DISM Languages and International Servicing Command-Line Options

The international commands can be used to change international settings in Windows and Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) images. You can also query existing settings in an offline or online Windows image.

The base syntax for servicing a Windows image using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM.exe) tool is:

DISM.exe {/Image:<path_to_offline_image_directory>|/Online} [dism_global_options] {servicing_option} [<servicing_argument>]

There are three types of international servicing commands:

  • Get commands. Retrieves a report of the international settings for an offline image or a running operating system.
  • Set commands. Sets the different international settings for an offline image.
  • Gen-LangIni commands. Generates the Lang.ini file that is used during Setup.

The following international servicing options are available for an offline image:

DISM.exe /Image:<path_to_offline_image_directory> [/Get-Intl] [/Set-UILang|/Set-UILangFallback|/Set-SysUILang|/Set-SysLocale|Set-UserLocale|/Set-InputLocale|/Set-AllIntl|/Set-Timezone|/Set-SKUIntlDefaults|/Set-LayeredDriver] [/Gen-Langini|/Set-SetupUILang|/Distribution]

Note

The image needs to be mounted before using the /Mount-Image option in DISM (see DISM Image Management Command-Line Options). The value specified for the /MountDir parameter when mounting the image should be used as the value of the /Image parameter.

The following international servicing options are available for a running operating system:

DISM.exe /Online /Get-Intl

The following table provides a description of how each international servicing option can be used. These options are not case-sensitive.

/Get-Help /?

When used immediately after an international servicing command-line option, information about the option and the arguments is displayed. Additional topics might become available when an image is specified.

Examples:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-UILang /?
Dism /online /Get-intl /?

/Get-Intl

Displays information about international settings and languages.

  • Use the /Online option to display information about international settings and languages in the running operating system.
  • Use the /Image:<path_to_offline_image_directory> option to display information about international settings and languages in the offline image.
  • When used with the /Distribution options, information about international settings and languages in the distribution is displayed. The name of the folder in the distribution share is not validated. It will be reported as …\Langpacks<locale_name>\Lp.cab, where <locale_name> is the name of the folder.

Note

The user locale is reported only for offline images. The report does not include this setting for running operating systems.

/Set-UILang

Sets the default system user interface (UI) language. If the language is not installed in the Windows image, the command will fail.

Syntax:

DISM /Set-UILang:<language_name>
  • <language_name> specifies the name of the language to set as the default; for example, ja-JP.

Note

  • Starting Windows 11, the default System UI Language set by DISM is left unaltered on all editions except the Home edition. For all commercial editions the language chosen during the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) is set as the System Preferred UI language and Windows will be displayed in this language and for Home SKU the language chosen at OOBE will continue to be the default System UI Language.
  • As of Windows 10, version 2004, if a .appx-based Language Experience Pack (LXP) backed language is passed as an argument then the language will be set as the System Preferred UI language and its parent language will be set as the Default System UI language.
  • In prior versions, this option did not support setting the UI to a language that was installed as an LXP.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-UILang:fr-FR

/Set-UILangFallback

Sets the fallback default language for the system UI in the offline Windows image. This setting is used only when the language specified by the /Set-UILang option is a partially localized language.

Syntax:

DISM /Set-UILangFallback:<Language_Name>
  • <Language_Name> specifies the name of the language to set as the default fallback; for example, en-US.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-UILangFallBack:fr-FR

/Set-SysUILang

Sets the System Preferred UI Language. If the language is not installed in the Windows image, the command will fail.

Syntax:

 /Set-SysUILang:<language_name>
  • <Language_Name> specifies the name of the language to set as the default fallback; for example, en-US.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-SysUILang:fr-FR

/Set-SysLocale

Sets the language for non-Unicode programs (also called system locale) and font settings in the offline Windows image.

Syntax:

/Set-SysLocale:<locale_name>
  • <locale_name> specifies the name of the language and locale to set as the default language for non-Unicode; for example, en-US.

Important

You cannot set Unicode-only languages as the system locale. If you try, the /Set-SysLocale option will fail and the language for non-Unicode programs will not be changed.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-SysLocale:fr-FR

/Set-UserLocale

Sets the "standards and formats" language (also called user locale) in the offline Windows image. The "standards and formats" language is a per-user setting that determines default sort order and the default settings for formatting dates, times, currency, and numbers.

Syntax:

/Set-UserLocale:<locale_name>
  • <locale_name> specifies the name of the language and locale to set as the default language for non-Unicode; for example, en-US.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-UserLocale:fr-FR

/Set-InputLocale

Sets the input locales and keyboard layouts to use in the offline Windows image.

Syntax:

/Set-InputLocale:<input_locale>:<keyboard_layout>
  • The value of the <input_locale:keyboard_layout> pair can be one of the following:

    • <language_id:keyboard_layout>

      For example: 0409:00000409

    • <locale_name>

      For example, if you specify en-US as the local name, The Set-InputLocale: option also sets the default keyboard layout defined for this locale.

You can specify more than one value by using semicolons as separators. This is useful when you want to include support for multiple keyboards on a single computer. The first value will be set as the default keyboard.

The valid keyboard layouts that can be configured on your computer are listed in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layouts registry key

For a list of the values, see Default Input Locales and Default Keyboard Settings.

Use the hexadecimal value of the language ID and keyboard layout that you intend to configure.

This parameter is optional.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-InputLocale:fr-fr
Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-InputLocale:0410:00010410

/Set-AllIntl

Sets the default system UI language, the language for non-Unicode programs, the "standards and formats" language, and the input locales and keyboard layouts to the specified language in the offline Windows image. This option specifies the language value for the following:

  • UI language
  • System locale
  • User locale
  • Input locale

If used with any of the options that specify the individual language or locales, then the individual settings take precedence.

Syntax:

Set-AllIntl:<language_name>
  • <language_name> specifies the language name and locale code; for example, en-US, es-ES, or fr-FR.

Note

  • As of Windows 10, version 2004, if a .appx-based Language Experience Pack (LXP) backed language is passed as an argument then the language will be set as the System Preferred UI language and its parent language will be set as the Default System UI language.

  • In prior versions, this option did not support setting the UI to a language that was installed as an LXP.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-AllIntl:fr-FR

/Set-TimeZone

Sets the default time zone in a Windows image. Before setting the time zone, DISM verifies that the specified time zone string is valid for the image.

Syntax:

Set-TimeZone:<timezone_name>
  • <timezone_name> specifies the name of the time zone to use; for example, Pacific Standard Time. For a complete list of time-zone strings, see the Windows Unattended Setup Reference.

    The name of the time zone must exactly match the name of the time zone settings in the registry in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Time Zones.

    If you add a custom time zone to your computer, you can specify that custom time-zone string.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-TimeZone"W. Europe Standard Time"

/Set-SKUIntlDefaults

Sets the default system UI language, the language for non-Unicode programs, the "standards and formats" language, and the input locales, keyboard layouts, and time zone values in an offline Windows image to the default value specified by <language_name>. The </Set-SKUIntlDefaults> option does not change the keyboard driver for Japanese and Korean keyboards. You must use the /Set-LayeredDriver option to change this.

Syntax:

/Set-SKUIntlDefaults:<language_name>
  • <Language_Name> specifies the name of the language to set as the default fallback; for example, en-US.

Use /Set-SKUIntlDefaults to change all the international settings in an offline Windows image to match the default values that are set during retail installations. For more information about the default values of each language pack, see Default Input Locales for Windows Language Packs.

This parameter is optional. If combined with one of the settings earlier in this section, the individual setting takes priority.

If the language passed matches a Unicode-only locale setting, the system locale will not be changed but the command will not fail.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-SKUIntlDefaults:fr-FR

/Set-LayeredDriver

Specifies a keyboard driver to use for Japanese or Korean keyboards.

In Japan, many retail users have 106-key keyboards, whereas others have 101- or 102-key keyboards. In Korea, there are several different types of keyboards, some with different numbers of keys.

Syntax:

Set-LayeredDriver:<value>
  • The possible values for these settings are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6:

    • 1 Specifies the PC/AT Enhanced Keyboard (101/102-Key).
    • 2 Specifies the Korean PC/AT 101-Key Compatible Keyboard/MS Natural Keyboard (Type 1).
    • 3 Specifies the Korean PC/AT 101-Key Compatible Keyboard/MS Natural Keyboard (Type 2).
    • 4 Specifies the Korean PC/AT 101-Key Compatible Keyboard/MS Natural Keyboard (Type 3).
    • 5 Specifies the Korean Keyboard (103/106 Key).
    • 6 Specifies the Japanese Keyboard (106/109 Key).

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-LayeredDriver:1

/Gen-LangINI

Generates a new Lang.ini file, which is used by Setup to define the language packs inside the image and outside in the distribution. It also defines the default UI language for Setup.

The new Lang.ini file will be added to the Sources folder of the Windows distribution.

Note

You won't be prompted for permission to overwrite an existing Lang.ini file. The existing Lang.ini file will be overwritten automatically.

You must specify an offline Windows image (/Image:<path_to_offline_image.wim>) and a distribution (`Distribution:<path_to_distribution_directory>).

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Gen-LangINI /distribution:C:\windows_distribution

/Set-SetupUILang

Defines the default language that will be used by Setup. If this language cannot be used, Setup automatically uses English.

This is an optional command. If not used, the default UI language in the image will be used. If the language is not present, the first language in the list of present languages will be used.

Syntax:

Set-SetupUILang:<language_name>
  • <Language_Name> specifies the name of the language to set as the default fallback; for example, en-US.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Set-SetupUILang:fr-FR /distribution:C:\windows_distribution

/Distribution

Specifies the path to the Windows distribution. The Windows distribution is a copy of the content that releases on the Windows product media. This option is only for use with the /Get-Intl and /Gen-LangINI options if there are external language packs.

Example:

Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Gen-LangINI /distribution:C:\windows_distribution

Limitations

  • You cannot use other servicing commands on the same command line with international servicing commands.

  • You cannot set a Unicode-only language as the system locale.

    The following languages are Unicode-only:

    Language Country/Region
    Amharic Ethiopia
    Armenian Armenia
    Assamese India
    Bangla Bangladesh
    Bangla India (Bengali Script)
    Divehi Maldives
    Georgian Georgia
    Gujarati India (Gujarati Script)
    Hindi India
    Inuktitut (Syllabics) Canada
    Kannada India (Kannada Script)
    Kazakh Kazakhstan
    Khmer Cambodia
    Konkani India
    Lao Lao PDR
    Malayalam India (Malayalam Script)
    Maltese Malta
    Maori New Zealand
    Marathi India
    Mongolian (Mongolian) PRC
    Nepali Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
    Odia India (Odia Script)
    Pashto Afghanistan
    Punjabi India (Gurmukhi Script)
    Sanskrit India
    Sinhala Sri Lanka
    Syriac Syria
    Tamil India
    Telugu India (Telugu Script)
    Tibetan PRC
    Yi PRC
  • Don't install a language pack after an update.

    If you install an update package that contains language-dependent resources before you install a language pack, the language-specific changes contained in the update are not applied. Always install language packs before installing updates.

  • When specifying a time zone by using /Set-TimeZone:<timezone_name> you must use straight quotation marks (") for multiple words. For example, /Set-TimeZone:"Pacific Standard Time". If you copy and paste the time zone name, including quotation marks, from a Microsoft Word document, the quotation marks might not be recognized and the command line might fail.

  • If you are servicing an international image, and your host environment does not support the language in that image, you might not be able to read an error message that originates from the international image.

What is DISM?

DISM Image Management Command-Line Options

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Command-Line Options