Chinese characters on the first screen after switch on

Anonymous
2024-01-09T12:53:49+00:00

The screen before I put my PIN in (I don't know if that is the lock screen or called something else) has suddenly started to use Chinese traditional language. I have checked and updated the region in control panel and copied the settings to lock screen and even ticked the new use box, as suggested by other solutions. I've rebooted several times but it still comes back as Chinese. When I click on the area that (I assume is saying) I want more information on the screen, it opens up MSN page with Chinese stories and information. How do I change the settings to show English text again?

Why has this happened? I have not changed any settings in my system prior to now.

I also can't get a screenshot because as soon as I touch a key the PIN request screen comes up replacing the screen with the Chinese characters in it.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Input and language

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-01-31T04:09:00+00:00

    I got the same issue appearing today... mine seems to be in indian. I only have English and French installed on the system.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-01-30T23:08:27+00:00

    I had the same issue and found a fix. The issue appears to be with Windows Spotlight. If you turn it off; then the odd language text on your lockscreen will go away. That's the only fix I could find that worked.

    To turn off Windows Spotlight, you go to Settings -> Personalize Your Device -> Browse More Backgrounds, Colors, and Themes -> Lockscreen -> Personalize Your Lockscreen. Then from that dropdown, select something other than Windows Spotlight. That will turn it off and make the foreign language text go away. Obviously the bug is within Windows Spotlight, and until Microsoft gets that fixed, there's nothing else you can do to fix the issue.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-01-30T17:39:23+00:00

    I've been having this same issue ever since installing the latest Microsoft update on Friday, January 26th. I tried several of the methods mentioned in prior posts to switch the lock screen back to English, all to no avail. Yesterday, however, the screen had reverted to English on its own and has stayed that way for the past 2 days.

    I'm not sure if Microsoft found a fix, because I don't have the automatic updates feature turned on and I haven't downloaded or installed any new updates since the 26th. It'll be interesting to see if others find the same kind of mysterious solution.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-01-30T15:56:46+00:00

    I have the same trouble and others from Microsoft updates like buggy drivers - display flickering, restarts, now Chinese characters on lock screen...

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-01-30T09:58:49+00:00

    I want to add to this. After this message showed for the first time yesterday 29/1/2024. I'm not sure if its related but i had internet issues, it went off and on 4-5 times. Second to the last it turned off my light in the living room (Its connected to a wifi connector so i can use my phone to turn it on and off) Last the last time it turned off, my internet speed went significantly down, has returned to normal but i found that odd. Have never had this issue before, i did check if my provider was doing maintenance but there was none. I do still get the message with the Chinese language today but thought I wanted to add this.

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