We had a VERY small client with an office in The Netherlands and they sourced a new Windows 11 computer but still wanted to use their old Office 2013. The problem was they only had an English version of Office 2013 and they wanted Dutch.
NOTE: If you have problems with the language pack install, read our article on how to fix them HERE.
| Office Version | Language Setup Process | Notes |
| Office 2013 | Requires External Installer > Configure in-app | You must download a separate Language Accessory Pack (LAP) executable file (like the one you have for Dutch) and run it outside of the Office application to install the display and help files. Once installed, the new language appears in the File > Options > Language dialog for selection |
| Office 2016, 2019, 2021 | In-app Download (for Click-to-Run) > Configure in-app | For volume-licensed versions, you often still need an external pack, but the modern Click-to-Run versions (common for Office 365/Microsoft 365 and sometimes Office 2016 retail) started to allow users to select and download/install languages directly from the File> Options > Language window |
| Microsoft 365 | Fully Integrated In-app Download > Configure in-app | This process is fully streamlined. In the File > Options > Language pane, you can click a button (e.g., “Add a language” or “Install additional display languages from Office.com”), and the files are downloaded and installed automatically in the background |
Because this was Office 2013 the solution is a two step process. Step one is downloading the language (in our clients case, Dutch) and step two is configuring Microsoft Office products to use that language:
1 – How To Add A Language To Microsoft Office Products
If you need a different language for your Microsoft Office 2013 click HERE
2 – Change the Language in Office Settings
After installing the language pack, you need to tell Office to use the language you want (in our case, Dutch) as the default display and authoring language.
Note the settings will be slightly different on different versions as Microsoft loves to move things around. So don’t be put off if a word is different or a location has changed.
- Launch any MS Office application such as Word or Excel
- Click FILE > OPTIONS
- TIP: If you don’t see options, look a the VERY bottom left
- Select the LANGUAGE tab
- Scroll to “Office display language” section and select the language you want with the Set as Preferred button
- Scroll to the “Office authoring languages and proofing” section and set your preferred language
- This will change the proofing tools like spelling and grammar check. In our case, our client selected “Dutch”
- Restart Office. A message should pop up telling you to restart your Office programs for the changes to take effect so just cose all open Office applications and then reopen them.
The Office interface, including the ribbon, buttons, and dialog boxes, should now be in the language you want (in our clients case, Dutch).
The Wrap
There’s nothing quite like working in your native language. From the comfort of familiar terms to the confidence of clear instructions, using an application in your own language can boost productivity and make tasks feel more intuitive. We understand the value of this, and that’s why we’re pleased to show you how to easily add and switch languages in Microsoft Office, ensuring a more personalized and efficient experience for you.
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