About this tag
Regional settings in Windows control date, time, language, and keyboard layouts, affecting everything from Excel date formats to Cortana functionality and Microsoft Store access. Users often encounter issues when their preferred regional settings, such as dd-mm-yy date format or UK English, are overridden by default US settings. Windows 11 continues migrating regional controls from the legacy Control Panel to the modern Settings app, as seen in Insider Preview Build 27928. Troubleshooting topics include changing date formats, resolving keyboard layout conflicts, and adjusting region to enable Store downloads or voice commands. The tag covers practical guidance for configuring regional settings to match user location and preferences.
  1. D

    Excel

    I have a very simple use of Excel but I love it. One small irksome problem that I have concerns the format desired in any block, has to do with the way I need as I am using French on my machines. I like dd-mm-yy format and Excel keeps it fine for 22 lines of any month. Then no go on my elected...
    • daopa
    • Thread
    • date format excel date format french locale excel regional settings
    • Replies: 5
    • Forum: Windows Software
  2. WindowsForum AI

    Windows 11 Build 27928: Time & Language Move from Control Panel to Settings

    Microsoft's incremental dismantling of the classic Control Panel continued this week with Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27928, as Microsoft moves several legacy time, language and regional controls into the modern Settings app — a small but meaningful step in a migration that has quietly...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • accessibility automation build 27928 control panel date and time enterprise it insider preview it administration language settings migration ntp region regional settings settings app time and language time settings ui parity unicode windows 11 windows management
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  3. WindowsForum AI

    Windows 11 June 2025 KB5060829 Update: New Features, Improvements & Fixes

    The release of the June 2025 Windows non-security preview update, designated KB5060829 and building the operating system to version 26100.4484, signals Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to iterative quality improvements for Windows 11, version 24H2. This update—available across all editions—does...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • accessibility ai components cjk fonts enterprise migration file explorer performance kb5060829 microsoft copilot narrator improvements regional settings system stability update issues voice access windows 11 windows backup windows features windows hello windows preview update windows share windows update
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  4. WindowsForum AI

    How to Change Date Format in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Have you ever looked at the date on your Windows 11 device and thought: "Whose calendar is this?" If you’ve recently set up a shiny new Windows 11 system and the date format seems alien—like “12/31/2025” instead of “31/12/2025” or vice versa—it’s likely your regional settings got misconfigured...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • control panel date format regional settings settings app windows 11
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  5. Y

    Windows 10 Unable to Access Cortana Notebook for Spotify Playback on Windows 10

    Hi, I have a new HP laptop with Windows 10 (Home). Cortana works via text and voice. I'm trying to make it play music. I do have Spotify which I understand is the only main streaming service available. In all explanations how to enable Spotify I have to get to Cortana Notebook via search or via...
    • yuvalfrr
    • Thread
    • cortana laptop music regional settings settings spotify troubleshooting voice commands windows 10
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  6. W

    Windows 10 Snip shortcut not working

    Win 10 v1902(2) updated ok this morning and snip shortcut "Win logo + shift + S" not working. Gives rapid flashing between 2 yellow pop ups, keyboards Eng UK and Eng US. I only have Eng UK in preferred language. Also the delivery of key stroke to printed letter is wrong with @ should be ", #...
    • Whatsisname
    • Thread
    • accessibility bugs eng uk eng us flashing popups forum input issues key mapping keyboard keyboard layout keystrokes language regional settings shortcuts snipping tool troubleshooting update user experience user preferences windows 10
    • Replies: 5
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  7. N

    Windows 10 Cortana Voice Command Not Working in UK: Differences in Regional Settings?

    Anyone managed to get Cortana to respond to voice commands in the UK? Working absolutely fine on my wife's laptop, but on mine it says it is restricted by my region's settings - yet I have made sure the settings are both identical! Everything is set to UK English, and I have installed the UK...
    • nfhopmike
    • Thread
    • cortana english language pack regional settings troubleshooting voice commands
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  8. S

    Windows 10 Can't download from MS Store

    I had the problem since i started using Win 10 Insider Preview and even after upgrading to Build 10240. So, i wasn't able to download anything from MS Store. Then i found out that changing region from my country (Serbia) to USA can fix the issue, and it really worked. But since today i get the...
    • Srdjan Andric
    • Thread
    • build 10240 community help download issues error fix insider preview microsoft store regional settings serbia software troubleshooting update usa user experience windows 10
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  9. pspbricker

    Windows 10 Unable to install apps from store

    I am unable to install any apps from the store after installing W10 (upgrade from 8.1) Download starts, then "acquiring license" comes up followed by "try again later" with an error code ; 0x803F7003. Could it be anything to do with me being in Finland and having my region set to UK? Any...
    • pspbricker
    • Thread
    • app installation error finland license acquiring microsoft store regional settings troubleshooting upgrade windows 10
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  10. N

    Windows 8 HELP > Cannot completely override display language

    Hello. I'm currently using Windows 8.1. I bought my laptop from Japan so I had to change the language of the system. I was able to change the welcome screen, toolbar, regional, keyboard layout, and other language-related stuff. However, when I go to the welcome screen, the Desktop tab still...
    • Niki
    • Thread
    • application desktop display language kanji katakana keyboard layout language settings regional settings user interface windows 8.1
    • Replies: 7
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  11. N

    Windows 7 Language pack VS. original language version

    Hi, Could someone please tell me what the difference, if any, there are between installing an original English version of Windows 7 (or 8 for that matter) and installing an English Language Pack through Windows Update? So far, I just understand that I need either an Ultimate or Enterprise...
    • naushikaa
    • Thread
    • computer setup configuration english os english version enterprise installation differences internationalization language pack licensing localization operating system performance regional settings ultimate usability user experience windows 7 windows 8 windows update
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows Upgrade and Installation
  12. G

    Windows 8 Strange characters in file Properties instead of time stamp

    Hello. I am using a Dell laptop with Windows 8 Home. The file Properties show strange symbol-type characters where there should be numbers etc. See Screenshot... This character problem has existed for a while, more than 6 months I guess. 1) Antivirus scans are clean. 2) All Region and...
    • grobbit
    • Thread
    • antivirus corruption default font dell encoding file properties file system font issues help language settings personalization regional settings registry reinstall fonts settings strange characters support troubleshooting user interface windows 8
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  13. N

    Windows 8 Windows 8 Excel 2013 Thousands Separator India

    Hello, I stay in India. I was using Windows 7 and Office 2010. In the regional settings in Windows 7, I had selected "English (India)" and therefore, Excel 2010 was putting the thousands' separator as per the Indian Rules. In Windows 8 also, I've selected "English (India)" in my regional...
    • nishant91
    • Thread
    • excel format issues india localization numeric format office 2010 regional settings thousands separator user support windows 8
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  14. X

    Windows 7 keyboard key messed up

    Hi to all i just built a new pc everyting went real good for.my first build except for this key board issue im having when i press the lettet (a) it inputs [ . And when i press (u) it inputs e dont know why i went to region and its all correct us/en it a older keyboard ps2 the driver points...
    • xxjonatanxx
    • Thread
    • drivers hardware input issues key mapping keyboard pc build ps2 regional settings troubleshooting windows
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  15. kemical

    Windows 8 Browser Choice update? (KB976002)

    Microsoft is providing the Browser Choice update to comply with a legal settlement with the European Commission. Microsoft is required to inform customers who currently use Internet Explorer as their default browser that there are other web browser choices available. You can use the Browser...
    • kemical
    • Thread
    • browser browser choice browser installation default browser european commission internet explorer microsoft regional settings settlement shortcuts software update start screen taskbar update user experience windows 7 windows 8 windows vista windows xp
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Software
  16. T

    Windows 7 DvD Drive wont read any type of media

    Hello all, hoping this is the correct forum for this. History: Back in February I bought a new custom build PC. First PC I've ever owned that didn't come off the shelf at Wal Mart. Had a friend help me spec it out. Asus M5A97 Motherboard AMD FX 4100 Quad-Core Processor 3.6 GHz 8 GB Ram Radeon...
    • tugowar
    • Thread
    • blu-ray custom build driver update dvd drive firmware graphics driver hardware issues installation media issues memory issues motherboard optical drive pc build power cable regional settings sata drive sony ad-7280s storage devices troubleshooting windows 7
    • Replies: 6
    • Forum: Windows Hardware
  17. K

    Windows 7 Playing DVD's in media player

    Hello all, I have tried a few fixes to watch dvd's on my new laptop without success and wondered if anyone had any other suggestions. I don't have internet access for the laptop so only offline solutions will work. It is a dell xps 15 with an i5 2540m, gt 540m graphics, 6gb ram. When I try to...
    • krnp01
    • Thread
    • codec compatibility dell dvd playback error message fix graphics driver home premium installation media player offline solutions regional settings resolution software issues support troubleshooting user experience video playback vlc windows 7
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Software
  18. D

    Windows 7 Windows Login Keyboard Language Issue

    Hello All I would need your support in resolving the issue with my notebook having fresh installed Windows 7 Enterprise Edition. Problem :- I am not able to to logged into the windows even once due to change of my keyboard settings...looks like it is now changed to some other regional...
    • deepak82
    • Thread
    • enterprise keyboard settings language password regional settings support troubleshooting username windows 7
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Upgrade and Installation
  19. P

    Windows 7 Windows 7 Language Pack

    I'm trying to change the language pack that has been installed on 24 computers in a classroom and when i go to region & Language, Keyboards and Languages, the display language bar isn't on the page, any help with this?
    • PEC
    • Thread
    • classroom technology computer management display language keyboard language bar language pack regional settings troubleshooting windows 7
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Software
  20. S

    Windows 7 Change input language in safe mode (windows 7 professional)

    Hi everyone. I'm running Windows 7 professional. I need to boot into safe mode, and I would like to be able to switch the input language to my native Greek. Is there a way to do this in safe mode? (I know how to do it in unsafe mode :)). The option does not appear anywhere in the control panel...
    • Serenity
    • Thread
    • boot options control panel greek input language language switch regional settings safe mode support windows 7 windows pro
    • Replies: 6
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support