How to change the language and 'region' on your Mac, for multilingual users and those living abroad

imac

Apple

There are dozens of languages you can change your Mac to.

  • You can easily change the language on your Mac from your computer's System Preferences menu.
  • Your Mac allows you to change your primary language, or just add more languages as "secondary" languages.
  • After inputting a new language, restart your Mac to enable it.
  • Some languages, however, are not fully supported by apps within macOS.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When you first buy a brand new Mac computer, the language and region is already set to the country you bought it in - in the US, this is going to be US English.

If you're moving to a new country, or would just like to change or add a language to your Mac for any number of reasons, you can do so through your computer's settings.

Note, however, that apps within macOS will not support every language.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

MacBook Pro (From $1,299 at Apple)

How to change or add a language on Mac

1. First, open System Preferences and navigate to Language & Region - the icon displaying a blue flag with a globe inside.

Language1

Meira Gebel/Business Insider

Find "Language & Region" in System Preferences.

2. On the menu on the left side, find the "+" button.

Language2

Meira Gebel/Business Insider

To add a language, click the "+" button.

3. Scroll through the list to find the language you wish to add to your Mac.

4. After you've selected a language to add, a drop-down menu will ask if you'd like to make it the primary language on your Mac. If so, click it.

Language3

Meira Gebel/Business Insider

Click on the name of the language you just added to make it the primary.

5. Next, a pop-up will ask if you'd like the add the language's "Input source" - the keyboard. If so, click "Add Input Source" or "Not Now."

Language4

Meira Gebel/Business Insider

To add the keyboard for the language you selected, click "Add input source."

6. To add another language, just click the "+" again and follow the above steps.

How to change the region on your Mac

If you bought your Mac in the United States, but plan to move abroad, you can change the region using System Preferences.

1. Go to System Preferences > Languages & Region.

2. In the right menu, find "Region" and click the two blue arrows.

Language5

Meira Gebel/Business Insider

Under "Region" select the continent, then country.

3. In the drop-down menu, select the continent, then country.

4. This will change the time zone, calendar, and temperature format of your Mac.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

NOW WATCH: Why Apple's Mac Pro 'trash can' was a colossal failure

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