The system locale in Windows determines the default character set and language for non-Unicode programs. This setting is crucial for users who work with applications that do not support Unicode and need to display text correctly in a specific language. Adjusting the system locale can help avoid issues with character display and ensure that applications run smoothly. In this article, we will explore how to set the system locale in Windows using PowerShell, a powerful scripting language and command-line shell.

Examples:

To set the system locale in Windows, you can use the Set-WinSystemLocale cmdlet available in PowerShell. Follow these steps to change the system locale:

1. Open PowerShell with Administrative Privileges:

   • Click on the Start menu.
   • Type PowerShell.
   • Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select "Run as administrator."

2. Check the Current System Locale: Before changing the system locale, you might want to check the current settings. Use the following command to display the current system locale:

   Get-WinSystemLocale

   This command will return the current system locale setting.

3. Set the System Locale: To change the system locale, use the Set-WinSystemLocale cmdlet followed by the locale identifier (e.g., en-US for English - United States). Here is an example command to set the system locale to English (United States):

   Set-WinSystemLocale -SystemLocale "en-US"

   After running this command, you will need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

4. Verify the Change: After restarting your computer, you can verify the change by running the Get-WinSystemLocale command again:

   Get-WinSystemLocale

   This should now display the new system locale setting.

Note: The Set-WinSystemLocale cmdlet is part of the International module, which is available in Windows 10 and later versions. If you are using an older version of Windows, you may need to use the Control Panel to change the system locale manually.