Windows 10: Installed Japanese Language Pack, Rebooted, Now I can't Switch to English

A few days ago, I installed the Japanese language pack (as I had also done on Win 7 with no problems) on Windows 10 Pro. I do this so I have a few Japanese options that I sometimes need. On Windows 7, I could switch back and forth by clicking on the taskbar and selecting language. On Windows 10 Pro, I rebooted this morning and now the whole interface is in Japanese and I can go into language settings and click on English, reboot, but it still comes up in Japanese.


As a desperate measure, I deleted the Japanese language pack and rebooted, but I'm still in Japanese.


I simply wanted to ADD the language, but not make it the default.


My Japanese reading skills are not great, so reversing the process is quite difficult. How do I set English as default when it ignores my request? English is set at the top of the stack of languages, too.

:)

 

Switching Japanese Windows with English menus


I have just reinstalled my PC with Japanese Windows (it's the only way to enable the full use of a Japanese keyboard - special keys etc.). However, I want my system language to be English (menus etc.). So far I have tried the following:

Settings:
Installed English language pack
Made English default language

Power menu (not sure of proper name - win_key-x):
Tried to switch language to English but does not appear in the menu.

Suggestions greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Mike

 

Switching Japanese Windows with English menus


Changing the display language of a user account does not change Windows system language. Some items in Start, device names, notifications, dialog and error messages remain in system (install) language.

To change system language, you need first install a language pack. In this example I have downloaded and installed Swedish language pack in originally English (EN-GB) Windows 10 PRO version 1703 wanting to change system language to Swedish. Next step is to run Sysprep (Windows System Preparation Tool).

To do that, first close all open applications. Press WIN + R to open Run dialog, type following command and press Enter or click OK to run it:

%windir%\system32\Sysprep\Sysprep /oobe /reboot





(Notice: above command can also be run from Command Prompt instead of Run.)

Sysprep will now prepare Windows for OOBE (Windows Welcome):





When done Windows will restart and after a minute or two will start OOBE (Windows Welcome) as if this was a new PC started first time. You can now select a new system (install) language, setup listing all installed languages including original install language plus all installed language packs, in my case now original English and Svenska (Swedish). I select Swedish and click Yes (Ja in Swedish):





Same screen in English:





Setup goes through Windows Welcome, asking your region, keyboard layout and such. You also have to create a user account. Notice that you cannot use any existing user accounts, in screenshot here I have tried to use username but as that account already existed when I run Sysprep, system does not accept it. In my example case now system tells me "Ange ett annat användarnamn" (In English: Use another username):





Same screen in English:





Instead of using any existing username (including possible existing Microsoft, domain or Azure AD accounts) I will create a temporary local account Dummy and when signed in to desktop, sign out from that account, sign in with my original account (local, Microsoft, domain or Azure AD account) and finally remove the Dummy account.

That's it. Now the system language has been completely changed. All existing user accounts and installed software remain intact.

 

Switching Japanese Windows with English menus

Yes, I do mean those keys. I tried just switching to Japanese keyboard, as you suggested, but those keys didn't work. Also, the selection key is normally the spacebar in Japan but I could only get IME to work with the Tab key (for those who aren't familiar with Japanese typing: you type in Roman characters, then press a selection key and it steps you through a list of options for the word you are typing in Japanese characters). Did you get the special keys to work as they do in native Japanese mode?

It may well be that I was missing something, although I did try every option I could think of. In any event, as I said, I gave in and now have Japanese Windows running with English menus and everything seems to be working perfectly.
Thanks,

Mike