Scrivener lets you change the language of its interface on Mac or Windows, if you prefer to work with a language that is different from what your computer displays.
Many people work with more than one language, and if you’re using Scrivener, you might want to change the app’s interface to work in a specific language. In this article, we explain how to change Scrivener’s interface language.
Changing interface language
If you’re multilingual, you might want to use your computer’s operating system in a language different from that of the region you live in. While neither macOS nor Windows supports every language, they give you lots of options.
On Mac, you can choose from dozens of languages, including regional variants, such as eight different types of English, more than 20 variants of Spanish, and five versions of Chinese. Windows offers more than 100 language packs, though with fewer regional variants.
You can change your operating system to the language you use on both operating systems. By default, Scrivener uses the language set for the operating system if it’s available. Not all languages are available in the Scrivener interface.
You can also change the interface language for Scrivener and not change the operating system’s language. You might want to do this if you want or need to maintain the operating system language and region, but want to use Scrivener in your preferred language.
On a Mac, you change the interface language for specific apps in the System Settings. On Windows, you change Scrivener’s interface language in its Options.
How to change the interface language on a Mac
On a Mac, you have two options. You can change the interface language for macOS, and if you do this, Scrivener will use that language for its menus and interface if it has the necessary resources for the language. You can also change the language for Scrivener without changing the main macOS interface language.
To change the macOS interface language, open System Settings (you can find this in the Apple menu), click General, then Language & Region. In the Preferred Languages section at the top, click +.
If you click any of the languages in the top section of the list, before the separator, macOS displays its menus and interfaces in this language. A dialog warns you that not all apps will apply the change immediately:
It’s best to restart your Mac when you make this change. After you’ve done this, Scrivener’s interface will display in your chosen language if it is available. Scrivener on Mac offers these ten languages:
- English
- 筒体中文ー Chinese, Simplified
- Français – French
- Deutsch – German
- Italiano – Italian
- 日本語ー Japanese
- 한국어 – Korean
- Português (Brasil) – Portuguese (Brazil)
- Español – Spanish
- Svenska – Swedish
How to change Scrivener’s interface language on a Mac
You can also change the language of an individual app on Mac, so you can work with your Mac’s interface in one language, and work with Scrivener in another. You’re limited to the languages listed.
In System Settings > General > Language & Region, scroll down to the Applications section at the bottom of the window. Click +, select Scrivener from the list of apps, then click the Language menu. This shows the available languages:
Choose a language to apply it. If Scrivener is currently open, System Settings asks you if you want to relaunch the app. Do this to apply the language change.
How to change the interface language on Windows
On Windows, you can change the Windows interface language, and you can also change Scrivener’s language.
To change the Windows interface language, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region. In Language > Preferred Languages, click Add a language. Choose a language, then click Next. You can uncheck any Optional Language Features, but you must check Set as my Windows display language to use this language for the interface. Click Install, and Windows downloads the language pack and sets it up if it’s not already available.
When this is complete, Windows tells you that you need to sign out to set the language; do this and sign in again.
Scrivener displays in this language if it has the appropriate resources.
How to change Scrivener’s interface language on Windows
If you want to keep your current Windows interface language and just change the language in Scrivener, go to File > Options, click the General tab, then click Language. You can choose a language from the many options in this menu.
Click Apply, click OK, then quit and relaunch Scrivener for the new language to take effect.
You can always reverse either of these changes: to your operating system interface or to Scrivener’s interface using the same steps.
Kirk McElhearn is a writer, podcaster, and photographer. He is the author of Take Control of Scrivener, and host of the podcast Write Now with Scrivener. He also offers one-to-one Scrivener coaching.