Ask a new question

Cannot remove languages from Optional Features

Hi, all,

I have a Windows 10 (went through all of the Insider builds) and have a dozen languages that ended up in Optional Features (without my knowledge) that cannot be removed. Those languages (Chinese, Swedish, etc.) have only "Manage" button which does nothing. In Control Panel -> Languages I have only English and Bulgarian.

I see that there are two places for language packs to install - System32 and SysWOW64. The contents of SysWOW64 is what corresponds to the list in Settins -> System -> Apps & Features -> Optional Features.

I've read on other forums that there was a bug around builds 1004x that could lead to large install times and the addition of many LPK (language packs). And indeed, my RTM install took a good whole night to complete.

So far I have:

  1. used Lpksetup /u and uninstalled everything there but English. This removed only the languages from System32 but had no effect on SysWOW64 and what is listed in Optional Features.
  2. have added the languages listed in Optional Features in Control Panel -> Languages so that I can uninstall the language packs from there, but the option available is to Download and install the pack and not to uninstall it
  3. With #2 in mind, I have downloaded the corresponding language pack in Control Panel -> Languages and have then uninstalled it - Optional Features still list it

How can I remove those languages?

* Please try a lower page number.

* Please enter only numbers.

* Please try a lower page number.

* Please enter only numbers.

Digging a little deeper - all those languages/locales are listed for various components under resources like:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS\DerivedData\Components\amd64_1394.inf-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.10240.16384_es-es_004ae01660a488bc

Seems that these are not merely languages, but part of the installation.

2 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I understand that you want to remove optional features install in your computer. We will assist you to resolve this issue.

Follow the steps provided below and check if it helps.

  1. Press Windows logo key + I key.
  2. Click on System.
  3. Go to Apps & features tab.
  4. Click on manage optional features.
  5. Click on the optional features you want to uninstall.
  6. And click on uninstall button.

 

Hope it helps. Do let us know if your issue is resolved. For any further information, feel free to contact us.

Thank you.

12 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Our exact problem is that there is no "Uninstall" button, there is a "Manage" button instead...

119 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Really, how much clearer the issue can be - THERE IS NO UNINSTALL BUTTON AT ALL! Only Manage.

27 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Hi Kamka,

Please send us the screenshot of the issue.

How to include a screenshot in your post:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_other-windows_programs/how-to-include-a-screenshot-in-your-post/2594b08e-32a3-476a-85a6-b021181be7e4

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Hi Kamka,

Please send us the screenshot of the issue.

How to include a screenshot in your post:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_other-windows_programs/how-to-include-a-screenshot-in-your-post/2594b08e-32a3-476a-85a6-b021181be7e4

Same problem here

19 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

I have the same issue. No uninstall, just manage. Very useful!

11 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

i have the same issue. I have an icon on my taskbar next to the clock stating "ENG". even when I select for it to go away it stays there. I had installed eng and Spanish for a keyboard app "touchpal" that didn't work, so I uninstalled it.

If I try to remove languages in the time and language area as soon as I click away and come back, the language is still there and English has no remove option.

I noticed a new program got installed that you cannot select or uninstall called "optional features" dealing with this additional keyboard languages which only get in the way.

help us find a solution!

5 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

This might help... I had two users stuck in EN-us no matter what I did although EN-gb was installed and was the nominal default etc.  Assuming that you've got the locale etc. sorted then open the Powershell ISE with elevated rights and enter / run this script (after changing the language as you require)

Get-WinUserLanguageList

# lists the languges available to the logged on user

$1 = New-WinUserLanguageList en-GB

# create a new language list object that contains the language of your choice - e.g. es-ES for Spanish in Spain

Set-WinUserLanguageList $1

# replace the current language list with the one you've just created

Get-WinUserLanguageList

# lists the languges available to the logged on user - should show only the language you've set

Logoff, reboot...

This worked for me in solving the problem of being stuck in EN-us no matter what I did... YMMV.

Regards

21 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

After months of trying to figure this out - here is the answer.

http://www.windowscentral.com/how-properly-change-system-default-language-windows-10

After rebooting, you can remove the optional language features.

19 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

* Please try a lower page number.

* Please enter only numbers.

* Please try a lower page number.

* Please enter only numbers.

 
 

Question Info

Last updated December 29, 2023 Views 18,063 Applies to: