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

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-02-02T10:22:10+00:00

    I found a way to change it back to English. However, i'm not sure if it will come back or not, but it seems to be fixed for now.

    What I did was:

    • Click on the camera 📷 icon at the top right “like the image that you see?”
    • Click 👎 not a fan. The wallpaper of the lockscreen will change and text will change from Chinese to English.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-02-02T09:42:14+00:00

    Hello!

    This issue has nothing to do with local regional settings. Bing search engine is what causes it.

    What worked out for me and a dozen of colleagues is the following:

    1. Start Edge Browser, go to Settings > Privacy, Search and services scroll down to the bottom of the page and select Address bar and search

    2. Change the default Search engine in the address bar to anything different than Bing - Google for example.

    3. Click on Manage search engines and remove Bing from the list (click on the 3 dots ... right next to the URL column and select Remove)

    4. Go to Desktop > Right mouse click > Personalize > Lock screen and change your lock screen from Windows spotlight to Picture

    5. Restart your PC/Laptop

    6. Go back to Step 5 and switch back to Windows spotlight

    I hope this works out for you as well.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-02-02T08:12:36+00:00

    The chinese characters have disappeared and the message and the link are all in english again.

    Not done anything to windows settings etc. but now back to normal. Hope it stays that way.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-02-02T07:40:10+00:00

    Same issue here. And it's not just on the start screen, I have some content in Palworld showing up in Chinese sometimes, too.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-02-02T07:39:38+00:00

    Same issue here. Did not help with changing to picture at lock-screen and back to spotlight.
    Located in Norway with English language. Windows 11.

    Edition Windows 11 Pro

    Version 23H2

    Installed on ‎26 ‎Sep ‎2023

    OS build 22631.3007

    Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22681.1000.0

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