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
    2024-02-02T09:42:14+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
    2024-01-13T16:31:44+00:00

    I tried this but upon restart the language reverts to Chinese. :-(

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-01-13T11:08:20+00:00

    I have the same issue, very concerning, i have just bought and installed windows 11, and did not choose Chinese anywhere! This should not be happening, a software that goes out of it's way to be user friendly and explain every little feature, should not all of a sudden have mysterious foreign text for no reason.

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  5. 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.

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