Change Outlook's display language in three steps

You can change the language Outlook displays its menus, buttons, and messages in through the File menu. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you use Outlook on Windows or Mac. After you change the language, Outlook restarts and shows everything in your chosen language the next time you open it.

The language you select here controls only what you see on screen — it does not change the language of emails you receive or send, and it does not affect your spell-check dictionary unless you change that separately. Your contacts, calendar, and all stored data remain unchanged.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Outlook, go to File, then select Options (Windows) or Preferences (Mac) to find the language setting.
  • The language menu shows all available languages; select the one you want and restart Outlook to apply the change.
  • Changing Outlook's display language does not change the language of your emails or your spell-check settings.
  • If a language does not appear in the list, your version of Outlook may not include that language pack.
  • You can change the language back at any time by following the same steps and selecting a different language.

Change the language on Windows

Open Outlook and click the File tab in the top left corner. From the menu that appears, click Options at the bottom of the left sidebar.

In the Outlook Options window, click Language in the left sidebar. You will see a section called "Display Language" with a dropdown menu showing your current language. Click the dropdown and select the language you want to use. Click OK to save your choice.

Outlook will close and reopen automatically. When it opens again, all menus and buttons will appear in the language you selected. If Outlook does not restart on its own, close it manually and open it again.

Change the language on Mac

Open Outlook and click Outlook in the menu bar at the top of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select Preferences.

In the Preferences window, look for Language and click it. You will see a dropdown menu with your current language selected. Click the dropdown, choose the language you want, and click the checkmark or close button to save.

Outlook will close and reopen with the new language active. If it does not restart automatically, quit Outlook and open it again. The change takes effect immediately when the program restarts.

What to do if your language is not in the list

If the language you want does not appear in the dropdown menu, your version of Outlook does not include that language pack. This happens most often with older versions of Outlook or with installations that were set up for a specific region.

You have two options: update Outlook to the latest version through Windows Update or the Mac App Store, or install a language pack if your version of Outlook supports it. To check whether an update is available, go to File > Office Account (Windows) or Outlook > About Outlook (Mac) and look for an Update button. If you see one, click it and restart your computer when prompted. After updating, open Outlook again and check the language dropdown to see if your language is now available.

Separate your display language from spell-check

Changing Outlook's display language does not automatically change the language Outlook uses to check your spelling. If you want spell-check to work in a different language, you need to set that separately.

On Windows, go to File > Options > Mail, scroll down to "Compose Messages," and click Editor Options. Click Proofing on the left, then select your language under "When correcting spelling in Outlook." On Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > Spelling and Grammar and choose your language from the dropdown. This lets you write in one language while Outlook's menus appear in another.

Undo a language change

If you changed the language and now cannot find the menu options because you do not recognize the words, you can change it back the same way. The File menu is usually in the same location regardless of language, and Options or Preferences is typically at the bottom of the menu.

If you get stuck, close Outlook completely and reopen it. Look for the icon that looks like a gear or wrench — that is usually Preferences or Settings. Once you find the Language section again, select your original language and restart Outlook. You can repeat this process as many times as needed to find the right language.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing Outlook's language change the language of my emails?

No. Changing the display language only affects what you see on screen — the menus, buttons, and messages from Outlook itself. Your emails stay in whatever language you wrote them in, and emails you receive are not affected by this setting.

Will changing the language affect my contacts or calendar?

No. Your contacts, calendar entries, and all your data remain exactly the same. Only the labels and menu text change to the new language you selected.

Can I use different languages for different parts of Outlook?

No. Outlook uses one display language for the entire program. However, you can set spell-check to a different language than your display language if you need to write in multiple languages.

What if Outlook does not restart after I change the language?

Close Outlook completely by clicking the X button or using File > Exit. Wait a few seconds, then open Outlook again. It should load with the new language active.

Can I change the language back to English if I chose the wrong one?

Yes. Follow the same steps you used to change it the first time, but select English or your preferred language from the dropdown instead. Restart Outlook and the change takes effect immediately.