Guide to Removing a Language in Windows 10

Guide to Removing a Language in Windows 10 - Printable Version

+- WildlandsTech (https://wildlandstech.com)
+-- Forum: Windows Support (https://wildlandstech.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Windows 10 (https://wildlandstech.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=23)
+--- Thread: Guide to Removing a Language in Windows 10 (/showthread.php?tid=638)

Guide to Removing a Language in Windows 10 - Sneakyone - 09-09-2024

Guide to Removing a Language in Windows 10

Windows 10 allows you to add multiple languages to your system, which can be helpful for multilingual users. However, if you no longer need a particular language, you can easily remove it to simplify the language settings and free up disk space. This guide will walk you through the steps to remove a language in Windows 10.

Method 1: Remove a Language via Settings

The easiest way to remove a language is through the Windows 10 Settings app.

Steps to Remove a Language:
1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings menu.
2. In the Settings window, click on Time & Language.
3. On the left-hand sidebar, click on Language.
4. Under the Preferred languages section, find the language you want to remove.
5. Click on the language you wish to remove, and then click the Remove button that appears.
6. The language will be removed from the list, and it will no longer be available as an input or display language.

Method 2: Remove a Language via Control Panel (for Advanced Users)

You can also remove a language using the Control Panel if you prefer a more traditional interface.

Steps to Remove a Language via Control Panel:
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type control and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
3. In Control Panel, click on Clock, Language, and Region.
4. Next, click on Language.
5. Under the Languages section, find the language you want to remove and click on Options.
6. Click Remove next to the language you wish to delete.
7. The language will be removed from your system and will no longer be available for use.

Method 3: Remove a Keyboard Layout (Optional)

Sometimes you may want to keep a language for display purposes but remove a specific keyboard layout. Here’s how to do it:

Steps to Remove a Keyboard Layout:
1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Click on Time & Language and then click on Language.
3. Under Preferred languages, click on the language that has the keyboard layout you want to remove.
4. Click Options.
5. Under the Keyboards section, select the keyboard layout you want to remove and click Remove.
6. The keyboard layout will be removed, but the language will still be available for use.

Method 4: Remove Language Packs via PowerShell (Advanced Users)

For advanced users, you can use PowerShell to remove language packs installed on your system.

Steps to Remove Language Packs Using PowerShell:
1. Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. In the PowerShell window, type the following command to view the installed language packs:

Code:
Get-WinUserLanguageList

3. This will list all the languages installed on your system.
4. To remove a language, use the following command:

Code:
Set-WinUserLanguageList en-US

Replace en-US with the language code of the language you want to keep (you can list more than one if needed).
5. Press Enter. PowerShell will remove the languages not listed in the command.

Method 5: Remove Speech, Handwriting, and Display Language Packs

In some cases, you may want to remove additional language-related features such as speech recognition, handwriting input, or display language packs.

Steps to Remove Additional Language Packs:
1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I and click on Apps.
2. Under the Apps & features section, click on Optional features.
3. Scroll through the list to find Speech, Handwriting, or other language-related packs.
4. Click on the pack you want to remove and select Uninstall.
5. This will remove the language pack or feature from your system.

Notes
- If a language is currently set as the display language, you must change the display language to another one before you can remove it.
- Some language packs, such as English (United States), are part of the system and cannot be removed.
- Removing a language does not affect files or documents in that language; it only removes the system’s ability to use the language for input or display.

Conclusion

Removing a language in Windows 10 is simple using the Settings app, Control Panel, or PowerShell. By following the steps in this guide, you can easily manage the languages installed on your system, freeing up resources and simplifying your language preferences.