When I log in to Outlook, the screen is filled with gibberish - - looks like another language

Question

When I log in to Outlook the home screen is filled with gibberish. It looks like another language. I think maybe my Outlook browser has been hacked

Answer 1

Hello Gordon Nelson,

Thank you for posting to the Microsoft Q&A forum. 

I can understand how alarming and confusing it is to open your inbox and suddenly see all your folders in an entirely different language that you do not recognize. When language settings change without your intervention, it is unfortunately a strong indicator that an unauthorized party may have accessed your account.  

To revert your inbox back to normal and secure your account, please follow the steps below. 

Note: Because your interface is currently in a foreign language, the text on your screen will not match the English instructions below. However, the menu positions and icons are exactly the same, so just use the icons to guide you. Also, based on which language was selected, your screen might be mirrored (for right-to-left languages), so your menus and scrollbars could be on the opposite side of the screen. 

Step 1: Change the Language Back to English 

1. Click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top corner of the screen. 
2. Go to General (usually the 2nd option on the left sidebar, often with a gear or slider icon) > Language and time. 
3. Change the first drop-down menu back to English. 
4. Make sure to check the box just below the language selection to change the folder names so they match the new language. 
5. Click Save at the bottom of the menu. 
6. Refresh your browser page. Your layout should now be back to normal. 

Step 2: Check for Unrecognized Rules and Forwarding Since someone else likely changed this setting, it is critical to ensure they didn't leave behind any hidden rules to forward your private emails. 

1. Click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner. 
2. Go to Mail > Rules and delete any rules you do not recognize. 
3. Go to Mail > Forwarding and ensure automatic forwarding is turned off. 

If you still cannot find the correct settings because of the foreign text, please feel free to send a screenshot of your screen so I can instruct you step by step. 

Note: please remember to remove any Personally Identifiable Information (such as email, full name, your image, phone number,.....) for security purpose.

I hope this helps you get your inbox back into English and fully secures your account. Please feel free to reply if you need further assistance! 

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Answer 2

The Outlook.com account itself is unlikely to be hacked just because the interface text looks like another language. This is usually caused by language or region settings being changed in the browser, Windows, or Outlook, not by an account compromise.

Take these steps:

1. Check Outlook.com language/region settings
   Sign in to Outlook.com in the browser, open Settings (gear icon), then go to the language/region section and make sure English is selected. Save changes and refresh the page.
2. Check browser language settings
   In the web browser used to access Outlook.com, open its Settings → Language (or similar) and ensure English is set as the display language and is at the top of the preferred languages list.
3. Check Windows display language (if on Windows)
   Open Windows Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region and confirm that English is set as the Windows display language and the region is correct.
4. Rule out obvious compromise indicators
   Since there is concern about hacking, sign in to the Microsoft account security page and review recent sign-in activity and security alerts. If anything looks unfamiliar, immediately change the account password and ensure two-step verification (Microsoft Authenticator or SMS) is enabled. If the account is blocked or sign-in looks unusual, use the Sign-in Helper to review and secure the account.

If after correcting language settings the interface still appears wrong or unreadable, try another browser or device. If the account is blocked or access problems occur, follow the Outlook.com unblock and account recovery guidance in the referenced article.

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References:

• Unblock my Outlook.com account
• Hello , welcome to Account help & learning
• change language - Microsoft Q&A