how do i change language in outlook if i cannot understand the language

Question

Using Outlook, today the settings have changed to a language I do not recognise or understand. How can I revert back to the original English language format?

Answer 1

This is Outlook.com via the web, right? If so, click on the gear icon on the upper right, use this screenshot to guide you, so you know what location/icon to look for.

I also want to share a comprehensive list of action items, as I am seeing many of these questions lately, usually related to compromised accounts. Better safe than sorry.

Please complete these steps on a computer, not on a smartphone or tablet.

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First, go to https://www.outlook.com and sign in.

Click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings.

Under Mail, review the following areas:

Rules

If any rules are listed, delete all of them.

Conditional formatting

If anything is set up there, delete it.

Forwarding and IMAP

If you see any entries or settings you did not create, remove them. Turn off POP and IMAP.

Junk

Review Safe sender and blocked list. If you don't recognize any, remove them.

After that, exit Settings and return to outlook.com.

Open the To Do section by clicking the blue checkmark icon on the left side. Delete anything there that was not created by you.

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Go to https://account.live.com.

Under Your info > Sign-in preferences, review all aliases on the account. If you see any alias you do not recognize, remove it.

Next, go to the Devices section of your Microsoft account and remove any devices you do not recognize.

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Please also do the following in Security section

Change your password

Enable two-step verification

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Go here https://account.microsoft.com/privacy/app-access Click on "Don't allow" for anything you don't recognize.

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Then go to Security > Manage how I sign in and make sure all contact information belongs to you.

On that same page, scroll down to App passwords and remove any existing app passwords.

Also on the same page, click on Sign out everywhere. This is intended to disconnect any active sessions that may still be connected. Please note that this can take up to 24 hours to fully take effect.

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In addition, this problem can sometimes be caused by a malicious script or infection on one of your devices.

Then go to the Microsoft Safety Scanner download page:

https://learn.microsoft.com/defender-endpoint/safety-scanner-download

Download the 64-bit version, run a full scan.

Answer 2

For Outlook on the web / Outlook.com, the language can be switched back to English from the settings, even if the current language is unfamiliar, by using icon positions and menu order.

1. Sign in to Outlook on the web / Outlook.com.
2. In the top-right corner, select the Settings icon (gear symbol).
3. In the pane that opens, select the bottom link that opens full settings (it may look like “View all Outlook settings”).
4. In the left column of the full settings window, select the first section named General (it is the top item in that left list).
5. In the General section, select the entry that corresponds to Language and time (usually the first or one of the first options in the General list).
6. In the Language (Country/Region) dropdown, scroll until English with the desired region (for example, “English (United States)” or “English (United Kingdom)”) is found and select it.
7. Select Save (button at the bottom of the page).
8. Close settings; Outlook should now display in English.

If Outlook is being accessed via Microsoft365.com or the new Outlook for Windows connected to the same account, the same Settings → General → Language and time → Language (Country/Region) path applies there as well.

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References:

• Manage language settings in Outlook
• Check or change language settings
• Issues with default folders in Outlook