How to Change Windows Server Display Language to Simplified Chinese (Install Language Pack on 2016/2019/2022)

Many Windows VPS images ship with an English interface. This guide shows how to change the Windows Server display language to Simplified Chinese: install the Chinese language pack, switch the display language, adjust the region settings and copy everything to the welcome screen and new user accounts. On Windows Server 2022 a single PowerShell command (Install-Language) does most of the work; on Windows Server 2016 and 2019 you use the lpksetup language pack installer instead.

Step 1: Check your Windows Server version

The language pack installation method depends on the version. Open PowerShell as Administrator and check the OS and current language:

Get-ComputerInfo -Property OsName, OsVersion
Get-WinSystemLocale
Get-WinUserLanguageList

For Windows Server 2022 (build 10.0.20348) follow Step 2. For 2016 (10.0.14393) or 2019 (10.0.17763) go to Step 3.

Step 2: Install the Chinese language pack on Windows Server 2022 with Install-Language

Windows Server 2022 includes the LanguagePackManagement module. As long as the server can reach Windows Update, this command downloads and installs the Simplified Chinese language pack and its features:

Install-Language zh-CN -CopyToSettings
Get-InstalledLanguage

The -CopyToSettings switch also makes zh-CN the preferred system display language. Installation usually takes 5–20 minutes depending on bandwidth; keep the window open. If PowerShell reports that Install-Language is not recognized, the module is missing or this is not Server 2022 — use Step 3 instead.

Step 3: Install the language pack ISO on Windows Server 2016 / 2019

On Server 2016 and 2019, Settings → Time & Language usually cannot download language packs. Use a language pack ISO that exactly matches your OS build, obtained from an official Microsoft channel such as the Volume Licensing Service Center or a Visual Studio subscription. Upload the ISO, double-click to mount it (assume drive D:), then run:

lpksetup /i zh-CN /p D:\x64\langpacks\Microsoft-Windows-Server-Language-Pack_x64_zh-cn.cab /r /s

Folder layouts vary between ISOs, so adjust the .cab path to match yours. Alternatively, run lpksetup without arguments, choose "Install display languages" and browse to the zh-cn pack in the wizard.

Step 4: Set the display language, regional format and system locale

After the language pack is installed, run the following commands to set the display language, input language list, regional format and home location to China (GeoId 45), plus the system locale used by non-Unicode programs:

Set-WinUILanguageOverride -Language zh-CN
Set-WinUserLanguageList zh-CN, en-US -Force
Set-Culture zh-CN
Set-WinHomeLocation -GeoId 45
Set-WinSystemLocale -SystemLocale zh-CN

The system locale (Set-WinSystemLocale) prevents garbled Chinese text in older applications. On Windows Server 2022 you can additionally run Set-SystemPreferredUILanguage zh-CN.

Step 5: Copy the language settings to the welcome screen and new users

These settings apply only to the current user by default, so the sign-in screen and new accounts would still be English. On Windows Server 2022 copy them with one command:

Copy-UserInternationalSettingsToSystem -WelcomeScreen $true -NewUser $true

On 2016 / 2019, run intl.cpl, open the Administrative tab, click "Copy settings", tick "Welcome screen and system accounts" and "New user accounts", and confirm. Then restart the server:

Restart-Computer

FAQ

Some screens are still in English after the restart.

Make sure the display language of the signed-in user is Chinese, then sign out and back in. Some components such as Server Manager may need one more restart to switch completely.

Install-Language fails with 0x800f0954.

This usually means the server cannot reach Windows Update or is pointed at WSUS by Group Policy. Check network and DNS, or install from an offline language pack.

Will changing the language affect my websites or databases?

The display language only changes the UI. The system locale can affect legacy programs that rely on the default code page, so change it during a quiet period and keep a backup.

If you still need help, submit a ticket to IMIDC 24/7 technical support with your OS version and the error message.