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.

  1. Can I input in a double bit based language like Chinese or Japanese?
  2. Can the system display and send and receive messages written in a double bit language?
  3. 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)

  1. Inputting in a double bit based language like Chinese or Japanese - Unfortunately you cannot without a 3rd party add-on like CEStar
  2. Reading double bit based language like Chinese or Japanese - Unfortunately you cannot without a 3rd party add-on like CEStar
  3. 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)

  1. Inputting in a double bit based language like Chinese or Japanese - Unfortunately you cannot without a 3rd party add-on like CEStar
  2. Reading double bit based language like Chinese or Japanese - Unfortunately you cannot without a 3rd party add-on like CEStar
  3. 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. 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.com

  • 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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    July 21, 2010
    my htc phone is danish please i need help ... no.signal.love@live.ca

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    August 05, 2010
    my htc phone language is written in german,pls how can i change it to english

  • Anonymous
    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_xxl

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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, time

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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 you

  • Anonymous
    September 19, 2010
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 01, 2010
    my htc phone language is written in german,pls how can i change it to english....E-Mail:rveera48@gmail.com

  • Anonymous
    November 14, 2010
    my windows phone (glofiish phone) is in german language how do i change to english? any help mail: mrokofobright@gmail.com

  • Anonymous
    November 19, 2010
    My htc phone is in Greek. I need to change it to English. My email is adelajani@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    November 20, 2010
    hi all pls help my htc language is written in chinese how change it to english . email   constatine_4@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    November 27, 2010
    you must to download english language extender

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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 Thanks

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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 thanks

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2011
    sorry i meant njen228@gmail.com

  • Anonymous
    July 12, 2011
    i went my htc touch t3232 to english my email;donehiosumwen@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    July 23, 2011
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.fr

  • Anonymous
    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 me  

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    October 04, 2011
    My htc phone is in SPANISH. . I need help on how to change it to ITALIAN language. my emai    cronacafree@alice.it

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    October 17, 2011
    I need help on how to change it to english language. my email  raja4star@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    October 26, 2011
    plz tell me how can i change my htc dimond 2, dutch language into english.. my email is   rana_rizwan389@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    December 24, 2011
    Hindi font not read& text plez sand bharti.shailendra89@hotmail.com

  • Anonymous
    January 05, 2012
    i need to change my htc phone language from french to english and my email is dhun_tse110@hotmail.com

  • Anonymous
    January 06, 2012
    i need to change my htc phone language from dutch to english and my email is llanetaanthonyc@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    January 06, 2012
    i need to change my htc phone language from dutch to english my facebook account is llanetaanthonyc@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    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 me

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    January 14, 2013
    i have a htc t8788 and i need to use greek language..now have english..george__1985@hotmail.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    February 20, 2013
    my htc phone TyTNII  language is written in German, pls how can i change it to English....E-Mail: write2bayo@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    February 28, 2013
    my htc is in german language version and i want to change it to english. coolrulerj@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    March 07, 2013
    my htc is in german language version and i want to change it to english. hsdarboe@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    July 02, 2013
    My htc tytn is in danish language can somebody help me to change language into english? my email is gamatoxdj@gmail.com

  • Anonymous
    July 07, 2013
    my htc touch is in portuguese can someone help I want to change to English my email is saracamara@live.com

  • Anonymous
    September 10, 2013
    my htc touch is in french can some one help i want english   email:bobsisay@gmail.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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 . Thanks

  • Anonymous
    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 . Thanks

  • Anonymous
    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 . Thanks

  • Anonymous
    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 advance

  • Anonymous
    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 advance

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    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.com

  • Anonymous
    June 19, 2015
    i have a htc t8788 and i need to use frensh display language..now have english

  • Anonymous
    June 19, 2015
    i have a htc t8788 and i need to use frensh language display...now have english
    my email: divine_comedie7@hotmail.com

  • Anonymous
    June 29, 2015
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 20, 2015
    I've got HTC P5520 in German language and I need to change to Polish.
    My email: p_michalczuk@o2.pl

  • Anonymous
    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

  • Anonymous
    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