How to Change Excel Language Settings

Microsoft Excel is used by millions of people worldwide, which is why it supports dozens of languages for its interface, help content, and editing tools. Whether you are working in a multilingual environment, sharing spreadsheets with international colleagues, or simply prefer Excel in your native language, understanding how to change Excel language settings is essential.

Changing the language in Excel is not just about translating menus. It affects display language, authoring and proofing tools, date and number formats, spell check, and even keyboard behavior. This guide explains everything you need to know about Excel language settings, how they work, and how to configure them correctly on Windows, macOS, Excel Online, and mobile devices.

Understanding Excel Language Settings

Before changing anything, it is important to understand that Excel uses multiple types of language settings, each serving a different purpose.

1. Display Language

The display language controls:

• Menus
• Ribbon tabs
• Dialog boxes
• Buttons and tooltips

For example, changing the display language from English to French will translate commands like File, Insert, and Formulas into French.

2. Authoring and Proofing Languages

These languages affect:

• Spell check
• Grammar suggestions
• Dictionary tools
• AutoCorrect behavior

You can use multiple authoring languages at the same time, which is useful if you write content in more than one language.

3. Regional and Formatting Settings

These control:

• Date formats (MM/DD/YYYY vs DD/MM/YYYY)
• Decimal and thousand separators
• Currency symbols
• Time formats

These settings are often influenced by your operating system’s region settings rather than Excel alone.

Why You Might Need to Change Excel’s Language

There are many reasons users adjust Excel language settings:

• You installed Excel in a default language you do not prefer
• You work with international teams
• You need correct spell checking for another language
• Your formulas use the wrong list separators
• Your numbers or dates appear incorrectly
• You switched computers or accounts

Understanding how to configure Excel properly ensures better productivity and fewer formatting errors.

How to Change Excel Language Settings on Windows

Excel for Windows provides the most control over language options.

Step 1: Open Excel Options

1. Open Excel
2. Click File
3. Select Options

This opens the Excel Options dialog box.

Step 2: Go to Language Settings

1. In the left menu, click Language

2. You will see two main sections:

   • Office display language
   • Office authoring languages and proofing

Step 3: Change the Display Language

1. Under Office display language, click Add a language
2. Select your desired language
3. Click Add
4. Set the language as Preferred

If the language pack is not installed, Excel will prompt you to download it.

Important: You must restart Excel for display language changes to take effect.

Step 4: Change Authoring and Proofing Languages

1. Under Office authoring languages, click Add a language
2. Choose the language you want
3. Set it as Preferred
4. Ensure proofing tools are installed

You can keep multiple authoring languages enabled simultaneously.

Step 5: Confirm and Restart Excel

After making changes:

• Click OK
• Close Excel completely
• Reopen Excel to apply the new language

Downloading and Installing Language Packs

If your desired language is not available, you may need to install a language pack.

How Language Packs Work

Language packs include:

• Translated interface text
• Proofing tools
• Help content

Some languages are fully localized, while others may only support partial translation.

Installing Language Packs

1. Go to Microsoft Office language pack download page
2. Choose your Office version
3. Download the appropriate language
4. Install and restart your computer

Once installed, the language will appear in Excel’s language settings.

How to Change Excel Language on macOS

Excel for macOS works slightly differently than Windows.

Excel Language on Mac Uses System Language

Excel for Mac does not have built-in language switching within the app. Instead, it follows the macOS system language.

To Change Excel Language on macOS

1. Open System Settings
2. Go to General → Language & Region
3. Click Add Language
4. Drag your preferred language to the top of the list
5. Restart Excel

Excel will automatically display in the primary system language.

Changing Proofing Language on macOS

You can still adjust proofing tools inside Excel:

1. Select text in a worksheet
2. Go to Tools → Language
3. Choose the desired proofing language

This is useful when working with multilingual spreadsheets.

How to Change Language in Excel Online (Excel for the Web)

Excel Online uses the Microsoft account language settings, not app-specific options.

Steps to Change Language in Excel Online

1. Go to your Microsoft Account page
2. Open Language and Region
3. Set your preferred language
4. Save changes
5. Refresh Excel Online

The interface will update automatically.

Note: Excel Online supports fewer language customizations compared to desktop versions.

How to Change Excel Language on Mobile Devices

Excel Mobile (Android and iOS) follows the device language settings.

On Android

1. Open Settings
2. Go to System → Languages
3. Add or move your preferred language to the top
4. Restart Excel

On iPhone or iPad

1. Open Settings
2. Go to General → Language & Region
3. Change the iPhone language
4. Restart Excel

Excel will display in the device’s primary language.

Changing Spell Check Language for Specific Cells

Excel allows you to set different proofing languages for different cells.

Steps

1. Select the cell or range
2. Go to Review
3. Click Language
4. Choose Set Proofing Language
5. Select the language
6. Click OK

This is extremely useful for multilingual data entry or reports.

Common Language-Related Issues and Fixes

Issue 1: Language Changes but Menus Stay the Same

Cause: Language pack not fully installed Solution: Install the complete language pack and restart Excel

Issue 2: Spell Check Uses the Wrong Language

Cause: Proofing language not set correctly Solution: Manually assign proofing language to selected cells

Issue 3: Formulas Use Semicolons Instead of Commas

Cause: Regional settings Solution: Change Windows region settings or list separator options

Issue 4: Dates Appear Incorrectly

Cause: System locale mismatch Solution: Adjust regional format in OS settings

Best Practices for Managing Excel Language Settings

• Keep display language and proofing language separate
• Install only necessary language packs to avoid confusion
• Use cell-level proofing language for multilingual sheets
• Align Excel regional settings with your operating system
• Restart Excel after making changes

These practices help prevent formatting errors and improve collaboration.

Excel Language Settings for Shared Workbooks

When sharing files:

• Language settings do not transfer with the file
• Each user sees Excel in their own language
• Proofing language may vary by user

To ensure consistency:

• Use clear number and date formats
• Avoid language-dependent formulas where possible
• Add notes explaining expected formats

Final Thoughts

Changing Excel language settings is more than a cosmetic adjustment—it directly affects how you interact with data, write content, and collaborate across regions. By understanding the difference between display language, authoring tools, and regional formats, you can fully customize Excel to match your workflow.

Whether you are using Excel on Windows, macOS, the web, or mobile devices, mastering language settings ensures clarity, accuracy, and efficiency. As part of your broader Excel learning journey, this knowledge helps you work confidently in any language environment.