Windows Server - I can't set the "windows display language"

Question

Hi there,

I'm working on a Windows Server 2022 where I can't change the "windows display language".

In production I have a German-language machine on which I am trying to set the English language as the 'windows display language'. In the following screens I use the Spanish language for demonstration.

When I install a new language, the system doesn't show me the option to set the "windows display language":

As you can see, on another system that I'm using for testing, I can do it:

In general, when I try to add a new language, I don't see the presence of the windows display language icon in the menu:

As you can see, on another system that I'm using for testing, I can see the icon:

I tried to solve the problem using powershell without success. The command "Install-Language en-US" is not recognised and with the commands "Get-WinUILanguageOverride" and "Set-WinUILanguageOverride -Language 'en-US'" I can only display the languages already present and decide which ones to set.

Thank you very much for your help.

Answer 1

We have now found the solution and I would like to share it with you.

Continuing the analysis, we found that Windows Update was not working properly by contacting the local WSUS.

When we bypassed WSUS by editing the registry keys, we were able to install the language pack.

Answer 2

The reason you had to bypass WSUS is because you don't have the Features on Demand loaded INTO WSUS (W11, 22H2+)

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/fod-and-lang-packs

or using the prior method of FoD repository or getting it from MS

https://www.ajtek.ca/wsus/language-packs-in-wsus-are-they-worth-it/

https://www.ajtek.ca/wsus/how-to-install-net-3-5-rsat-tools-and-other-optional-components-with-wsus/