changing windows default system UI language on an installed system

[mgld]

i have currently windows which reports itself as: 

PS C:\Windows\system32> dism /english /online /get-intl | find /i "Default system UI language" 

Default system UI language : en-GB

 

can i change the lang somehow to en-US?  

 

currently this prevents me from installing win11 with keeping apps and files when i try to go through in-place upgrade. 

 

i tried setting default lang through interface and copying administrative settings as default but it did not change this value. all i got to is: 

 

PS C:\Windows\system32> dism /english /online /get-intl 

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool 

Version: 10.0.19041.3636 

Image Version: 10.0.19045.6332 

Reporting online international settings. 

Default system UI language : en-GB 

The UI language fallback is : en-US 

System locale : en-US 

Default time zone : W. Europe Standard Time 

Active keyboard(s) : 0809:00000409, 0419:00000419, 0809:00000407 

Keyboard layered driver : Not installed. 

Installed language(s): de-DE 

Type : Partially localized language, MUI type. 

Fallback Languages en-US 

Installed language(s): en-GB 

Type : Partially localized language, MUI type. 

Fallback Languages en-US 

... etc

 

please help! 

really would not want to reinstall everything i have anew just because of the language... 

tried several windows installation versions (including en-gb enterprise ltsc) and message is always that i am trying to install a version which is different to existing. 

i tried changing version of the system with MAS to enterprise and iot enterprise but result is the same. 

 

thanks in advance!

[andy2004]

did you try going through the control panel..

REGION.. << then admin tab followed by the bottom "Language  for non-unicode programs" and select English - United States

as in click the button Change System Locale <<

 

or..

Accounts > Settings > time and language > windows display language > English (united states)

under region select English united states.

 

if not installed. click the preferred languages > add a language < and then type in English United states. to install it.

 

 

[bigbrother]

All "In-place" upgrades (keeping existing files) must be in the same language currently installed.

 

In your case this is: EN-GB

 

Curious, instead of jumping through hoops, have you simply tried using the current Windows 11 EN-GB ISO - Sep 2025?

 

en-gb_windows_11_consumer_editions_version_24h2_updated_sep_2025_x64_dvd_6d1ad20d.iso

 

Use this for the "in-place" upgrade installing the EXACT version of Windows 10 (Home/Pro/Whatever?) you're currently running, then make any changes to your preferred version (i.e. Enterprise and/or IOT)

Edited September 19, 2025 by bigbrother

[mgld]

9 hours ago, bigbrother said:

All "In-place" upgrades (keeping existing files) must be in the same language currently installed.

In your case this is: EN-GB

Curious, instead of jumping through hoops, have you simply tried using the current Windows 11 EN-GB ISO - Sep 2025?

en-gb_windows_11_consumer_editions_version_24h2_updated_sep_2025_x64_dvd_6d1ad20d.iso

Use this for the "in-place" upgrade installing the EXACT version of Windows 10 (Home/Pro/Whatever?) you're currently running, then make any changes to your preferred version (i.e. Enterprise and/or IOT)

sure, i did try

en-gb_windows_11_enterprise_ltsc_2024_x64_dvd_e2137661.iso

since i am running enterprise version and the result was same - "you are trying to install different version"...

 

i shall try consumer, but since the version i am running is enterprise, i doubt this will solve the issue...

 

currently my version is reported as [IoTEnterprise] [19045.6332] and i tried plain Enterprise as well... for example,

You can change the edition [IoTEnterprise] [19045.6332] to one of the following.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

[1]  Professional
[2]  ProfessionalEducation
[3]  ProfessionalWorkstation
[4]  Education
[5]  ProfessionalSingleLanguage
[6]  ServerRdsh
[7]  Enterprise
___________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[DLord]

@mgld Change Win edition from 'Iot Enterprise LTSC' to 'Enterprise LTSC' (simple product ID change and nothing else), use the iso you have to do an in-place upgrade and make needed changes, and if needed switch back to Iot version.

Edited September 19, 2025 by DLord

[mgld]

thanks, nice idea, i ended up changing the version to professional and that one has en-GB iso available.

 

then in-place upgrade worked for me (i can't believe it!)

 

now another machine is waiting to be handled. that one has a clean en-US ent version, but fails to update to 22H2 and hence does not want to be updated in-place to win11 either...  

[bigbrother]

2 hours ago, mgld said:

thanks, nice idea, i ended up changing the version to professional and that one has en-GB iso available.

 

then in-place upgrade worked for me (i can't believe it!)

 

now another machine is waiting to be handled. that one has a clean en-US ent version, but fails to update to 22H2 and hence does not want to be updated in-place to win11 either...  

This was what I was trying to itterate!

 

So as long as you're installing the same version of Windows, the in place upgrade should work for you.

 

Either way, glad you got it sorted!

 

Cheers