Change Windows 11 Command Console Menu Language

Change Windows 11 Command Console Menu Language

This article will guide you through the process of changing the language of the Command Console (also known as Command Prompt or cmd) in Windows 11. The instructions provided here can be applied to change the language to any preferred language, including Japanese or Polish.

Why Change the Command Console Language?

Users may need to change the Command Console language for various reasons. For instance, you might have a keyboard layout installed for a specific language, like Japanese or Polish, and would like the Command Console to display commands in that language for easier navigation. This can also be useful for developers or power users who work with multilingual teams or projects.

Checking the Current Command Console Language

To determine the current Command Console language, open the Command Console by pressing Win + R, typing cmd, and hitting Enter. Once the Command Console is open, type the following command:

This command will display the current value of the Autorun registry key. If there is a value associated with this key, it will most likely contain the path to a batch file that sets the language of the Command Console.

Changing the Command Console Language

To change the Command Console language, you will need to modify the Autorun registry key. Follow these steps:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following registry path:

   If the Autorun key does not exist, you will need to create it. Right-click on the Command Processor key, select New > String Value, and name it Autorun.

4. Double-click on the Autorun key and enter the following value:
   nul ]]>

   This value sets the Command Console language to UTF-8 (code page 65001). Make sure to replace 65001 with the appropriate code page for your preferred language, as outlined in the table below.

   Language	Code Page
   Japanese	932
   Polish	1250

   Save the changes by clicking OK.

Verifying the New Command Console Language

After changing the language, open a new Command Console (as the changes will only affect new Command Console instances). Type the following command to display the current Command Console code page:

This command will display the current code page, which should now match the one you set in the Autorun registry key.

• Changing the Command Console language can be useful when working with keyboard layouts or teams that use different languages.
• The language can be changed by modifying the Autorun registry key under HKCU\Software\Mic rosoft\Command Processor.
• Each language has a corresponding code page, which must be set in the Autorun registry key.

References

• Code page identifiers
• chcp command
• Conventions for Windows globalization data