How do I resolve language issues in my Windows Server AMI or Amazon EC2 Windows instance?

Short description

To resolve language issues in your AMI or Amazon EC2 Windows instance, use one of the following methods to add language packs on Windows Server:

• Run a Windows PowerShell command to install your language pack.
• Install the language packs through the graphical user interface (GUI).
  Note: This method requires internet access.

Important: Language packs provide only partial localization. For complete language localization, use a native language version of the Windows Server AMI.

Resolution

Use Windows PowerShell to install your language packs

Complete the following steps:

1. Use Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to connect to your Windows instance.

2. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator, and then run the following command to install your language pack based on your operating system version.

   Windows Server 2025 and Windows client operating systems (Windows 10/11):

   Install-Language -Language de-DE

   Note: The Install-Language cmdlet is part of the LanguagePackManagement module. Install-Language cmdlet is not available by default on Windows Server 2016, 2019, or 2022. If you run this command on those versions, then you receive a CommandNotFoundException.

   Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022:
   Use one of the following methods to install language packs:

   Run lpksetup.exe from an elevated Command Prompt to open the Language Pack Setup wizard, and then select your language pack.

   Use the GUI method described in the Use the GUI to install your language packs section of this article.

   Use Add-WindowsCapability to install language features. For example:

   Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name "Language.Basic~~~de-DE~0.0.1.0"

   Note: Replace de-DE with your language code. For a full list of language codes, see Language packs on the Microsoft website.

3. (Optional) The preceding methods install the language pack for the current user. To apply the language across the whole system, open Windows PowerShell as an administrator and run the following commands:

   Set-WinSystemLocale -SystemLocale de-DE
   Set-WinUILanguageOverride -Language de-DE

   Note: Replace de-DE with your language code.

4. Stop and start your instance, or restart your computer to apply the changes.

Use the GUI to install your language packs

Complete the following steps:

1. Use RDP to connect to your instance.
2. Choose the Start menu, and then open Settings.
3. Choose Time & Language.
4. Choose Language, and then choose Add a language.
5. Select your language, and then follow the installation prompts.
6. After installation, stop and start your instance, or restart your computer to apply the changes.

Use native language AMIs for complete localization

Language packs that you install on an English Windows Server AMI provide only partial localization. The language packs translate elements such as Settings and Control Panel. However, the following elements remain in English: Server Manager, Recycle Bin, and File Explorer items such as Desktop, Downloads, and Documents.

To check the capabilities of the language that you installed, run the following command:

dism /online /Get-Capabilities /format:table | findstr /i "zh-tw"

Note: Replace zh-tw with your language code.

For full localization, use a native language version of the Windows Server AMI. Launch a new instance and under Application and OS Images (Amazon Machine Image), choose Browse more AMIs. In the search box, enter your language and Windows Server version, and then select an AMI from the search results.

With a native language AMI, all interface elements appear in the language.

Verify your language settings

To verify that your instance uses the correct language, complete the following steps:

1. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.

2. Run the following command to check the current language settings:

   Get-WinSystemLocale

3. Run the following command to check the user interface language:

   Get-WinUILanguageOverride

4. Run the following command to view all installed language packs:

   Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "Language*"} | Select-Object Name, State

Related information

Add languages to Windows images on the Microsoft website

Language and region Features on Demand (FOD) on the Microsoft website

Find an AMI that meets the requirements for your EC2 instance

Add-WindowsCapability on the Microsoft website

LanguagePackManagement on the Microsoft website