How do I resolve language issues in my Windows Server AMI or Amazon EC2 Windows instance?

Short description

To resolve languages issues in your AMI or EC2 Windows instance, use one of the following methods to add language packs on Windows Server:

• Run a Windows PowerShell command to install your language pack.
  Note: It's a best practice to use this method for Windows Server 2019 or later.
• Use a public snapshot.
  Note: It's a best practice to use this method for Windows Server 2016 or environments without internet access.
• Install the language packs through the graphical user interface (GUI).
  Note: This method requires internet access.

Important: Language packs provide only partial localization. For complete language support, use a native language version of the Windows Server AMI.

Resolution

Use Windows PowerShell to install your language packs

Complete the following steps:

1. Use Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to connect to your Windows instance.
2. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator, and then run the following command to install your language pack based on your Windows Server version.
   Windows Server 2019 and later:

   Install-Language -Language de-DE

   Windows Server 2016 and earlier:

   Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name "Language.Basic~~~de-DE~0.0.1.0"

   Note: Replace de-DE with your language code. For a full list of language codes, see Language packs on the Microsoft website.
3. (Optional) The preceding commands apply the language to the current user. To apply the language across the whole system, run the following commands:

   Set-WinSystemLocale -SystemLocale de-DE
   Set-WinUILanguageOverride -Language de-DE

   Note: Replace de-DE with your language code.
4. Stop and start your instance, or restart your computer to apply the changes.

Use public snapshots to install your language packs

If you can't use PowerShell to install language packs, then complete the following steps:

1. Open the Amazon EC2 console.
2. In the navigation pane, choose Snapshots, and then configure the following settings:
   Set the filter to Public snapshots.
   For Owner alias, choose Amazon.
   For Description, enter English.
3. Select a Windows Server 2016 snapshot.
4. Choose Actions, and then choose Create volume from snapshot.
5. Select the same Availability Zone as your instance, and then choose Create volume.
6. Attach the Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS) volume to your instance.
7. Use RDP to connect to your instance.
8. Choose the Start menu, and then open Computer Management.
9. Expand Storage, and then choose Disk Management.
10. Open the context (right-click) menu for the new Amazon EBS volume, and then select Online. Note the drive letter that's assigned to the attached EBS volume, such as E:.
11. To install the language package, open Command Prompt as an administrator, and then run the following command:

    Dism /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:"C:\Media\lp_2016.cab" /Source:"E:\sources\sxs" /LimitAccess

    Note: Replace C:\Media\lp_2016.cab with your language pack file path and E:\sources\sxs with the sources\sxs path on the attached volume.
12. After installation completes, stop and start your instance, or restart your computer to apply the changes.

Use the GUI to install your language packs

Complete the following steps:

1. Use RDP to connect to your instance.
2. Choose the Start menu, and then open Settings.
3. Choose Time & Language.
4. Choose Language, and then choose Add a language.
5. Select your language, and then follow the installation prompts.
6. After installation, stop and start your instance, or restart your computer to apply the changes.

Use native language AMIs for complete localization

Language packs that you install on an English Windows Server AMI provide only partial localization. The language packs translate elements that appear in the installed language, such as Settings and Control Panel. However, some elements remain in English, such as Server Manager, Recycle Bin, File Explorer items such as Desktop, Downloads, and Documents, and other system components.

To check the capabilities of the language that you installed, run the following command:

dism /online /Get-Capabilities /format:table | findstr /i "zh-tw"

Note: Replace zh-tw with your language code.

For full localization, use a native language version of the Windows Server AMI. Launch a new instance and under Application and OS Images (Amazon Machine Image), choose Browse more AMIs. In the search box, enter your language and Windows Server version, and then select an AMI from the search results.

With a native language AMI, all interface elements appear in the language.

Verify your language settings

To verify that your instance uses the correct language, complete the following steps :

1. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.

2. Run the following command to check the current language settings:

   Get-WinSystemLocale

3. Run the following command to check the user interface language:

   Get-WinUILanguageOverride

4. Run the following command to view all installed language packs:

   Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "Language*"} | Select-Object Name, State

Related information

Add languages to Windows images on the Microsoft website

Language and region Features on Demand (FOD) on the Microsoft website

Find an AMI that meets the requirements for your EC2 instance

Add-WindowsCapability on the Microsoft website