This also happened to me, but none of the changes reccommended by Shawn Z resloved the issue?
Chinese characters on the first screen after switch on
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Anonymous
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
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Anonymous
2024-01-13T00:06:44+00:00 -
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Anonymous
2024-01-12T23:57:21+00:00 This also happened to me too! Looks like its a system error
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Anonymous
2024-01-12T20:57:05+00:00 This has happened to me as well but I did not set the region to China/Korea/Japan at any point and so have to ask more importantly
WHY is this happening so suddenly to so many people? Is it hacking or something less important
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Anonymous
2024-01-12T16:53:17+00:00 I have the same problem on my Windows laptop and desktop computers. I've cleared my cache, cookies, and reset Edge to defaults. My Windows language preferences show English as the preferred language, yet I still get the foreign characters on my opening screen. This is really frustrating. Funny thing (but not funny Ha-ha), I don't see non-English language characters when using my Mac-mini!
yes my windows language preference also showed English BUT you will notice that under that there is a drop down box which says "Match windows display language (recommended)"
scroll down the language options and reset your English + country preference (basically again) the screen will then be redisplayed without the drop down box* with your language preference then restart your PC.
Hope it works for you and others as it seems to have done for me - crossed fingers
and do let others know if it also works for you.
* note if you later go back to the control screen that shows the language preference the drop down box will be there again - suppose this is if you want to change it later.