Windows Mobile and Language Support
I've been traveling quite a bit lately and the one question I've gotten a lot in Asia and in Europe is around Language Support in Windows Mobile so I thought I'd attempt to address it.
Unlike Windows Vista, Windows Mobile doesn't have a MUI or Multilingual User Interface on a single image that supports double bit characters (Chinese/Japanese) unless you get a device in a region that uses that double bit language.
The question that I get most often is, assuming I use an English language version of the operating system.
- Can I input in a double bit based language like Chinese or Japanese?
- Can the system display and send and receive messages written in a double bit language?
- Can I change the regional settings to support another language?
Since the Standard and Professional versions of the OS differ I've covered their multi language support independency.
Windows Mobile Standard/Smartphone (Non Touch Screen)
- Inputting in a double bit based language like Chinese or Japanese - Unfortunately you cannot without a 3rd party add-on like CEStar
- Reading double bit based language like Chinese or Japanese - Unfortunately you cannot without a 3rd party add-on like CEStar
- Changing the regional settings to support another language - Here we do have an answer, on Windows Mobile Standard devices you can go to Start -> Settings -> Regional Settings -> and Choose Language - The number of languages listed here will differ on different phones and won't include double bit character languages in general.
Windows Mobile Professional (Touch Screen)
- Inputting in a double bit based language like Chinese or Japanese - Unfortunately you cannot without a 3rd party add-on like CEStar
- Reading double bit based language like Chinese or Japanese - Unfortunately you cannot without a 3rd party add-on like CEStar
- Changing the regional settings to support another language - Windows Mobile Professional device do have a regional Setting menu that lets your choose the Region. It is located under Start -> Settings -> System -> Regional Settings. Here you can choose a supported language but you will find that Chinese and Japanese are not on the list. In addition, a few have a custom rom image prompt when you hard reset the device, that asks you for the location and then installs regional language packs.
Solutions:
If you are looking for a phone to support English and double bit characters you have 2 choices.
- You can purchase a regionalized phone. They will come with the local language and English. This can be difficult if you aren't in the region however companies like Expansys can get you a regionalized device wherever you live.
- Purchase a 3rd party add ons like CEStar that will add the language support you need.
Comments
Anonymous
July 04, 2010
My htc phone is in danish. I do not understand the language. I need help on how to change it to english language. My email is joyy201000@yahoo.comAnonymous
July 04, 2010
My htc phone is in danish. I do not understand the language. I need help on how to change it to english language. My email is joyy201000@yahoo.comAnonymous
July 06, 2010
my htc mobile is in French i do not understand the language i need help oh how to change to English language. my e-mail address is johnpaul_168@hotmail.comAnonymous
July 13, 2010
I have a Garmin-Asus phone and the Windows Mobile OS 6.5.3 language is in German, but I need help on how to change the language to English. My e-mail address is as follows: ikitinov@yahoo.com Thanks in advance.Anonymous
July 19, 2010
i have the same problem with my phone mallagetulio@hotmail.comAnonymous
July 21, 2010
my htc phone is danish please i need help ... no.signal.love@live.caAnonymous
July 28, 2010
I have a htc phone and the Windows Mobile language is in German, but I need help on how to change the language to English. My e-mail address is tanujay2002@yahoo.comAnonymous
August 05, 2010
my htc phone language is written in german,pls how can i change it to englishAnonymous
August 07, 2010
Hy Emmanuel, i have the same problem like you. i have a HTC Touch Hd in german language and i want to change it into english. Can someone help me, please. my yahoo id is trunks_xxlAnonymous
August 11, 2010
i have a htc phone and the Windows Mobile language is in english, but I need help on how to change the language to arabic. My e-mail address is eidha@alj.comAnonymous
August 28, 2010
bought HTC TyTN11 touch screen phone programmed in Swedish, but cannot understand it. How can I change this langauge to English. Through trial and error only managed to change date currency, timeAnonymous
September 02, 2010
I have also a windows phone in German Language, But I want to change its language German to English. But I am unable to do this process from Regional Settings also. Please tell me that how I can change Language German to English. E-Mail: mhm092@hotmail.comAnonymous
September 03, 2010
i have a htc tytn in dutch and i want to change the language in english......please tell me how to do that at mymy_blonda1504@yahoo.com...thank youAnonymous
September 19, 2010
The comment has been removedAnonymous
October 01, 2010
my htc phone language is written in german,pls how can i change it to english....E-Mail:rveera48@gmail.comAnonymous
November 14, 2010
my windows phone (glofiish phone) is in german language how do i change to english? any help mail: mrokofobright@gmail.comAnonymous
November 19, 2010
My htc phone is in Greek. I need to change it to English. My email is adelajani@yahoo.comAnonymous
November 20, 2010
hi all pls help my htc language is written in chinese how change it to english . email constatine_4@yahoo.comAnonymous
November 27, 2010
you must to download english language extenderAnonymous
November 29, 2010
I have also a windows phone in German Language, But I want to change it's language German to English. But I am unable to do this process from Regional Settings also. Please tell me that how I can change Language German to English Email: askari_amin1977@yahoo.comAnonymous
November 29, 2010
I have Htc touch 2 (win 6.5) with german language and I need to change german to engelish but I can't . Please help me to solve my problem . diablo_tornado@yahoo.comAnonymous
December 13, 2010
I have got a HTC HD Mini that has its language in chinese. Can someone help me on having all the icons etc in converted in English please? wagner.vila@gmail.comAnonymous
December 14, 2010
I have Htc touch Diamond (win 6.1) with Dutch language and I need to change NDL to engelish but I can't . Please help me to solve my problem PLZ. PLz. PLZ>naren1v@yahoo.comAnonymous
January 02, 2011
i've i-matePDA_N windwos 5.0 in spanish . i want to change the language of it. or upgrade that windows to 6.5 please someone help me coz i'm in real need to may PDA . youssefougoujil@hotmail.comAnonymous
January 07, 2011
I have a htc tytn in spanish and i need help to change it to english. email me at djhurtado21@gmail.com ThanksAnonymous
January 13, 2011
I have HTC Touch Diamond 2 .... how i can to change the language of Spain to Bulgarian .... or Spain to English ... please write to me ... my mail is : zio_rs@yahoo.comAnonymous
January 26, 2011
I have Htc touch, with italian language and I need to change to english but I can't . Please help me out . olaniraniyi@yahoo.comAnonymous
January 27, 2011
I have Htc touch 2, with arabic language and I need to change to english but I can't . Please help me out . mim.golden1@gmail.comAnonymous
March 03, 2011
we are all dumbs bought phone with different language. Windows mobile operating system language can not be changed. At the time of purchasing you should have asked them for english one.Anonymous
May 18, 2011
my HTC HD mini is in danish i want to change it to english. my email is babybojang@yahoo.comAnonymous
June 13, 2011
Hello my HTC touch color is in french i want to change it in english please help meeeeeeeeeee......My id is jassavtar@gmail.com thanksAnonymous
June 16, 2011
hello I have a HTC s711 its look like the s710 and its in Portuguese, Please help me set it in English Thank you. my email is njen228@yahoo.comAnonymous
June 16, 2011
sorry i meant njen228@gmail.comAnonymous
July 12, 2011
i went my htc touch t3232 to english my email;donehiosumwen@yahoo.comAnonymous
July 23, 2011
i want to change my htc phone language to english and is on italian language,and i dont know how to change it.this is my e-mail id desrhyme@yahoo.comAnonymous
July 23, 2011
The comment has been removedAnonymous
July 26, 2011
Hello frnds I have htc p3300 in russian language, how could I change it into english can someone help me plz my ID is hussain.maqsood48@gmail.comAnonymous
August 21, 2011
I want to change my HTC TYTN ii phone language from french to polish language Please send me the solution.this is my e-mail id marcus_pl@hotmail.frAnonymous
September 21, 2011
hi every body i just buy htc x7510 IN FRANS LANGUAGE and i don't understand this i want change LANGUAGE to nederlands . can any body help me please becouse i have the phone only 1 month and i can't use this becouse i don't understand my email is dodg_5@hotmail.com thanks for every body read this and want help meAnonymous
October 01, 2011
My htc phone is in swedish. I do not understand the language. I need help on how to change it to english language. My email is gemalynbueno@yahoo.comAnonymous
October 04, 2011
My htc phone is in SPANISH. . I need help on how to change it to ITALIAN language. my emai cronacafree@alice.itAnonymous
October 13, 2011
My htc phone is in danish. I do not understand the language. I need help on how to change it to english language. My email is djapolonas@gmail.comAnonymous
October 17, 2011
I need help on how to change it to english language. my email raja4star@yahoo.comAnonymous
October 26, 2011
plz tell me how can i change my htc dimond 2, dutch language into english.. my email is rana_rizwan389@yahoo.comAnonymous
November 01, 2011
Is a simple answer. The language can not be changed. The OS language is fixed. Windows Mobile does not support multilingual interface. If you want a specific language, you must buy a phone with that specific language installed. Theres no way to change the language, period.Anonymous
December 09, 2011
i need to change my htc phone language from norwegian to english my email is shawnrusselbalo@yahoo.comAnonymous
December 24, 2011
Hindi font not read& text plez sand bharti.shailendra89@hotmail.comAnonymous
January 05, 2012
i need to change my htc phone language from french to english and my email is dhun_tse110@hotmail.comAnonymous
January 06, 2012
i need to change my htc phone language from dutch to english and my email is llanetaanthonyc@yahoo.comAnonymous
January 06, 2012
i need to change my htc phone language from dutch to english my facebook account is llanetaanthonyc@yahoo.comAnonymous
March 06, 2012
i need to change my samsung omnia SGH-i900 phone language from dutch to english my account is capkeni001@hotmail.com plz help meAnonymous
April 03, 2012
I guess it is impossible to change the language from russian to english in windows mobile.I have this samsung shg-i710 and it is useless for me without the english language inteface.Anonymous
April 18, 2012
My htc phone is in greek. I do not understand the language. I need help on how to change it to english language. My email is (quarshie.king@yahoo.com)Anonymous
August 15, 2012
Hello my htc is in german. I need help on how to change it to english language. My e-mail is fatmir_mahmutovic@hotmail.comAnonymous
August 26, 2012
My htc tytn is in danish language can somebody help me to change language into english? My email address is starplusser@gmail.comAnonymous
September 23, 2012
my htc mobile is in German i do not understand the language i need help oh how to change to English language.I am unable to do this process from Regional Settings also. Please tell me that how I can change Language German to English my e-mail address is misbahforu@yahoomail.comAnonymous
November 20, 2012
i have pb92100 german language . i want english language i need help how to chang english language my emial id vs_a69@yahoo.comAnonymous
January 14, 2013
i have a htc t8788 and i need to use greek language..now have english..george__1985@hotmail.comAnonymous
February 19, 2013
My htc phone is in SPANISH. . I need help on how to change it to english or arbic language. my emai ahmed281992@hotmail.comAnonymous
February 20, 2013
my htc phone TyTNII language is written in German, pls how can i change it to English....E-Mail: write2bayo@yahoo.comAnonymous
February 28, 2013
my htc is in german language version and i want to change it to english. coolrulerj@yahoo.comAnonymous
March 07, 2013
my htc is in german language version and i want to change it to english. hsdarboe@yahoo.comAnonymous
April 19, 2013
Mi htc touch esta en noruego y no entiendo nada. por favor una ayuda para ponerlo en espanol o ingles. gracias macuero@gmail.comAnonymous
July 02, 2013
My htc tytn is in danish language can somebody help me to change language into english? my email is gamatoxdj@gmail.comAnonymous
July 07, 2013
my htc touch is in portuguese can someone help I want to change to English my email is saracamara@live.comAnonymous
September 10, 2013
my htc touch is in french can some one help i want english email:bobsisay@gmail.comAnonymous
October 24, 2013
my htc mobile is in German i do not understand the language i need help oh how to change to English language.my e-mail : ropemafija@gmail.comAnonymous
November 08, 2013
Hi my htc mobile is inFrench i do not understand the language i need help to change to English language.my e-mail : leveau.stephane@gmail.com . ThanksAnonymous
December 20, 2013
my nokia mobile is inFrench i do not understand the language i need help to change to English language.my e-mail : vlio_kn@mail.bg . ThanksAnonymous
December 20, 2013
my nokia mobile is inFrench i do not understand the language i need help to change to English language.my e-mail : vlio_kn@mail.bg . ThanksAnonymous
January 26, 2014
hi i have htc hd mini and its in german i would like to change it to english...please help my email is hanifashamim@yahoo.com...thanks in advanceAnonymous
January 26, 2014
hi i have htc hd mini and its in german i would like to change it to english...please help my email is hanifashamim@yahoo.com...thanks in advanceAnonymous
April 06, 2014
I have htc window 8 phone it displays in chinese language,how can i change it to english plz help.my email is japhetadela@yahoo.comAnonymous
December 11, 2014
tengo un dell venue pro 7.5 en ingles y no me permite cambiarlo al español (display language) que puedo hacer para revertir eso?Anonymous
December 11, 2014
tengo un dell venue pro 7.5 y no me permite cambiarlo del idioma ingles (display language) que puede hacer para revertir eso?Anonymous
April 07, 2015
I have a htc phone and the Windows Mobile language is in
German, but I need help on how to change the language to
English. My e-mail address is yawsonbenson@gmail.comAnonymous
April 15, 2015
Jul 2010 9:25 PM
My htc phone is in dutch. I do not understand the language. I need help on how to change it to english language. My email is mountzion55@yahoo.comAnonymous
June 19, 2015
i have a htc t8788 and i need to use frensh display language..now have englishAnonymous
June 19, 2015
i have a htc t8788 and i need to use frensh language display...now have english
my email: divine_comedie7@hotmail.comAnonymous
June 29, 2015
The comment has been removedAnonymous
October 20, 2015
I've got HTC P5520 in German language and I need to change to Polish.
My email: p_michalczuk@o2.plAnonymous
November 23, 2015
my htc windows mobile 6.1 has the english language and i need to change to french.
please help thanks. legeniesa@gmail.comAnonymous
November 23, 2015
my htc windows mobile 6.1 has the english language and i need to change to french.
please help thanks. legeniesa@gmail.com