System Locale is a crucial setting in Windows that determines the default character set and language for non-Unicode programs. This is particularly important for users who run applications that require specific language support. In this article, we will cover how to change the system locale in Windows using both the Control Panel and the Command Line.

Changing System Locale via Control Panel

1. Open Control Panel:

   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type control and press Enter.

2. Navigate to Region Settings:

   • In the Control Panel, go to Clock and Region.
   • Click on Region.

3. Change System Locale:

   • In the Region dialog box, go to the Administrative tab.
   • Click on Change system locale....
   • Select the desired locale from the drop-down menu.
   • Click OK and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Changing System Locale via Command Line

For advanced users, changing the system locale can also be accomplished via the Command Line using PowerShell. Here’s how:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:

   • Press Win + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. Use PowerShell Script to Change Locale:

   • Copy and paste the following script into the PowerShell window:

     $locale = "en-US"  # Change this to your desired locale
     Set-WinSystemLocale -SystemLocale $locale

   • Press Enter to execute the script.
   • Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Examples

Example 1: Changing System Locale to Japanese via Control Panel

1. Open Control Panel by pressing Win + R, typing control, and pressing Enter.
2. Navigate to Clock and Region > Region.
3. In the Administrative tab, click Change system locale....
4. Select Japanese (Japan) from the drop-down menu.
5. Click OK and restart your computer.

Example 2: Changing System Locale to French via PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator by pressing Win + X and selecting Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Execute the following script:

   $locale = "fr-FR"  # French (France)
   Set-WinSystemLocale -SystemLocale $locale

3. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Conclusion

Changing the system locale in Windows can be done easily through the Control Panel for most users, while advanced users may prefer using PowerShell for quicker execution. This setting is essential for running non-Unicode programs that require specific language support.