes what you see on screen — the menus and buttons. Your document text stays exactly the same. Changing the proofing language also doesn't alter your document; it only changes how Word checks spelling and grammar going forward.

Can I use different languages in the same document?

Yes. Select the text in one language, set its proofing language, then select text in another language and set a different proofing language. Word will check each section against the correct dictionary. This prevents Word from marking correct words as misspelled just because they're in a different language.

What if I want Word's menus in one language but spell-check in another?

That's exactly what the separate settings allow. Change the interface language in File > Options > Language, and change the proofing language in Review > Language > Set Proofing Language. They work independently, so you can mix and match however you need.

Do I need to download anything to change languages?

Only if the language you want isn't already installed on your computer. If it's already in your operating system's language settings, Word can use it immediately. If not, you'll need to add it through Windows Settings or Mac System Preferences first, which downloads the language files automatically.